Welcome everyone to the first edition of Hampton St Osteopathy's monthly newsletter. We hope you find the content of the newsletter both educational and enjoyable.

Each newsletter will include a feature article on an aspect of Osteopathy and how it can help you today, as well as a "Ask an Osteo" section that will provide advice on common and less common complaints and injuries.

It has been an exciting start to 2009 which followed an exciting (and exhausting) 2008, including a name change and refurbishment to the previous practice, new staff members and a renewed attitude to helping those in pain or discomfort in Hampton and the surrounding Bayside region. We hope this resource will provide valuable information and benefit you now and in the future.

Feature Article

What you should know about Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a system of manual therapy that uses hands-on techniques to assess, diagnose and treat the entire musculo-skeletal system. Osteopaths examine more than just the site of pain or discomfort, they also assess surrounding and related body parts, ensuring an accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plan for every individual. It is a drug-free treatment.

Osteopaths aim to improve the quality and range of movement of the body, which in turn will affect the muscular, circulatory and neurological body components which all help to maintain optimal health.

Osteopaths identify factors that cause and continue to aggravate your condition. This may include work, sport and lifestyle habits. Osteopaths provide tailored advice on stretching and rehabilitation strategies to enhance your recovery and reduce the likelihood of recurring injuries. This holistic treatment approach promotes self awareness and encourages the patient to play a part in their own recovery.

Osteopathic treatment is non-invasive, gentle and safe. Our range of techniques are all hands on and expansive, including direct techniques like manipulation and massage or indirect techniques to decrease tension in the connective tissues of the body and restore a sense of balance. With this in mind osteopathy is ideal for treatment of infants, children and the elderly.

"Ask an Osteo"

Q: Over the past 3 months I have developed a constant ache in my lower back. Sitting for long periods of time makes it worse, and I am unable to rise from a seated position with any ease. A friend told me that strengthening my stomach muscles would help. I have been doing sit-ups for a month and my back pain is still present. What else can I be doing to ease my pain?

Research has shown that performing specific exercises for your abdominal muscles will help to support the spine and alleviate low back pain over time. However, sit-ups are only activating the superficial muscles of the abdomen, not the deep "core" muscles that surround the lower spine and pelvis, and as such this exercise alone will not releive the pain entirely.

Muscles that surround the low back and pelvis can be divided into two categories - those that move the spine (superficial), and those that support the spine (deep, core). In the presence of pain, and especially pain that has persisted for longer than one week, it is the supporting muscles that stop working properly, and as such pain persists and/or becomes worse.

Very specific exercises are required to activate and workout the deep, supporting muscles, which is often known as working the "core muscles". Our Osteopaths are all trained in rehabilitative exercises that include "core-stability". It is also important to improve the movement of the low back and pelvis in conjunction to these exercises. Our Osteopaths do this by using soft-tissue massage, joint articulation or mobilisation and stretching.

Low back pain, especially chronic low back pain, can be quite complex to firstly correctly diagnose and then to treat. A holistic combination of movement work and exercises - which our Osteopaths combine during treatment - has been shown to be the ideal form of treatment in helping this condition.

Q: I am working in front of a computer most days and as a result have developed constant neck pain with dull, constant headaches. What can I do and can Osteopathy help?

There are many different types of headaches, but a well-known type of headache has been acknowledged to originate from the neck (known as cervico-genic headaches). People who suffer from this type of headache often complain of one-sided neck pain that precedes the headache, and that the headache is usually brought on by sustained activity (i.e. sitting for long periods in front of a computer).

Apart from undertaking a thorough assessment, your Osteopath at Hampton St Osteopathy may do a work-station assessment and provide ergonomic advice. Treatment may include soft-tissue massage, joint mobilisation and stretching, as well as prescription of take-home exercises to ensure that a long-term outcome can be acheived. This combination of "hands-on therapy" and ergonomic/postural advice can be very effective when treating cervico-genic headaches.

Disclaimer

Hampton St Newsletter articles are provided for general information only and should in no way be considered as a substitute for the advice and information your osteopath will supply about your particular condition.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate, the authors and the editors of the articles accept no responsibility and cannot guarantee the consequences if patients choose to rely upon these contents as their sole source of information about a condition and its rehabilitation.


