The Top 6 Common Conditions Treated by Melbourne Osteopathy Practitioners

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Image of a young woman with back pain sitting on the bed at home

The aim of osteopathy is to provide treatment in a non-invasive, drug-free manner. The complementary therapies for osteopathy were designed to elevate overall health through manual manipulation, strengthening and conditioning of the entire musculo-skeletal system.

 

What is osteopathy?

 

Similar to chiropractic treatment, osteopathy mainly involves both diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions taking into context any medical issues that may need referral for.. Osteopaths need to undergo years of coursework in order to be qualified and licensed to provide treatment to patients.

 

Osteopathy is a field of complementary medicine that treats a large variety of conditions. In recent years, it is the most preferred treatment for musculoskeletal disorders as well as pain relief and discomfort in localised regions such as in the head, neck, shoulders, back and feet.

 

Osteopathy treatment is just one of the many interventions for a patient. It serves as a complementary treatment that helps boost the efficacy and potency of other conventional medical interventions.

 

What does a Melbourne osteopath do?

 

An osteopath is focused on delivering relief to problem regions of the spine, muscles, and joints. The “hands-on” approach followed in osteopathy aims to improve these following aspects:

 

  • Circulation in problem areas to provide relief, reduce stasis and improve fluid flow.
  • Alleviate or reduce alignment or biomechanical stresses and strains without the use of prescription drugs.

 

Some of the most common manual techniques used in osteopath clinics in Melbourne and Eastern suburbs are collectively known as osteopathic manipulative medicine which includes resistance, gentle pressure and stretching just to name a few.

 

Osteopathic Therapy Indications

 

The most common conditions that are treated by osteopath physicians in Melbourne City are as follows:

 

  • Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
  • Arthritis
  • Sciatica pain
  • Postural problems caused by pregnancy, sports-related injuries, driving and sporting issues
  • Neuralgia
  • Hand, shoulder, and elbow pain

To book an appointment, you can get in touch with us by visiting our site here, or by calling us on 03 9663 5450.

Is Plantar Fasciitis a Symptom?

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Wake up in morning with knife like pain in the arch or heel of your foot? It could be plantar fasciitis. It’s the bane of the foot’s existence and can be very frustrating and annoying. In this article I’ll be discussing all you’ll need to know about why and how plantar fasciitis comes to be and how Osteopathy can help you.

 

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

First, let’s talk anatomy. It’s common knowledge that the musculoskeletal system is made up of muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons; but there is a very important and often overlooked structure called fascia. Fascia is the sinew that holds everything together, we have layers upon layers of fascia that surround our muscles, tendons, joints and even our organs.

The plantar fascia is the extension of the achilles tendon that runs over your heel, along the bottom of your foot to the tips of your toes. It holds your foot together, encasing your arch, blood supply, nerves, tendons, muscles and small bones of the ankle. If the Plantar Fascia becomes inflamed and irritated it then presents as sharp unremitting pain in the arch or heel. It’s often worse in the mornings or after rest and is referred as plantar fasciitis.  

What causes Plantar Fasciitis?

This is the million dollar question. There’s little proof of an exact cause but there are studies that show plantar fasciitis being a manifestation of another biomechanical problems in the foot or leg. Biomechanical problems can be split into two categories;

Compressive forces: This is where the arch structures are very weak and collapsed similar to someone who has a ‘flat foot’; therego putting extra pressure on the plantar fascia to hold the foot together. This causes the plantar fascia to overstretch, inflaming its attachments to the heel; and in severe cases causing spurs on the heel bone. People who are obese and/or have flat feet are predisposed to this kind of injury.

Traction forces: This is where the plantar fascia is being overused and overstretched in someone who runs or walks on their toes. The repetitive physical stretch of the plantar fascia during the push off phase of running and the over activation of the calf muscles can pull the plantar fascia tight over the heel; therego irritating it. Athletes are more prone to this kind of injury.

 

How can an Osteopath treat this?

Osteopathic manual therapy can provide immense relief for people who suffer from this injury. Firstly an Osteopath will diagnose the cause of your plantar fasciitis and treat the problematic structures with safe, gentle manual therapy techniques. The most important factor is to change what is causing your plantar fasciitis and proceeding to strengthen the arch supporting muscles in the leg and foot. Our friendly and helpful Melbourne Osteopaths here at City Osteopathy will help you with your plantar fasciitis. Book in today!

