Pregnancy and childbirth is a magical journey, it is a time of numerous changes and transformations within the female body which often effects daily activities. These changes although completely natural and normal, however it can often be extremely taxing on the body and it is common through the course of your pregnancy, to develop some aches and pains. Over 50% of pregnant women will experience some lower back pain at some point during or postpartum.
However, even though it is extremely common it doesn’t mean that you have to suffer or for the discomfort to be affecting your daily life. Osteopathic treatment aims to assist the changes throughout this journey so you can experience minimal pain and discomfort.
How can Osteopathy help?
Osteopathy has been reported to improve the comfort and quality of life throughout the different stages of pregnancy.
The intention of osteopathic treatment is to create structural balance through touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to relieve muscular tension and help the body’s own healing mechanisms.
One major effect during pregnancy on the body is from a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin is a hormone that prepares for labour by slightly increasing the laxity of your ligaments.
Relaxin is extremely important as it will enable the pelvis to promote the s of the baby’s head by increasing the space of the pelvic outlet during delivery.
Unfortunately, this hormonal effects on the ligaments can contribute to altered stability and induced pain felt in the lower back pelvic region during pregnancy.
Osteopathic treatment has been shown to be beneficial for women in reducing or stopping neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back & pelvic, pain throughout pregnancy. Osteopaths do this by using a multitude of techniques such as soft tissue, joint articulation and mobilisation, myofascial release, muscle energy and craniosacral therapy.
Paediatric Osteopathy:
Osteopathy is a gentle, safe form of treatment that is particularly effective for babies as well as children.
The birth of a baby can be one of the most stressful events of its life; this process, along with the positioning during development inside the womb, can inflict stresses and strains on a baby’s body. If these strain pattern remains unresolved, they may result discomfort for both baby and mum and possibly long term affect the development of the baby.
Paediatric osteopaths in combination with a detailed case history use a non-invasive, gentle approach to treatment which is often called cranial sacral therapy. With an aim to release any restrictions found within a child’s body.
Common Paediatric presentations include:
- Colic and reflux
- Irritability
- Feeding issues
- Sleeping issues
- Plagiocephaly (uneven head shape)
- Neck restriction
- Behavioural issues
- Postural and developmental issues
- Uneven walking gait
- Scoliosis (a curved spine)
Common Orthopaedic Paediatric conditions that are treated:
- Severs disease
- Osgood Schlatters
- Soft tissue injuries
- Post fracture rehabilitation and other growing pains
For more on how osteopathy can help you and your baby or child please feel free to contact James Rowland at Edge Healthcare Clinic Orchard.
