The Berkeley Clinic-Chris Harris

Osteopaths at The Berkeley Clinic-Chris Harris are happy to treat patients with any condition 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.

Migraine

The most common kind of debilitating headache is the migraine which inflict a very intense pain for a period varying from minutes to many hours. In the UK it is understood that almost eight million people have suffered from migraine attacks. Some only rarely but for a minority it can be a regular cause of disabling pain substantially impacting work and family life. Whilst the cause is not well understood doctors note the correlation between attacks and an imbalance of the hormone serotonin. As serotonin can constrict veins and arteries the imbalance can cause the vessels to be become engorged which is the source of the pain. Triggers can again vary but include stress, bright lights, hormonal imbalances (often caused by the menstrual cycle) and even various food types. Cranial osteopaths frequently treat migraine sufferers by working gently to promote improved level of drainage from the veins of the head and neck as well as working to reduce muscle tension at the base of the skull.