Tag Archive for: osteopath london

Nice guys finish last – well that’s how the saying goes!

While this on the face of it may not sound as if it has anything to do with me being an osteopath in London W1 I wanted to share this short video that sets out to show, with scientific evidence, how nice guys finish first.

Whilst some mean, cutthroat and envious people may temporarily exploit and gain from others, in the long run, not only nice guys but nice people really do finish first.

 

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinic in London W1 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979. I also have a clinic in North London if this is more convenient for you.

 

As an Osteopath in London treating patients who are suffering with some form of pain, I am always interested in research into pain management and keeping across approaches to pain recovery.

SIRPA, which stands for Stress Illness Recovery Practictioners Association, is an organistaion that has a mission to engage health professionals and train them in an approach to chronic pain recovery to help shift their patients from living with pain to living without it.

SIRPA have produced an interesting report that covers ‘5 Things Your GP Won’t Have Told You About Chronic Pain’ that can be downloaded from their website.

What is chronic pain?

Simply put chronic pain is any pain in your body that has lasted more than around 12 weeks. It can last for months and years. It can often start after suffering from an initial injury such as back spasm or ankle sprain and then continue from there. However a lot of the time the pain can be unexplained and could be because of posture problems or poor sleeping habits.

5 things your GP won’t have told you about chronic pain

SIRPA have outlined 5 major differences in their approach to chronic pain and that of current mainstream medicine.

These differences support SIRPA’s position that once physically damaging conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases have been ruled out that most causes of persistent or recurrent pain are not caused by something being wrong with the part of the body that hurts, rather by the brain.

In summary,  SIRPA highlights the following 5 points about pain

  1. Fear of pain and causing further damage can result in pain increasing
  2. A belief that there must be a physical cause for a pain often results in critical underlying factors being missed
  1. Pain can be triggered by the brain despite there being no physical trauma
  1. A patient’s belief that their pain is due to a physical cause often leads to their pain being ‘managed’ with full resolution being less likely
  1. SIRPA recognises that although chronic pain is a result of physiological changes that occur after the emotional brain is triggered by emotions, this is an unconscious and automatic response.

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

 

 

 

Being an experienced osteopath in London a common questions I get asked is “what’s the difference between osteopathy and chiropractic treatment?”

An Osteopath in London explains the difference between (classical) osteopathy and (classical) chiropractic

The answer isn’t necessarily a simple one. There are as many similarities as there are differences between the two professions. There are not only differences between the professions but equally between practitioners of the same profession.

For example in osteopathy you have differences between classical osteopathy versus ‘cranial’ osteopathy and in chiropractic you have differences between classical chiropractic versus McTimoney chiropractic.

That being said there are differences between the two methods which are more to do with the underlying philosophical approach rather than which particular techniques are applied during treatment.

When it comes to diagnosis, chiropractors, will focus mostly on spinal integrity and will use x-rays of the spine to form a diagnosis. Osteopaths will use palpation (touch) of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons) and spinal positioning in conjunction with overall postural balance to form a diagnosis.

In the main, chiropractors work mainly on the spine. Osteopaths work on the spine and also on the whole body including peripheral joints.

When it comes to treatment chiropractors use more manipulative techniques whilst osteopaths may use manipulation in conjunction with soft tissue and mobilisation (stretching of joints) techniques. In my treatments I take into account the patient’s background, both physically and emotionally, which may then warrant the use of other approaches, such as Western Acupuncture, Low Level Laser Therapy and when appropriate, Nutritional advice and/or NLP and/or relaxation techniques.

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

 

A recent study undertaken at Cambridge University found that a lack of exercise kills twice as many people as obesity. The study of 334,000 people found that a persons life could be prolonged by taking a modest amount of activity. It also indicated that the people who would gain the most would be the least fit.

The study is a stark reminder of the impact that an increasing sedentary lifestyle is having on people’s lives.

While the study found that taking a twenty minute walk a day would cut the risk of premature death by almost a third, Ulf Ekelund, who led the study believes that we should be looking to do more than this.

The most recent Government guidelines advises Britons to take 150 minutes of exercise or ‘moderate activity’ every week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Moderate activities include such things as taking a brisk walk, gardening and dancing are included in this group  while vigorous exercise would   include playing sport, running or aerobics.Unfortunately in another survey it was found that a third of people can’t even manage to walk for 30 minutes over 7 days.

Take a walk in North London …

As an experienced North London osteopath I treat patients who are suffering pain and discomfort often brought on by their lifestyle.

Exercise can have so many beneficial effects on our health and wellbeing, so it is important to tale time out to fit it into our busy schedules.

All you have to do is take a brief walk. We are very fortunate in North London to have many places to get out and about in our local area. Just on our doorstep in Muswel Hill is Alexandra Palace. The Park is conveniently located to the surrounding areas including East Finchley and down the road we have Hampstead Heath.

