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Osteopathy

Five Super Helpful Advice Tips to Prevent Neck pain

By Featured, neck pain, Osteopathy

Essential Advice for Preventing Neck Pain

If you’ve experienced neck pain, this guide is tailored for you. Discover actionable, expert-backed advice for preventing neck pain, drawing on over a decade of clinical experience from Hugo Firth, a seasoned Osteopath in the Kingston and Surbiton area. With thousands of patients treated, Hugo shares his top five strategies to help you avoid neck pain, blending ergonomic adjustments with targeted therapeutic exercises.

What This Guide Covers:

  • Top Causes of Neck Pain: Understanding why neck pain occurs and common contributing factors.
  • Lifestyle and Ergonomic Adjustments: Tips to modify daily habits and workstation setup to ease neck strain.
  • Effective Exercises for Flexibility: Practical exercises to boost flexibility and minimise future neck pain risk.

Causes of Neck pain

Whilst we hear of disc injuries and arthritis the main cause of neck pain is overworked or fatigued muscles.

What Are Fatigued Muscles?

Fatigued muscles are muscles that have been overworked and have become strained, resulting in reduced functionality and discomfort. Often a patient may say, “All I did was turn my head, and now I can’t move my neck!” This scenario highlights how even a minor movement can become overwhelming for fatigued muscles, leading them to strain and spasm.

Why Do Muscles Fatigue?

The underlying issue often lies in our modern, sedentary lifestyles. Unlike previous generations, most of us spend prolonged hours sitting, both at work and during our commute, followed by more seated time at home watching TV or using digital devices. With these habits, we may sit for over 12 hours a day!

Impact of Modern Activities on Muscle Health

Even popular forms of exercise like cycling or gym workouts can contribute to muscle fatigue if they reinforce postural habits that keep the body in a flexed position (bent at the hips), shoulders and arms forward.

Over time, our bodies may adapt to this position, interpreting it as “normal.” This adaptation leads to weakened neck and shoulder muscles, making them less resilient and more prone to strain when asked to perform basic tasks like turning the head.

So our bodies could be forgiven for thinking that this is our desired position.

Hips flexed, upper back arched, arms forward, head up!

Adaptability of Our Bodies

Our bodies are incredibly adaptable, adjusting to the activities and postures we regularly assume. When we sit for extended periods with arms forward and head up, our bodies adapt to make this position feel normal and sustainable.

How Our Bodies Adjust to Prolonged Sitting:

  • Neck Muscles: Constantly contracting to keep our eyes level with a screen, which can lead to chronic tension.
  • Upper Back Muscles: These stretch out as we lean forward, potentially weakening over time.
  • Pectoral Muscles: Shorten due to the arms being held forward, reinforcing a slouched posture.

While these adaptations allow us to remain in this position comfortably for longer periods, there is a hidden cost.

The Price We Pay for Modern Postures

Our shoulder, upper back, and neck muscles often work in overdrive—sometimes exceeding 12 hours a day in a slightly stretched or contracted state due to prolonged sitting and screen time. This persistent posture strains several key muscle groups that can contribute directly to neck pain and stiffness.

Key Muscles Contributing to Neck Pain

  1. Sub-Occipital Muscles: These small muscles at the base of the skull stay contracted to keep our eyes level with screens, leading to stiffness, tension, and even headaches.
  2. Upper Back and Shoulder Muscles: These muscles often remain in fixed positions, experiencing stiffness and tightness due to lack of movement throughout the day. The prolonged strain can weaken these muscles, making them more susceptible to discomfort and pain.

Over time, the continuous strain on these muscles from poor posture and limited movement can lead to chronic pain and reduced mobility, highlighting the physical cost of our modern, sedentary lifestyle.

 

Preventing Neck Pain Advice #1

Being static  involves a lot of work for our neck muscles.

We can change the inputs our bodies receive.

From a ‘be static for 12hrs’ to ‘static for 58 mins then move for 2 mins, repeat x 12!’

If you change the messages that the muscles receive regularly enough during the day the body will adapt.

It will increase blood supply to nerves and muscles and joints. More oxygen and nutrients to muscles  means less lactic acid build up and less fatigue.