Dr Stephanie Norton-Smith

Melbourne Osteopath

What Goes On Inside a Melbourne Osteopathy Clinic Near Me?

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Osteopathy is a field of complementary medicine that involves the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal conditions. Unlike traditional medical therapies, the best osteopaths in Melbourne skillfully utilise manual techniques to treat common conditions such as back pain, shoulder pain, postural problems and more serious conditions such as arthritis, neuralgia and sciatica pain, just to name a few.

 

Who needs to visit an osteopath in Melbourne CBD?

 

Osteopathy caters to musculoskeletal conditions that affect both young and old patients. Pregnant women, blue collar workers, white-collar professionals, as well as athletes can use the manual or touch therapies offered by osteopath clinics in Melbourne City.

 

What are the things that happen during your visit to a Melbourne Osteopathy Near You?

 

Before you seek treatment at an osteopath clinic in South Melbourne, make sure to check the following:

 

  • Visit a licensed osteopath accredited by Osteopathy Australia, formerly known as Australian Osteopathic Association
  • Ask regards their education, skills training, make sure it is up to date and relevant to you.. This is to ensure that you are getting the right level of osteopathic treatment and care from your chosen professional.
  • An initial visit to the best osteopath in Melbourne will be for a consultation. A thorough assessment will be held in order for the osteopathic doctor to come up with a comprehensive hands-on treatment regimen.
  • After the consultation, there will be a thorough physical examination of the patient to create a proper and accurate diagnosis. The osteopathic doctor will then request patients to perform movements and simple stretches to come up with an accurate diagnosis of his/her condition.
  • After the assessment, diagnosis and evaluation, a skilled osteopath will formulate a customised treatment plan that will provide relief from pain and discomfort as well as reduce the occurrence of symptoms altogether.

 

How much do osteopathy therapies cost in Melbourne City?

 

The cost of osteopathy visits depend on various factors such as location, level of expertise of  an osteopathy physician, and the condition they are suffering from. You should ask your insurance company if osteopathy is covered by your policy or otherwise.

To schedule an appointment with us, click here or call us on 03 9663 5450.

Our experienced Melbourne osteopath Mike’s 5 tips for better low back care!

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Top 5 Tips to Better Back Care

Dr Michael Santamaria, Melbourne Osteopath at City Osteopathy

Back pain, especially low back pain, is by far the most common complaint our Melbourne Osteopath’s see. Almost every Australian will experience some form of back pain in their lifetime. Many low back pain episodes are avoidable. There are simple habits you can adopt to reduce your risk of a flare-up and keep you out of our clinic!

 

  1. Reduce the amount of time you are seated.The more you sit, the less your core muscles are switched on and that means less back support. It also increases compressive load onto your low back. When this happens your joints and discs are asked to do a lot more of the work and often these strain as a result. So get up, walk around, walk at lunchtime or even better, get a Sit-Stand Desk that is electronically controlled.
  2. Strengthen your gluts.It’s not very osteopathic just to single out one muscle to save us all, but the gluteal muscles are just so important for pelvic and low back stability. Simple “bridges” or “clams” are so effective in strengthening your gluts. See exercises, the ‘clam’ is easier without a band and still effective but the band obviously increases the difficulty.

  1. Exercise.This is obvious, and it will vary for different people. But if you exercise, your core muscles are engaged and this is key to supporting your low back. Walking or gentle exercise such as swimming or bike riding are brilliant. Many patients do Pilates or Yoga, which is great, but many of us don’t have the money or the time to keep doing that, so just get out and walk for 20 minutes every night instead.
  2. Avoid heavy lifting.Another very obvious rule, but it is amazing how many people come into us saying, “I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I just needed to move that large pot plant/chest of drawers/box of wine out of the car…” Just get someone to help you. Get to know your neighbours, ask them to help out for 1 minute. Patients can end up getting months of treatment for one silly lifting injury.
  3. Drive less. Driving is one of the worst things for your back. Two reasons.  One you are sitting in a position that is unergonomic with your right leg outstretched and rotated on the accelerator. This puts traction stress onto your back whilst you are sitting.  And the vibration from the road puts pressure onto your low back and its discs whilst in a compromising position.  Ask someone that has had back pain, they all hate driving!

If you are looking for back pain help, come visit your Melbourne Osteopath at City Osteopathy, we are experienced, motivated and caring practitioners.