So go ahead and take a walk, all you need is a 20 minute walk a day and you will improve the quality of your life.

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at my osteopathy clinic in North London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979. I also have a clinic in Central London should this be more convenient for you.

 

For over 30 years, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been used in the field of osteopathy.

As an experienced osteopath in London I use Low Level LAser Therpay in my practice as it offers an effective form of treatment for pain, the healing of wounds and musculoskeltal conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to: sports injuries, heel pain, tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis, back pain, frozen shoulder rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis, fracture healing and headaches and migraines.

What is Low Level Laser Therapy?

LLLT uses low power or ‘soft’ laser light. I t is able to alter cellular function, improves outcomes and speed up your body’s natural healing process in a safe and effective way.

How does it work?

It works by directly treating damaged tissues with particular and appropriate wavelengths of light. This stimulates your body’s healing cells and optimises your recovery. The positive effects of LLLT have been researched and tested by medical professionals and the treatment is a viable option.

LLLT is quick, pain free and easy to apply. As an experienced Osteopath in London my patients experience the many benefits of this treatment which supports their body’s natural healing process.  It can also restart a stalled healing process and can be especially effective for chronic conditions or where the immune system has been compromised.

The benefits of LLLT

There are many benefits to LLLT and in short you will benefit from quicker injury recovery without the associated pain of other more intrusive treatments. You won’t feel the pain, discomfort and side–effects of other treatments.

As an experienced London Osteopath I believe that Low Level Laser Therapy is an extremely effective and safe treatment and LLLT is available at my London osteopathy clinic in central and north london.

You can find more informtaion about Low Level Laser Therapy here.

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979. I have a clinic in North London and Central London.

If you have not visited an Osteopath you may be slightly nervous as to what lies before you. That is why I want to put you at ease regarding your first visit to either of my London Osteopathy clinics at Muswell Hill or Soho and what you can expect.

Whilst every treatment and every therapy I offer is different and tailored to your individual needs,  there are some general practices that apply to the approach of the consultation and treatment you will receive.

Your Initial Consultation

Your initial consultation will usually last for approximately 45 minutes. This can vary depending on your problem of course.

What happens during the initial consultation?

Whether it’s your first time visiting an osteopath in London or just the first time you’re visiting me, the first thing I do is to learn about you. This includes finding out about details of your medical history, lifestyle and, if relevant, diet. It is important that I also understand what you hope to achieve.

After learning about you I will conduct a clinical examination. In order to allow me to examine your spinal and joint mobility properly it may be necessary for you to undress to your underwear.

The whole purpose of the process above is so I can get a clear understanding of you and your medical condition and reach a ‘working diagnosis’ and determine the appropriate treatment for your individual needs.

Once these procedures are complete, I provide you with a treatment protocol informing you of the type of treatment I would recommend and how many treatments are required. If Osteopathy is the appropriate treatment for you, I will explain the diagnosis to you and, where possible, the underlying causative factors for your condition.

After the consultation you will receive a short treatment if appropriate. You will also provide you with advice on exercises, hydrotherapy and ‘what to do and what to avoid’.

Patients with CFS/ME

In you are suffering with CFS/ME, the initial consultation follows a different format to that described above. You will be informed of this prior to your first appointment and will be sent information setting out the appropriate procedure.

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

Poor posture affects our physical appearance and can make someone look older and heavier than they really are. However, over time poor posture can have a significant impact on our physical health affecting the spine, shoulders, hips and knees.

Unfortunately, as an experienced Osteopath in London I often treat patients whose problems can be related to their poor posture. Their symptoms include: back and joint pain, reduced flexibility and muscle disorders.

The good news is that you can improve your posture by undertaking some simple exercises.

Three common postural problems I see as an experienced London Osteopath are:

  1.  Head Forward
  2. Shoulders Rounded
  3. Shoulders Elevated

If you find that you are often in one of these positions then here are some exercises that you want to follow to correct your posture.

1.  Head Forward

To correct this posture you need to loosen the muscles on the back of your neck. Simply slowly move your head forward and tuck your chin into your chest and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times a day.

2.  Shoulders Rounded

This is otherwise known as slouching.  To correct this you need to strength your trapezius which is the large muscle across your shoulders and back. Lie face down on the floor with your arms at a 90 degree angle in a high five position. Keeping your arms in this position, raise them from the floor by pulling your shoulders back and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold this position for 5 seconds and then lower your arms. Repeat 10 times and do a set 3 times a day.

3. Shoulders Elevated

This posture is very common and to correct it you need to strengthen the muscle under your chest. To do this sit upright in a chair. Place your palms facing down next to your hips and keep your arms locked straight so as not to move them. Press down on your palms until your bottom is raised off the chair and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times and do a set 3 times a day.