 

Neck pain Advice tip # 2

Repetitive turning, looking up or down will increase fatigue in neck muscles

Office

Check your monitor height

If you have more than one screen align the one you use most to be the one in front of you

Turn and face colleagues directly rather than turning your neck

Home

Make sure TV is directly in front of you- not too high or to the side

Neck Pain Advice tip # 3

Sleep is the great muscle recharger. So it’s important for neck muscles to get a good rest

ADVICE TIP NO 3

Get a supportive pillow

You need to have a NEUTRAL spine

Pillow needs to be firm enough and the right height to achieve this

To thin and neck muscles will be contracted one side and stretches on the other

Stop sleeping on your front

Have enough sleep 7-8hrs is ideal. This will give your muscles  enough time to recharge for the day ahead.

Advice Tip # 4

Upper Back Exercises that can change your life

(1)Ensure that your upper back maintains its flexibility

As with all exercises watching them is the easy bit. Incorporating them into your daily life takes effort.

(2) Maintain neck rotation mobility and prevent neck pain

This is a great way of maintaining and preventing a tight neck

But if your neck goes into spasm then this will be too painful

Seek the advice of your physical therapist

Advice tip #5

Managing your stress levels

Everyone deals with stress in different ways

It can manifest itself as tension into neck and shoulder muscles

One way to manage it is through exercise or any activity that can stop you thinking about the stress causing issue for 30 mins or longer

Here are some ideas

Go for a walk, paint/sketch, do a jigsaw, build lego, knit, go for a run, read a book, meditate

26th February 2024
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Runner's Glute pain

Diagnosis & Treatment for Runnner’s Glute Pain

By Hip Pain, Osteopathy, Running Injuries

Diagnosis and Treatment for Runner’s Glute Pain

I first experienced Runner’s Glute pain in the Summer of 2020 (Lockdown). Like a lot of people during that time I had increased the frequency of my runs from 1x per week and approx 5-8km, to 3 x a week. I had also increased the distance too. That was ok. To follow is a Diagnosis and treatment of Runner’s Glute pain shared with you to help if you are experiencing the same symptoms but not sure how to effectively fix it.

However I then started to add sprints into the mix during a 5 k. It was then that I started to notice that after the run for 1-2 days I would have this aching pain at the top of my buttock.

I decided to ignore it. Just what I tell my patients NOT to do! It would calm down before my next run. However as the summer progressed I started to feel the ache during the run and then afterwards it was very painful too.

The pain continued to get worse and then eventually at the beginning of September after doing a sprint session mid week I ran a 10km and I could hardly finish it. The pain was so bad. For the next week even walking was painful too and even jogging across the road was very uncomfortable.

The Diagnosis of Runner’s Glute Pain

As an Osteopath I first ruled out lower back or disc pain and then sacro-iliac joint pain. After two weeks rest I could walk pain free. But after 500m running I could feel it and after 2km I had to stop. It didn’t feel like a pulled muscle.

I eventually narrowed it down to this muscle group. I had Chronic fatigue of my Gluteus Medius or what is

Effective treatment for Runner's Glute

Chronic fatigue of Gluteus Medius Left

known in Runner’s vernacular as Runner’s Glute pain.

So now I had a diagnosis but I asked myself the question Why had it occurred in the first place?

The role of Gluteus Medius

To work out why it happened it’s important to know what its function is.

There are two parts to the muscles the anterior or more forward section  flexes the hip and induces inward (internal) rotation of the femur (thigh bone). The other part the posterior part  towards the back enables the leg to lift to the side (abduction), stabilising the pelvis and to extend the leg . If the muscle is fatigued then one or more of these actions is having to happen more often than before.

I was experiencing a  build up of aching pain in the posterior section of the muscle which means that I either had a loss of pelvic stability, greater abduction or increased extension – or a combination of all three.

Tests and Observations

The outside of my trainers were worn down more on the left than the right which can suggest an element of ‘landing’ on the outer part of my foot. A year before in 2019 , I had  a very painful bunion on my left foot , so this could have been a compensation mechanism that I developed sub consciously to offload my big toe joint.

Trendelenberg’s Test

Osteopaths use this test to indicate a lack of pelvic stability and specifically if Gluteus Medius is not ‘firing up’ as it should.