What To Expect During Your First Visit to an Osteopath in Melbourne City

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Image of a woman with backache in need of an Osteopath in Melbourne City

Are you looking to arrange an appointment in one of our two Osteopathy clinics in Melbourne (one in Swanton Street and the other in Queen Street) and wondering what to expect on your visit? How are Osteopathic services performed? These are valid concerns and something that you may want to consider if you are going to get the most benefit from the treatment.

What can some of the best Osteopaths in Melbourne do for you?

During your first osteopathy session, the osteopath will ask about your symptoms, health problems and any medical care you have been receiving before the examination. The osteopath will then examine you to uncover problem areas in the body — weakness, tenderness and tension, especially in the spine.

At the end of the consultation, your Osteopath can then discuss what he or she can do to treat the problem and what is included in your treatment program. If necessary, your Osteopath may refer you to a GP for tests such as a blood exam or MRI scan to better identify the problem and recommend the best course of Osteopathic treatment.

Best practices in Osteopathy

An osteopath aims to revive the normal function and balance of the joints to help the body naturally heal itself. They use their hands to heal the body in a variety of ways, using a range of techniques that help minimise pain, enhance motion and encourage blood flow. Such methods include:

  • deep tissue massage
  • stretching stiff joints and restoring the range of motion — joints are moved through a series of movements
  • deep quick thrusts to the spinal column that produce a clicking noise much like cracking your neck and knuckles

Osteopathy is not uncomfortable, although it is not uncommon to feel sore or stiff in the very first few days after treatment. In the case of Osteopathy sports injury centres, patients are given suggestions on self-help and workout recommendations to facilitate healing and improve performance in their chosen sport. You may be given tips on self-help and workout to help with healing and prevent symptoms returning or getting worse. If you feel any pain during or after treatment, always tell your osteopath.

Are you looking to get started with some of the best osteopaths in the Southern Suburbs of Melbourne? You can expect no less out of “City Osteopathy”! Phone us today on 03 9663 5450 or book an appointment at City Osteopathy here.

The Benefits of Seeing an Osteopath in Melbourne CBD

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Image of an Osteopath doing manipulative massage on female abdomen

Are you looking to see an Osteopath in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne but are unsure as to how it might benefit you? What is Osteopathy and is it worth paying for the treatment? These are good questions and a few things that you might be wondering about if you are new to the practice.

Simply put, Osteopathy is a field of manual medicine with the goal of bringing back the optimal state of the body by treating the underlying reasons for pain and functional imbalances. Such problems may have come about as a result of an injury, disease, tension and chronic stress of daily living. More importantly, Osteopathy supports the idea that the body has the innate ability to recover and manage such problems.

You can expect some of the best Osteopaths in Melbourne to treat your body by utilising a range of mild techniques which include the following:

  • Stretching stiff joints
  • A gentle massage to unwind the muscles and release tension
  • Restoring the flexibility and natural range of motion of the joints throughout the body

How an Osteopath from the Northern and Western Suburbs of Melbourne can help alleviate pain

Osteopaths in Melbourne City and the neighbouring suburbs can help manage pain and discomfort in a way that regards you as an individual and your body as a whole. Osteopathic techniques can be implemented to minimise and alleviate discomfort in various areas of the body including the head, neck, ankles and back pain.

You can expect the following benefits:

  • Alleviate pain and tightness in the muscles, and joints
  • Get rid of the underlying cause of pain and discomfort
  • Increase the range of motion in the joints
  • Deal with problems in the spine due to poor posture or injury
  • Offer a non-invasive treatment for persistent pain and discomfort
  • Helps pregnant women adapt to physical and hormonal changes in their body
  • Reduces tension in the body that causes a headache or a migraine

Osteopathy also offers advantages that most people tend to overlook such as providing comfort for people suffering from chronic diseases such as arthritis and Asthma. Moreover, the treatment can help prevent recurrence of an injury or acute health problems by improving lifestyle factors through a series of relaxation techniques through a series of relaxation techniques, exercise and dietary advice and education about risk factors.

Are you convinced that Osteopathy can prove highly beneficial for you and eager to get started? Your needs are in excellent hands here at “City Osteopathy”.  Call us today on 03 9663 5450 to arrange an appointment at either of our clinics — one at Swanton Street and the other at Queen Street Melbourne. In any case, our team of proven and highly reputable experts stand ready to give you nothing less than excellent Osteopathic services.