Osteopaths at The Orchard Medical Centre are happy to help patients with any treatment listed above.

Birth Trauma and accidents whilst a child

Psychiatrists and psychologists are well-known for stressing the importance in understanding what happens before a child is born, during the birth process and what happens in the early years. Cranial osteopaths have long recognised that the birthing process imposes enormous strain on babies, particularly if the birth is difficult or elongated. The baby's skull stretches to accomodate the narrow birth canal, but only gradually recovers its shape. After a difficult birth the process of "unmoulding" may be incomplete, leaving residual stress within the head and impacting on the nervous system. These stresses can give rise to various conditions such as colic, trapped wind, regurgitation, feeding difficulties and sleep problems. In addition childhood is a time of slips, trips, falls and scrapes, each of which can potentially impose a similar burden of stress.

Cerebral Palsy

Science has not yet unlocked the mystery of cerebral palsy and there is no cure. Nevertheless a number of treatments have been recognised as helpful to patients. The Henry Spink Foundation which is one of the leading research charities for cerebral palsy recognises the benefits of a number of techniques, some of which are physical treatments. These treatments include Feldenkrais, Acupuncture, Acupressure and the mainstream physical treatments - osteopathy, chiropractic and physiotherapy. The way in which cranial osteopaths treat cerebral palsy patients is by seeking to drain the lymphatic system with gentle massage, increasing blood flow and draining sinus fluids.