Havant Osteopathic Clinic

Osteopaths at Havant Osteopathic Clinic 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.

Edema

From an osteopathic perspective edema - or an abnormal concentration of fluid in any part of the body - is most frequently the result of a blockage of the body's normal absorptive flows which may be caused by a trauma or by post-operative scarring for example. The danger is the viscious cycle whereby edemas cause further blockages to blood vessels and nerves which impedes their function giving rise to tissue congestion exacerbating the problem. The recommended treatment for edema is to restore free movement to the lymphatice drainage system via gentle manipulation or massage. The intended effect is improve circulation, increased resorption, and a system that can naturally heal itself.