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I as an experienced London Osteopath may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

Note: if you haven’t exercised for some time and you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. Id you experience any pain or discomfort during exercise then stop and seek medical advice.

For most of us modern life means a lot of sitting. It’s hard to escape sitting for long periods of time, Modern life is full of opportunities to sit for long periods, from slouching on the sofa watching TV to sitting in our cars and sitting at an office desk all day long, more and more of our time is spent sitting.

Unfortunately, humans aren’t designed to sit for such long periods of time and there are major problems with doing so. Being a leading Osteopath in London I come across patients who have the problems as a result of sitting for too long all the time.

What impact does sitting have on your body?

First off there are basic bodily function issues. When we sit for too long our calorie burning rate can drop to 1 calorie per minute. After even longer of sitting there is also a decrease in blood flow.

Sitting for many hours a day significantly drops the level of insulin in your body which in good time will increase the risk of ‘Type 2 diabetes.

After 2 weeks of sitting for more than 6 hours a day we see an increase in LDL cholesterol (aka the bad stuff) resulting in an increase of the likelihood of weight gain.

Not to mention it becomes harder for your body to break down fat not just because the body’s enzymes are less effective but also because your body is doing less due to weakened muscles.

It can make you less happy as movement sends good feeling hormones to the brain. In short too much sitting affects the quality of your life and the health of your body.

See a great video explaining the perils of sitting

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I as an experienced Osteopath in London may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

 

Sometimes it is all too easy to fall into the trap of accepting our fate. Sometimes we think that we have no choice but to accept a situation. This is often the case with physical problems; we can think that our problems are genetic. We can think there is nothing we can do and we might as well accept our fate. This is wrong.

As a leading London Osteopath and someone who helps his patients beyond pain and discomfort I can tell you that we don’t have to accept our physical problems, we don’t have to accept our genes as fate. We have the power to influence our genes for the better. We can change our dietary and physical habits for the better and in turn influence how our genes are expressed.

Being a London Osteopath doesn’t limit me to just my immediate field, I also take a great interest in general well being as this helps me provide a better service. I can help you improve your physical health, your emotional well being and your life style habits and in doing so, possibly, help influence how your genes are expressed.

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As Deam Ornish shares in this video, your genes are not your fate

For further reading, see Bruce Lipton’s book ‘The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles’.

Through the research of Dr Lipton and other leading-edge scientists, stunning new discoveries have been made about the interaction between your mind and body and the processes by which cells receive information. It shows that genes and DNA do not control our biology, that instead DNA is controlled by signals from outside the cell, including the energetic messages emanating from our thoughts. Using simple language, illustrations, humour, and everyday examples, he demonstrates how the new science of Epigenetics is revolutionising our understanding of the link between mind and matter and the profound effects it has on our personal lives and the collective life of our species.

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If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitisor ‘ME’, is a chronic illness. For those with CFS, the impact on their lives can be devastating. Previously healthy and active individuals affected by CFS find themselves unable to perform the most basic of activities.

CFS causes persistent exhaustion. Other symptoms can include depression, sleep disorder, headaches, sensitivity to sound and light, a sore throat and back, neck and muscle pain.

As a London Osteopath I am also qualified in the Perrin Technique. The Perrin Technique is a practice that works towards diagnosing and treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It was developed by Raymond Perrin and is based on the validated scientific research that CFS/ME that is caused by a reversal of lymphatic drainage, especially from the brain, causing a build of toxins.

The Perrin Technique opens up the flow of lymphatic fluids in the body and rids it of poisonous elements allowing it to function properly.

Diagnosing & treating CFS/ME with the Perrin Technique

To diagnose CFS/ME, I check for a specific set of physical symptoms by carrying out a physical examination of the patient. Taking this information in combination with information that the patient provides about their medical history and lifestyle I am able to provide a diagnosis based on the principles of the Perrin Technique. The consultation and examination takes around 90 minutes.

The Perrin Technique, like Osteopathy, involves hands-on treatment. This will include lymphatic drainage and physical manipulation to stimulate the movement of lymphatic fluids around the brain, body and the spine. Not only does the treatment work towards detoxifying the body, it also allows it to flow and function naturally to prevent the future build-up of unhealthy is materials.

To complement the hands-on treatment, patients are provided with self-massage techniques and appropriate exercises. During the consultation supplementation is also recommended.

With careful treatment Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients can start to re-gain their lives and don’t need to be bedridden. However, it is important that they learn to pace themselves and finding the right balance of treatment to help support them.

You can read more about my thoughts on pacing oneself in an interview I gave to the Ham& High newspaper on how to beat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with a sense of balance and stability.

As well as being a qualified Osteopath in London I am qualified in various therapies that I use with the Perrin Technique to help patients such as life-coaching and nutrition.

If you are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and would like further information on how I may help you or to book an appointment at one of my osteopathy clinics in London please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.