The test: you stand with both feet a shoulder’s width apart and then lift one knee to waist height, standing on one leg and then repeat on the other side. Note any loss of balance more on one side than the other. Do it in front of a mirror with your hands on your hips and note if one side drops a little more than the other.

The result: My right side- standing on my right leg – I was rock solid. No balance issue. No left hip dropping below my right. However my left side, the side of my pain, when standing on my left leg. My balance was very difficult to maintain. My right hip dropped too and my left knee went inwards to try and help my balance.

Learnings: If this was happening every time I landed on my left foot when running the muscles were soon going to become very tired and overworked indeed.

Treatment  for Runner’s Glute pain

I started a rehab exercise that would be functionally close to a running action and that encouraged the left Gluteus Medius to work on raising my right hip and become stronger in the process. This would ensure less hip drop in the future

Exercise for Runner's Glute

Exercise for Runner’s Glute

https://youtu.be/eaCcEkGk0c8?si=_eC2juJ7-PhU0U0q

10 reps x 3 sets every other day for the first week building up to 20 reps x 3 sets every other day in week 2.

I did it on both sides, just to give my left side a break, working alternate legs / hips.

I also worked on my hip flexors ensuring that my stride length was maintained.

Exercise to help treat Runner's Glute pain

Exercise to help treat Runner’s Glute pain

Hip Flexor stretch

Do 10-15x before a run and am and pm daily.

https://youtu.be/Fnzh6bo4_z4?si=1fFzL-7PphpTQWKO

 

Hugo Firth provides tailored rehab exercises for all his patients. SOme of these can be found on the here

The results

After two weeks of this exercise (with no running) I did a short run of 3km  without any pain. The next week I increased that to 4km, again no pain. I continued to do the exercise at least twice a week. Within 8 weeks I was running twice a week (5-8km) pain free.

Don’t Rush your Rehab to effectively treat Runner’s glute 

It’s important not to rush back too soon especially when you are out of pain. Slowly build up your time/distance each week. Perhaps 1km more each week. And continue to give your muscles time to rest and recover after a run or a Gluteal workout session. So for example  if you did Glute exercises on Monday you would rest Tuesday and even Wednesday if they were still feeling stiff and then run on the Thursday, followed by at least 2 days rest and then a Gluteal work out.

14th November 2023
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1st Appointment

Your first Appointment – what to expect and £10 off your first visit

By Osteopathy

Your first Appointment- what to expect and £10 off as an Introduction in August

If you haven’t been to see Hugo before then read on to find out what to expect. And for the month of August there’s an introductory £10 reduction on the first Appointment fee. Normally £60 now £50. So you can get back to your best and make the most of the Summer!

The First Appointment- what to expect

There are typically two parts.

Part One: Typically 15-20 mins. This is when we talk about the area of your body that is hurting or preventing you doing the activity you want to do. I’ll ask you detailed questions about when it started,

1st Appointment

1st Appointment- what to expect

what makes it worse or better, the type of pain. Is it a dull ache or a burning pain? How does the pain change during the day? What history you have with previous muscle or joint pain? It is all designed to give me a short list of possible causes for your pain or restriction of movement.

General Health

So I have a good picture of your overall health I will ask questions about your general health. Such as your diet, how much water you drink, the amount of exercise you take. Any previous illnesses, accidents or operations. Any allergies you may have? Any MRI scans, X rays, CT scans etc.  If you have any of these and they are relevant to your current issue then please bring them along.

Part 2– Evaluation and Treatment– Typically 40-45 mins. This is when I ask you to move and see what effect that has in terms of possible pain it may cause and how restricted a particular joint or muscle or area of the body may be. Don’t worry most of the movement should not cause pain. I may ask you to walk or even run if that is when the pain occurs. Where possible I want to see you in action, as it were, not static. Of course you may be in considerable pain just standing let alone walking and I will tailor my assessment to you so you are in the least amount of discomfort possible. This movement assessment will

Osteopath Kingston

3D functional movement and osteopathy

then segues into treatment. However the treatment may focus entirely on a specific joint movements but more often it will be a combination of movement based 3D Functional movement and hands on massage and joint mobility.

