Amber Laris
Chiropractor and Osteopath INFORMATION SHEET
Osteopathy and Back Pain If you’ve ever visited an osteopath, or have considered having osteopathic treatment, it’s more than likely that the reason is to address back problems, most frequently lower back pain (a generic term for any pain experienced in the lumbar region).
www.amberlaris.com.au
The Causes of Back Pain Unfortunately, back pain would appear to be a consequence of our modern lifestyles, where life is busy and hectic but at the same time somewhat sedentary. Office work leads us to spend too many hours a day sitting at a desk or working on a computer, while regularly carrying a handbag or shoulder bag can affect the alignment of your spine. Lifting on a regular basis, even relatively light objects, can also have a cumulatively negative impact on back health, while long hours spent in the car can also be damaging. Added to this, back pain can also be the result of problems in other parts of the body e.g., hip, knee or foot problems or carrying excess weight, all of which can result in a lack of flexibility which inhibits movement and then causes back difficulties. Back pain can also take different forms—some people experience a dull pain every now and then, for others it is a chronic pain that can be entirely debilitating. In either case, it is important to address the issue early.
What Your Osteopath Will Do
environment and conditions so that you are not incurring further harm, as well as show you ways in which you can enhance your However, there are steps that you can take to lessen the impact diet and exercise regime so that your body functions in a way of your back health on your that allows the nervous system lifestyle; working in conjunction to communicate efficiently with your osteopath is one of the most effective precautionary with all the parts of the body. Regular consultations with your measure that you can take. osteopath, accompanied with frequent exercise, and taking For instance, your osteopath care when performing repetitive can show you ways both to tasks or those that require lifting reduce the duration of lower all combine so that you’re able back pain episodes and also to to manage back pain much more prevent them reoccurring. In effectively. addition, your osteopath will give you personalised guidance How Osteopathy Helps To and an exercise programme that will show you how to Address Back Pain stretch properly and to improve your posture, so that you don’t Osteopathic therapy is a positive aggravate an existing condition way to approach the treatment even further. of back problems because it seeks to remove the underlying Your osteopath will also be able causes of pain and discomfort to guide you on ways in which rather than only treating the you can improve your work symptoms. It is non-invasive and
seeks to help the body to heal itself by restoring natural balance and enabling it to function properly once more. As part of this process, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is often used. This involves your osteopath gently applying a precise amount of physical pressure to a specific location, perhaps the affected area or perhaps another point on the body. The aim is to relax the tissues where you are feeling pain or discomfort
so as to restore muscle and tissue balance, relieve restricted joints and to promote the flow of bodily fluids. OMT may sometimes require a short, forceful movement called a highvelocity thrust, when you might hear a clicking or popping noise. This is not painful and is entirely normal and to be expected.
www.amberlaris.com.au Amber Laris is a long-established chiropractor and osteopath with a popular practice in the heart of the Adelaide CBD, and is a member of the Chiropractic Association of Australia (CAA) and the Chiropractic and Osteopathic College of Australasia (COCA). Amber is dedicated to helping her patients find a natural way to health and well-being, so please contact her to discover more about the benefits of chiropractic and osteopathy, or to arrange a consultation.
Level 2, 33 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA, 5000 Telephone: (08) 8221 6100
www.amberlaris.com.au
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