Osteopaths at South Dartmoor Clinic Osteopaths are happy to help patients with any treatment listed above.

Neck stiffness

Neck stiffness is one of the most common conditions presented to ostoepaths. The most typical presentation is a muscle in spasm which is a reaction by the body to protect a deeper primary cause which may be an indication of a more serious neck complaint. Frequently the cause of the pain is a single violent trauma such as a whiplash or sports injury. More worrying would be an underlying degenerative condition weakening the discs in the spinal column. An osteopath will treat this condition most effectively after the worst of the spasm has passed so that the underlying condition may be effectively diagnosed and addressed. Typically rest and ibuprofen will be recommended in the interim. Once the muscles have relaxed manipulation or mobilisation are likely to be beneficial.

Lower Back pain

Lower back pain is common, difficult to diagnose and often mis-treated. The causes are also complex ranging from traumatic accidents to degeneration of discs, or damage to tendons; frequently reported are episodes caused by performing unusual movements to which one is not accustomed such as lifting especially heavy items. The result can be excruciatingly painful and debilitating causing loss of productivity and difficulty sleeping due to discomfort even lying down. It is widely accepted across all forms of medical practice that, in most cases, left to themselves most bad back will recover slowly on their own. However, many are not content to wait for nature to run its course as the pain is too bad. Hence visits to osteopaths are often intended to speed the healing process. More importantly, in some cases the condition will not naturally resolve itself and may degenerate into a chronic condition which can dramatically impede quality of life. That is why most osteopaths would recommend early treatment so that the likelihood of developing a more serious condition is reduced.