Access to Youtube channel of exercises

At the end of the session we will recap together on the movements we have been through and these will become your homework. We will either video them for you take with you or you can refer to a version of them on my Youtube channel. Patients find this a very useful too as a reference after the first session. It’s difficult to concentrate when you may be in some discomfort. We will agree if I need to see you again and what are the likely number of treatments. This will be reviewed every time I see you so there is no pressure for you to sign up to a specific number of sessions.

What you need to know before you book an appointment

  • Come in loose fitting clothes or have a change of clothes that are loose- shorts and T shirt for men, leggings and t shirt for women. What ever you feel comfortable it. If you do have back pain I may need to see your back so you may need to dress so that I can see your back easily.
  • MRI reports or x rays-if you have them and they relevant then please bring them along
  • If you book in August you will receive £10 off your first appointment
  • You can pay by credit or debit card or cash
  • You can book online or by phone
  • The treatment approach aims to reduce pain quickly, increase movement and give you the strategies to stop the pain returning. If your still unsure please read some of the reviews of my patients.
2nd August 2018
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Lower back pain prevention

A Different Approach to Prevent Lower Back Pain

By Back Pain, Osteopathy, Prevention

If you suffer from recurring back pain and your focus on strengthening your core doesn’t seem to work then perhaps it is time to take a different approach to prevent your lower back pain from recurring.

For at least the last 20 years there has been a focus on advising people to strengthen their core stability muscles that in turn  will prevent back pain. However the research to support this is thin at best. Much of the research has been carried out on small non representative samples (1). When the samples are representative then whilst some short term benefits can be found no long term benefits (over 6 months) can be seen (2) in back pain prevention. Alternatively it was found that core stability rehab is no more effective than general exercise (3).

Does the following scenario sound familiar? 

I hear this quite frequently from my patients.

A patient has experienced back pain and through their physical therapist they have been given a series of cores stability exercises. Such as ‘The bridge’, the ‘1 legged bridge’, ‘the plank’, ‘superman’ etc. The patient has done them frequently and noted increased muscle tone and an ability to do the exercises for longer or more frequently. However 6-12 months later they have a recurrence of their back pain.The patients blame themselves for not doing the exercises correctly or not frequently enough. Wait for the pain to subside, perhaps receive some treatment then carry on with the same exercises.

If you can relate to this then may be it’s time to take a different approach. After all Einstein’s definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different outcome!

What’s the thinking behind Core stability exercises?

In essence the theory is by activating your core stability muscles such transverse obliques, rectus abdominus, pelvic floor, internal and external obliques, diaphragm you can help support the lumbar spine and so help reduce its work load. However if the research is right and there is a lack of effectiveness then perhaps we need to ask the question ‘Why can’t our backs cope with the work load in the first place?’And – “Why does it need extra support?”

An Alternative approach

I would argue that the area of your spine that is in pain is a result of it trying to cope with extra work load because other parts of the spine or body are not moving as well as they should.

The body has this amazing ability to adapt and deal with reduced function in one part of the body to maintain our overall function. The spine is a key part of this.

24 interlinking segments that act liked a coiled spring. If a section of the coil stops moving then the sections above and below move more to ensure our bodies can achieve the movement we require. It’s this extra movement of muscles and joints that over time can lead to muscle fatigue and joint inflammation. These are two main symptoms of lower mechanical back pain.

Address the causes through treatment and rehab

Of all the hundreds of patients that I have seen through my practice with lower back pain the common factors are reduced mobility in the upper back and shoulders and reduced mobility in the pelvis and hips.

Coincidentally these are the two main areas of our body that we keep static for long periods of time every day of the week!

Our sedentary lifestyles reduce our mobility

It is this lack of movement in these two areas that can cause us lower back pain pain in the long term.

A different approach to prevent back pain

upper back stiffness can contribute to lower back pain

We sit at our desk, shoulders forward, fingers ready to type on our key boards, heads forward, upper back arched. Our hips flexed. Sometimes for hours at a time.

Our bodies take these inputs as a desired position and start to adapt accordingly. The body is always looking for efficiencies to reduce energy expenditure. So it reduces blood supply to muscles. Joints stop moving so nerves receive less innervation.

Muscles in our upper backs become fibrotic and joints become less mobile.