Welcome everyone to the first edition of Hampton St Osteopathy's monthly newsletter. We hope you find the content of the newsletter both educational and enjoyable. Each newsletter will include a feature article on an aspect of Osteopathy and how it can help you today, as well as a "Ask an Osteo" section that will provide advice on common and less common complaints and injuries. It has been an exciting start to 2009 which followed an exciting (and exhausting) 2008, including a name change and refurbishment to the previous practice, new staff members and a renewed attitude to helping those in pain or discomfort in Hampton and the surrounding Bayside region. We hope this resource will provide valuable information and benefit you now and in the future. Feature Article What you should know about Osteopathy Osteopathy is a system of manual therapy that uses hands-on techniques to assess, diagnose and treat the entire musculo-skeletal system. Osteopaths examine more than just the site of pain or discomfort, they also assess surrounding and related body parts, ensuring an accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plan for every individual. It is a drug-free treatment. Osteopaths aim to improve the quality and range of movement of the body, which in turn will affect the muscular, circulatory and neurological body components which all help to maintain optimal health. Osteopaths identify factors that cause and continue to aggravate your condition. This may include work, sport and lifestyle habits. Osteopaths provide tailored advice on stretching and rehabilitation strategies to enhance your recovery and reduce the likelihood of recurring injuries. This holistic treatment approach promotes self awareness and encourages the patient to play a part in their own recovery. Osteopathic treatment is non-invasive, gentle and safe. Our range of techniques are all hands on and expansive, including direct techniques like manipulation and massage or indirect techniques to decrease tension in the connective tissues of the body and restore a sense of balance. With this in mind osteopathy is ideal for treatment of infants, children and the elderly. "Ask an Osteo" Q: Over the past 3 months I have developed a constant ache in my lower back. Sitting for long periods of time makes it worse, and I am unable to rise from a seated position with any ease. A friend told me that strengthening my stomach muscles would help. I have been doing sit-ups for a month and my back pain is still present. What else can I be doing to ease my pain? Research has shown that performing specific exercises for your abdominal muscles will help to support the spine and alleviate low back pain over time. However, sit-ups are only activating the superficial muscles of the abdomen, not the deep "core" muscles that surround the lower spine and pelvis, and as such this exercise alone will not releive the pain entirely. Muscles that surround the low back and pelvis can be divided into two categories - those that move the spine (superficial), and those that support the spine (deep, core). In the presence of pain, and especially pain that has persisted for longer than one week, it is the supporting muscles that stop working properly, and as such pain persists and/or becomes worse. Very specific exercises are required to activate and workout the deep, supporting muscles, which is often known as working the "core muscles". Our Osteopaths are all trained in rehabilitative exercises that include "core-stability". It is also important to improve the movement of the low back and pelvis in conjunction to these exercises. Our Osteopaths do this by using soft-tissue massage, joint articulation or mobilisation and stretching. Low back pain, especially chronic low back pain, can be quite complex to firstly correctly diagnose and then to treat. A holistic combination of movement work and exercises - which our Osteopaths combine during treatment - has been shown to be the ideal form of treatment in helping this condition. Q: I am working in front of a computer most days and as a result have developed constant neck pain with dull, constant headaches. What can I do and can Osteopathy help? There are many different types of headaches, but a well-known type of headache has been acknowledged to originate from the neck (known as cervico-genic headaches). People who suffer from this type of headache often complain of one-sided neck pain that precedes the headache, and that the headache is usually brought on by sustained activity (i.e. sitting for long periods in front of a computer). Apart from undertaking a thorough assessment, your Osteopath at Hampton St Osteopathy may do a work-station assessment and provide ergonomic advice. Treatment may include soft-tissue massage, joint mobilisation and stretching, as well as prescription of take-home exercises to ensure that a long-term outcome can be acheived. This combination of "hands-on therapy" and ergonomic/postural advice can be very effective when treating cervico-genic headaches. Disclaimer Hampton St Newsletter articles are provided for general information only and should in no way be considered as a substitute for the advice and information your osteopath will supply about your particular condition. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate, the authors and the editors of the articles accept no responsibility and cannot guarantee the consequences if patients choose to rely upon these contents as their sole source of information about a condition and its rehabilitation.	487A Hampton St, Hampton 9533 5536 www.hamptonstosteo.com.au February 2009 Volume 1, Issue 1 Do you know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? If so, please feel free to forward it to friends or family who are looking to improve their health and wellbeing. To manage your subscription, see the links at the end of this message. New Myotherapist at Hampton St Osteopathy We are happy to announce that we now provide myotherapy as a new service to all our patients. Myotherapy involves deep tissue massage, cupping and dry needling to improve muscular dysfunction and overall health. Virginia Walker has been in the Bayside area for 10 years and now brings her helping hands and bubbly personality to Hampton. New Website Launched Hampton St Osteopathy is proud to announce the launch of their new website at www.hamptonstosteo.com.au. Here you will be able to familiarise yourself with the clinic and staff, and also download helpful articles on many conditions that Osteopathy can help with. Hampton St Osteo supports Sids and Kids Victoria Hampton St Osteo is continuing its support of Sids and Kids by selling raffle tickets within the clinic. It would be wonderful if everyone could help with such a worthy cause. We provide Gift Certificates A perfect gift for a loved one or friend, a Gift Certificate can be purchased for either an Osteopathic treatment or Myotherapy massage.

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