Whitstable Osteopathic Practice

Osteopaths at Whitstable Osteopathic Practice see patients with many different conditions, two of the more common complaints are discussed below

Digestive Upset

Patients with chronic digestive discomfort frequently resort to Gaviscon or other over-the-counter drug remedies to ameliorate their conditions as they arise. But the root cause can be effectively addressed by osteopathy. There are many nerves at the base of the spine connected to the rib cage and the diaprhagm. If the diaphram is excessively tense these nerves are unable to function properly which is a common cause of chronic digestive issues. By releasing this tension, cranial osteopaths are often able to dramatically reduce the pain and discomfort. The muscular tension may be the result of stress or other emotional blockages. As a result the treatment needs to be very gentle to help remove the stress and free-up the body's own healing capablilites. Exercises to help reduce stress in the first-place and manage it down may also be recommended.

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.