We do this day in day out for up to 8 hrs a day for months and even years! Then we go home and watch TV or use our laptops at home, or alternatively try and get the stress of our work out the system and go cycling and assume the exact same position. Or we go to the gym and contract the same muscles that were contracted at our desks (our pectorals and biceps and hip flexors)

Implications for our Lower back 

If the middle section of our spine can no longer rotate or bend forward as much as it used to do then the lower back (the lumbar spine) will have to move more to ensure that there is no reduction in functional ability and range of movement.

Likewise if we cannot rotate from the hip or our hips are flexed forwards because our hip flexors are permanently contracted from all the sitting down we do then our lower back muscles become more involved in simple daily activities such as walking and standing.

Our bodies make these adaptations without us being aware of them. Day in day out for months and years.

Then add in the role that the lower back was designed for and the wear and tear that can take place without this extra work load and you can start to see why an upper back or hip that can’t move optimally can help increase the risk of fatigue, strain and ultimately, injury in the lower spine.

How can you help?

# Change the inputs in your upper back

From a static 8 hrs. Stop every 30-45 mins and make your upper back and shoulders move. Your body will respond by increasing blood supply. Muscles will change to become more flexible. Joints and innervation inputs will increase.

Here is a simple exercise you can do at work whilst sitting down to start changing the inputs. Do it every 45-60 minutes that you are at your desk. Your colleagues might think you are mad at first but soon they will all start doing it! It really works.

# Change the inputs to our hips and pelvis

We need to reduce the tightness in our hip flexors that builds up over time as we sit at our desk, cars, TV, dinner table and on our bikes . Here is a really effective exercise to do just that.

Do it daily am and pm 10-15x. Include it into any activity warm ups and warm downs too. Especially after cycling or running.

Next we need to improve the mobility and rotation of the hip as well as activating the gluteals and hamstrings.

This exercise combines hip flexion stretches with hip rotation.  Do it am and pm 10-15x for each exercise.  These exercises should all be pain free so if you experience pain after or during then just stop and consult your professional physical therapist. For access to more exercises to improve hip mobility go to Resources

To Conclude

If you have been doing your core stability exercises and you have had no recurrence of lower back pain, then please continue but consider if you are really addressing the cause. With our increasingly sedentary lifestyles we are placing increasing work load on our lower backs due to a lack of mobility above and below in our upper backs and hips. So if you are doing core stability exercises then add hip and upper back mobility exercises into the mix. If you are not doing any exercise then start to work on hip and upper back mobility with the above exercises. The exercises should always be pain free. Click here For more advice on how Hugo treats back pain

References

(1)Stuber KJ1, Bruno P, Sajko S, Hayden JA, Clin J Sport Med. 2014 Nov;24(6):448-56. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000081.Core stability exercises for low back pain in athletes: a systematic review of the literature.

(2) Xue-Qiang Wang,1 Jie-Jiao Zheng,2,* Zhuo-Wei Yu,2 et al. Public Library of Science. 2012; 7(12): e52082.Published online 2012 Dec 17. doi:  1371/journal.pone.0052082A Meta-Analysis of Core Stability Exercise versus General Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain

(3)George SZ1, Childs JD, Teyhen DS, Wu SS, Wright AC, Dugan JL, Robinson ME. BMC Med. 2011 Nov 29;9:128. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-128.Brief psychosocial education, not core stabilization, reduced incidence of low back pain: results from the Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military (POLM) cluster randomized trial.

 

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30th November 2017
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Antidote to sun lounger back pain

By Back Pain, Osteopathy, Prevention

Is your back feeling bit worse after the summer? Here’s a possible antidote.

If like many of us this Summer involved long car drives, traffic jams, some cycling and may be some sun lounger action then your hip flexors could now be tighter than normal. These muscles help us bend forwards at the hip. But tighter Hip flexors and in particular Psoas and Iliopsoas can lead to lower back pain.

How?

Tight Psoas can cause back pain

Tight Psoas causes reduced movement in lumbar spine

If you have been sitting for long periods of time either in the car, on your bike or with your feet up on a sun lounger (lucky you!) or at your desk (not so lucky!) then your hip flexors become tighter.

This would normally cause your body to lean forwards. However your body adapts to ensure you are standing up straight by contracting your postural muscles in your lumbar spine (lower back). This can lead to greater pressure on your lower vertebrae and the associated facet joints as the muscles attached to them tighten up. The extra work load on the postural muscles can lead to strains and spasms. Back pain!

