Osteopathy has long been used to treat back pain. But for years, evidence of its effectiveness has been limited – until now that is.

According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), there is now “promising evidence” that osteopathy may relieve musculoskeletal pain.  The review, published in the BMJ, saw researchers asses the safety and effectiveness of osteopathy for backpain.  To do so, they trawled through nine systematic reviews and meta analyses conducted between 2013 and 2020.  These involved 55 primary trials and 3740 participants.

The result?

Researchers concluded: “This overview suggests that [osteopathy] could be effective in the management of musculoskeletal disorders, specifically with regard to [chronic non-specific low back pain] and [low back pain] in pregnant women or [those who have just had a baby].”

Over the past 25 years, Osteopath Robin Kiashek, has treated hundreds of clients for backpain.

He said: “I’ve been working in this field for a long time.  I’ve seen first-hand the many benefits osteopathy can bring for those suffering with this often debilitating musculoskeletal problem.

“It’s promising to see researchers back up what many Osteopaths already knew – and further confirm that Osteopathy can help aid back pain.”

How can Osteopathy help back pain?

Unfortunately, back pain affects up to 80% of us at some point in our lives. It’s one of the most common reasons for workplace absence and the NHS spends more than £1 billion per year on back pain related costs.

But here’s the good news. At the Robin Kiashek Clinics, we aim to relieve pain and help strengthen the body, making it less susceptible to discomfort or injury.  Robin also tries to understand the lifestyle factors which may have contributed to the onset of pain.

“My range of gentle and effective treatments to relieve back pain includes manual Osteopathy, Western Acupuncture and Low-Level Laser Therapy,” Robin says. “Through these non-invasive methods and by working closely with your lifestyle, I can help minimise or even resolve symptoms and improve your overall health.”

And there’s back pain testimonials to prove this

 

Dr Nick Losseff, Consultant Neurologist, said: “As a medic I am luckily privy to insider knowledge on who the very best osteopaths are, which is how I got to see Robin. He resurrected my back after three months of agony and being unable to even sit down. His approach is totally holistic and perhaps most importantly he has taught me how to avoid future problems successfully. I recommend all my back pain patients to Robin.  He is a really great guy!”.

In fact that Dr Losseff also recently brought Robin onboard as part of a team assessing a complex, high profile case.

Another Consultant Neurologist, Dr Paul Jarman, said: “Robin Kiashek is my ‘go-to’ osteopath for my complex patients with neck and back problems. He combines excellent clinical care, effective treatment and a friendly approachable manner. He always communicates well with patients and the referring specialist. I would strongly recommend him to anyone in search of a first-class osteopath.”

While a third patient said: “I went to see Robin in his East Finchley “The Twyford Practice” with a bad lower back pain that left me unable even to walk properly. Robin was extremely professional and highly knowledgeable, with a friendly conversational manner that helped to put myself at ease at a time when I was suffering from quite a lot of pain.  He an excellent osteopath and a very nice person. Robin also treated me with an acupuncture and low level laser therapy, which helped a lot for my recovery. I would highly recommend Robin without hesitation.”

If you’re living with back pain, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Impact of the Covid  Virus over the Longer Term

It can be a little difficult to keep abreast of the up-to-date COVID situation.  So, we thought it might be helpful to issue a reminder of how we’re dealing with things in our clinics in both Central London and East Finchley.  After all, COVID is still a matter of concern for many people.

Robin is fully vaccinated and boosted. He continues to wear PPE – in the form of an apron, surgical gloves and an FFP2 mask – and to fully sanitise the treatment room between patients.  He also asks that any patients who are not fully jabbed and boosted wear a mask in both reception and the clinic.

This is out of respect for those patients who are medically vulnerable but still need their regular Osteopathic treatment.  It is also to protect Robin.  As you will appreciate, he doesn’t really have the option to move to home working if he catches COVID!

We remain extremely grateful to all patients for their understanding of the need for continued vigilance on the COVID front.  We appreciate that the news is full of restrictions being lifted but numbers are still very high, and we believe it remains appropriate to think of the wider community.

Long Covid

On the subject of COVID, if you do find yourself struggling with the impact of the virus over the longer term then please do bear in mind the work that Robin has been doing with the Perrin Technique to help patients suffering with Long COVID.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines long Covid as lasting for more than 12 weeks, although some people consider symptoms that last more than eight weeks to be long Covid. Ongoing symptoms may include

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Problems with memory and concentration (or brain fog)
  • Insomnia
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Pins and needles
  • Joint pain
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Rashes
  • Feeling sick, stomach aches or loss of appetite
  • A high temperature

If this rings a bell then there is more information here.  Alternatively, you can book an appointment here.

 

 

 

Dear Robin,

I have been meaning to write an actual letter/ card to you to thank you for ages now, and I maybe one day I will actually go into a shop and remember to buy a stamp, and will find an open shop that sells cards! But seeing as it might be a while until that day comes, I wanted to write and thank you sooner, via email, for your support through mine and F’s covid recovery.

It was so kind of you to treat F for free and to have such compassion and kindness for both of us through such a challenging time in our lives. Your support gave us such hope and fortitude in the face of fear.

We both appreciated the regular comfort of a visit to your calming clinic and then subsequent feelings of health and vitality that followed.

