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​Osteopathy's  guiding principles have a basis in the healing power of nature believing that:

“The body is not a machine but a vital living organism with a normal tendency towards self-healing, elimination and health” and that: “Health is not merely an absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.” (1)

In contrary to conventional medicine’s use of pharmaceuticals to treat pathogens osteopaths believed that disease developed due to certain factors lowering the vital force of a person affecting their capacity to heal.

Some of the ways that the early osteopaths and currently Classical School osteopaths aim to encourage the vital processes is through:

• Releasing contracted muscles and other tissues,
• Helping underactive tissues to contract
• Adjusting and balancing joints, bones, ligaments and tendons to each other and to the rest of the body.
• Release of peripheral nerves and nerve centres to relax tight tissues and improve flow to tissues lacking sensation and strength.

Another important principle of osteopathy stems from their belief that it is impossible to treat a painful or injured area in isolation and that it is necessary to address the problem as part of the whole body. The body adapts to a painful knee for example; however, this affects other parts causing pain and loss of rhythm and coordination in walking and other movements.

The aim of treatment is to assist in restoring rhythm and coordination as well as achieving a stable, unified structure for long term recovery.

(1) What is classical osteopathy?

Necks can be can be uncomfortable and painful and are a common presentation in osteopathic clinics. As well as having a painful or restricted neck many people often  notice that other areas are  distressed such as their upper or lower back or hips for example?

As osteopaths we will always examine the body as a whole to see what other parts of the body are contributing to neck pain. 
Following the principles of osteopathy it is important to consider  how other parts of the body may contribute to neck pain.

In treating  neck pain osteopaths use their hands to examine and release tension in the upper and middle ribs, upper and lower back and pelvis before working on the neck. Their aim is to improve other areas that support good function of the neck and help the whole body feel and move better.

Techniques used would include soft tissue, inhibition and stretching of tight muscles, articulation of joints of the neck, ribs, shoulders and upper back and release of specific cervical nerves if needed.

Things that may contribute to neck problems include:

• Sustained neck postures such as looking down at mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
• Slouching and poor sitting posture
• Poor work ergonomics particularly to do with using computers.
• Excessive overhead lifting of weights.

​Things that may assist good neck function include:

• Attending to posture, head neck shoulders in line.
• Regular walking heel to toe.
• Shoulder rolls and upper back stretches.
• Avoiding wearing high heels.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a specialized massage technique aimed at stimulating the lymphatic system.
This system is responsible for maintaining fluid balance, supporting immune function, and removing waste products from the body.
MLD involves gentle, rhythmic strokes that encourage the movement of lymph fluid, which can help reduce swelling, improve circulation, and enhance overall health.
Here are some of the benefits of MLD for the body:

• It has a calming, anti-stress effect which can facilitate the easing of  pain and the reduction of blood pressure. It can also stimulate the immune defence system within the body.
• It brings about a change in the autonomic nervous system, lowering the "Sympathetic" nervous system (daytime / flight nerves) and accentuating the night / rest nerves of the "Parasympathetic" nervous system.
• MLD reduces pain by exciting the "touch receptors" in the skin which produce an inhibitory or blocking signal to the brain, with the correct application.
• It is incredibly relaxing; some patients fall asleep during treatment.
  

 ​Manual Lymphatic Drainage  complements osteopathic principles by supporting the body’s natural healing processes, particularly through lymphatic stimulation, enhancing detoxification, and promoting fluid balance.

Here are some conditions that may benefit from  the use of MLD in an osteopathic treatment:

• Acute injuries and bruising - MLD speeds up tissue recovery, gently reduce swelling and improve local circulation.
• Post-Joint replacement surgery - MLD reduces excessive swelling and may  improve healing and recovery
• Chronic conditions like osteo and rheumatoid arthritis – MLD helps remove inflammatory mediators, relaxes the nervous system, relaxes tight muscles and promotes fluid movement.
• Headaches and Migraines - helps relieves tension in the neck, reduces inflammation, and promotes drainage of sinus and other fluids from the head and neck.
• Fibromyalgia: MLD may help manage the widespread pain and tenderness associated with fibromyalgia by reducing inflammation and relaxing the nervous system.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: MLD may assist with sluggish lymphatic flow and poor immune function often present in people with chronic fatigue sufferers.
• Back Pain and Sciatica through reducing inflammation around the spinal muscles and nerves, improving circulation and reducing pain.

Migraine headaches are a debilitating and serious daily problem for many people. It is a condition suffered by 14 percent of the population worldwide. Symptoms of migraines include:

• frontal head pain that is, diffuse with moderate to severe pain, that comes on gradually.
• nausea and vomiting and neck pain.
• Lasts between 4 and 72 hours.
• Made worse by exercise, light and noise.
•  Other  symptoms such as vision problems, numbness  in the arms, difficulty speaking and clumsiness.
• needing  to lie down in a quiet dark place, feeling  wiped out the next day.
• They are commonly associated with  depression, anxiety, seizures, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

There are many factors known to provoke migraines including:

• Stress (70%) and physical exertion
• Caffeine (soft drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate, OTC drugs, prescription drugs)
• Hormonal changes: oral contraceptives, menstruation,
• Skipping meals
• Weather changes
• Poor or disturbed sleep.

Migraines were traditionally considered to be due to changes in blood flow within the head and neck. However new research supports a more likely cause of sensitization or a heightened sensitivity to pain of the sensory nerves and nerve bodies of the  Trigeminal nerve complex, a process found in other chronic pain syndromes.

The Trigeminal nerve  is the  largest cranial nerve in the head that provides sensation to the blood vessels and surrounding layers of the brain. Upper neck pain is believed to contribute to headaches due to a connection between the cervical sensory nerves and the Trigeminal nerve system. Additionally there are inflammatory pathways activated that contribute to the sensitization process through provoking factors as mentioned above and in people who have a tendency to get migraines.

Triggers as outlined above along with having a tendency to get migraines activates the Trigeminal pain receptors and initiates  release of inflammatory mediators causing an, inflammatory response.

Though migraines are a complex condition Osteopaths may help migraine sufferers by taking a comprehensive case history and assisting clients understand and manage  migraine triggers.

Work gently using manual therapy on  your body to:

• Improve joint mobility, especially in the cervical spine and thorax (or rib cage.)

• Reduce muscular tension in the upper back and ribs and neck.
• Reduce nerve irritation particularly the upper cervical nerves.
• Improve blood supply and drainage to and from the neck
• Provide  advice on posture, preventative exercises and stretching
• help with alignment of the head, neck and upper back in daily life.

If you’re over 60 its easy to blame everything on “getting older”. That’s what everyone seems to do including doctors.

There are many difficulties that occur in the physical body with aging. Aches and pains difficulty turning your head, sciatica, stiff back, sore knees and headaches. These are some problems of getting older and you may be told that nothing can be done about it.

Osteopaths may help older people.

We listen to you, ask questions about old and new complaints and  then assess your walking and other movements of joints such as hips, shoulders and knees.

We then use our hands to work on your body.  Our aim is to release tight muscles and tissues through stretching and soft tissue work and gently move joints and encourage them to move a little further. we may also use special techniques to release the nerves in the neck, arms and legs to relieve pain and improve movement and balance.
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Osteopaths may help older people with conditions such as:

• Stiffness and immobility.
• Sciatica and nerve referral to the arms and hands.
• Weakness in one leg, arm or hand.
• Difficulty with daily tasks, walking and driving.
• Pain in the neck, back, hips, knees ankles shoulders.
• Headaches and sleeping problems.
• Digestive disorders, reflux constipation and bloating.
• Problems after surgery.