How to help Yourself

The antidote to this is to start a concerted exercise to stretch these hip flexor muscles out from their contracted state. As you can see from the image below the Psoas originates from the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back and connects to inside of the femur (thigh bone).

Tight psoas can be a cause of back pain

Psoas helps flex hips

So any exercise must work the muscles fibres that run vertically and those that go at an angle to attach to the femur. This exercise does just that and so is very effective.

 

 

 

 

The Hip Flexor exercise

The key to this exercise is that it is what’s termed dynamic. It is a movement rather than a static stretch. Research has shown that the body responds better to dynamic movement based exercise designed to increase range of movement than static stretches. It makes sense. Our bodies were designed to move not hold static poses and so our muscles are designed to adapt to movement.

Important points to note

At no point in the exercise is the stretch held as a static stretch

Your hips move forward to dynamically stretch the vertical muscles fibres

Your arm comes up and you bend to the side to dynamically stretch the muscle fibres that attach into your femur.

Do not arch your back in an attempt to gain a greater ‘stretch’ sensation.  This can make the muscles in your lower back even tighter and put more pressure on the lumbar vertebrae. Just push forward with your hips.

Repeat the movement 10-15x am and pm daily for best results. Incorporate it into exercise warm up and warm downs too.

It should be a pain free exercise. If you experience pain just stop and contact your Osteopath or other professional physical therapist.

For more information on this exercise and how Hugo can help you return you to your personal best call  0208 226 3767.

15th September 2017
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The role of Gluteals in Back Pain or running a PB

By Back Pain, Osteopathy, Prevention

 

From  Back Pain to running a PB – effective Gluteals are an important factor

If you suffer from back pain , even infrequently, or you’re aiming for a personal best for your next race or training harder for your chosen sport whether it be running, rugby, football, tennis, swimming, cycling, skiing or golf.. the strength and effectiveness of your Gluteals will be a factor. Read More

14th March 2017
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Knee Pain? The problem could be above and below

By Osteopathy

A female patient, 26yrs old, recently came to the practice with pain underneath her left knee cap. It also clicked occasionally and was much worse after the gym or running and walking up the stairs. It had been getting progressively worse for the last 6 months.

On examination the patient’s knee had no obvious mechanical injury to her ligaments. There were signs of a little wear and tear. However what was obvious was that the patient significantly pronated on her left foot and her left pelvis was anteriorly rotated.

The diagnosis was patella femoral syndrome.

TREATMENT – OSTEOPATHY, SPORTS MASSAGE AND THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE

This involved articulation and manipulation to the foot , the fibula head and the SIJ and lumbars to address the rotation. Sports massage to the muscles inserting at the knee including gastrocnemius, hamstrings, tfl, itb and quads and a recommendation to purchase orthotics to help her pronation.
The patient was also given therapeutic exercises to strengthen her core stability, relax and stretch her ilio-psoas and so reduce her pelvic tilt.
After two treatments the patient reported a complete cessation of pain. She had also ordered the orthotics.

LONG TERM SOLUTION

Now I recognise that not every patient will respond in the same way but this global approach to the patient’s knee pain, combining osteopathy with remedial  and sports massage and therapeutic exercise is a typical example of how I treat. And for this patient it was very effective at addressing her problem.  Long term she will need to use her orthotics and maintain her therapeutic exercises. But now the management of her pronation and potential future knee trouble is within her own control.

29th June 2015
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How osteopathy can help patients with Arthritis

By Arthritis, Osteopathy

dealing-with-arthritisArthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis
Patients can suffer from either Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The two conditions are quite different. The first is an auto immune response where the body evokes an inflammatory response in a joint. The synovial membranes within the joint are attacked by the body’s own white cells (antibodies) and they become inflamed, red , swollen. The bone starts to degenerate. Joints tend to be affected bilaterally. That is to say on both left and right. Eg both hands or knees, elbows etc.
Treatment includes drugs to reduce the body’s immune response – steroids are given at the beginning. This can help but as the disease progresses stronger drugs are employed such as methotrexate or cyclosprorin.

Read More

7th November 2014
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