We are both doing well. There are still some challenging days but overall we are so much better. I would have liked to finish treatment with you to full completion but unfortunately as you know, I had to prioritise other things. We are both taking care and continuing with Perrin technique.

Wishing you all the best and thank you again for your kindness and compassion for us in such difficult times.

A & F

Robin was recommended to me by Dr Perrin. The treatment has made me realise how important it is to calm down my sympathetic nervous system in order to overcome chronic fatigue. Robin has achieved this. He is an excellent osteopath and a sympathetic practitioner

In April 2020, I was feeling the post viral effects of likely Covid and felt I had nowhere to turn to for support from a health and well-being perspective. My GP practice still remains phone consultations only and I was frustrated that my health wasn’t improving. I had crippling fatigue, strange neurological symptoms, insomnia, dizziness and many other symptoms following the acute viral phase. Luckily, I did some research and learned the Perrin Technique might be beneficial and found Robin as a practitioner online. I started regular sessions with him and was grateful for the holistic advice, confirmed at Consultation that I had post viral fatigue that mirrors Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and started my Perrin technique sessions weekly. I am not 100% yet back to normal but I feel it’s been a beneficial journey so far. I also feel empowered that I have a way of helping my recovery beyond resting and healthy eating

“Really struggling and miserable with sciatica during the pandemic. From the moment I contacted Robin, things improved. The surgery is spotless and sanitised after every patient, every care is taken to mitigate against Covid.. felt very confident at a difficult time when I was reluctant to contact anybody ! The programme that Robin delivered brought immediate relief and over a course of treatment I am now better 🤞I’m so grateful to Robin for taking the pain and misery away”

Cheryl

Dear Robin

I mentioned to you that I had suddenly reflected that you, through your skills, have greatly enhanced my quality of life. As you know, I had been to osteopaths before and had ended up going for treatment every four to six weeks or when things got difficult. The attitude seemed to be that I had a crocked-up body (a car crash, a fall) and that was that. Osteopathy seemed to serve to alleviate the hopeless symptoms. The osteopath was a fireman.

By luck, I was recommended to you and found an entirely different, holistic, approach. It was, to begin with, disturbingly collaborative. You wanted to know about the whole person and you wanted me to articulate how I felt, where the pain was, how it came and went and so forth. You wanted to know about my life and how it affected me; You wanted me to describe discomfort and tell the story. You were alarmingly perceptive and sometimes told me that I was presenting as being depressed, preoccupied or whatever. You invited me in to the process in a slightly intimidating way. You made me tell my story.

It certainly helps. You use a variety of techniques with a far greater emphasis on massage and a lesser dependence on manipulation. Your range of skills includes acupuncture (needles and laser!). You use your skills to accompany me on my journey.

If this approach is a common one, it was new to me. I found it disconcerting for a while, but I certainly found that it was effective.

So it was that, one day, I found myself taking a tube journey to a French Class in South Kensington. A tube journey that seemed less fatiguing than usual. I was carrying bags that I would have had difficulty carrying before and I felt fine. In the past I would have spent most of the next day lying down having made that journey, carrying those bags of books and papers. It would have created serious fatigue and back pain – instead, I was a little tired as any normal man of my age might be. I was back (no pun). For this, I thank you, and want to express my great gratitude to you. Bless you, dear Robin.

Christopher

I went to see Robin in his East Finchley “The Twyford Practice” with a bad lower back pain that left me unable even to walk properly.

Robin was extremely professional and highly knowledgeable, with a friendly conversational manner that helped to put myself at ease at a time when I was suffering from quite a lot of pain; he is an excellent osteopath and a very nice person.

Robin also treated me with an acupuncture and low level laser therapy, which helped a lot for my recovery.
I would highly recommend Robin without hesitation to anyone.

I wanted to thank you for the treatment last week. I can’t believe how good I have felt this week. Honestly feels like a miracle with the pain i was in before I saw you. I have told my whole cast that if they suffer with any injuries etc they need to see you!
I’m so grateful to you that I can now perform my show pain free. Thank you so much
If I’m ever close by again I will try and see you.
Thanks again Robin

I was initially referred to Robin by my personal trainer because of a crippling knee and hip pain. As an individual who suffered with anxiety, I was extremely nervous to meet him but his approachable nature instantly eased my worries.  He diagnosed me with tendinitis and a snapping hip and over the weeks as he treated my injuries, the pain eased off and I found myself able to do things I was previously unable to do. I believe Robin is truly one of a kind in his field; irrespective of my anxieties, he was able to make me feel safe and comfortable. He showed genuine concern and interest in me and my life. I opened up to him about my struggles with diabetes and anxiety. After this, he suggested I try Autogenic Training with him to see if this would help tame my anxiety and stabilise my diabetes. Because of my anxiety disorder, I have struggled to do everyday things like taking the tube, answering my phone when an unknown number rings, eating around other people and leaving my house. As I progressed through the autogenic training course, I found myself being able to cope with taking the tube, I was able to push myself in social situations, and I felt more comfortable when leaving my house. Autogenic training has helped me throw my anxiety in the backseat and as a result has stabilised my blood sugar levels, making diabetes easier to control. Robin has given me all of the tools and support to conquer my anxiety and for that I am forever grateful.