Dr Lloyd Davies Osteopath Andover

Osteopaths at Dr Lloyd Davies Osteopath Andover see patients with many different conditions, two of the more common complaints are discussed below

Groin injury

Groin injuries are typically caused by a strain to the adductor muscles of the upper thigh. A tear to the muscle is most often the result of an abrupt stop or change of direction whilst running fully stretched out. Hence, the injury is common in sports such as football, rubgy and hockey. Once the torn the muscle tissue will swell and be sore to the touch. These are particularly nasty injuries because they take a long time to heal. The traditional approach to treatment - resting up, application of ice to reduce swelling, compression of the muscle with an elastic bandage and elevation - are hard to continue for long enough to have an effect. As a result patients frequently believe they are cured too quickly and aggravate the initial injury with another muscle tear becasue the first is not yet full-healed. Osteopaths recommend lots of stretching rehabilitative exercises to avoid this common problem.

Tension headaches

The symptoms are easy to recognise - pain behind the eyes and a throbbing head. Although often triggered by stress or emotional events, an important causal factor is often a constriction of the blood supply as a result of the the muscles at the back of the neck and the base of the skull over-contracting. In addition to neck pain, this may frequently be the cause of a headache. In the immediate terms occasional use of analgesics may help as will a cold towel or compress. However, in the longer term, it is recommended that two actions be taken. First, an investigation of the upper neck area which may need to be manipulated or mobilised in order to promote sufficient blood flow. Secondly, it is important to understand the sources of emotional stress and try to deflect it using a variety of techniques such as yoga, meditation or even regular exercise.