Osteopathy for all the family

Ian Clutton gives an overview of Osteopathy and how it can benefit a range of different conditions:

Osteopathy is an effective treatment for babies, children and mothers during pregnancy. It produces results when used in isolation or alongside other complementary therapies or medicine.

Osteopaths will initially take a detailed case history to evaluate the presenting complaint and if it is applicable to osteopathic treatment or referral to another specialist. Osteopaths are trained to use 'normal' clinical examination techniques, some of these may have already completed by a medical practitioner, eg. Checking for congenital dislocation hips. They will then examine whether there is any restriction in moving eg. Joints and muscles. Treatment will then be discussed with the parents and plan or prognosis suggested. Sometimes the young respond much quicker than adults but it depends on each individual case.

The causes of illness varies and is often multiple, but often it is the natural forces of labour. The forces of labour and pregnancy on the infant's body can be very large. Osteopaths believe that the body is capable of reversing or adapting to these strains. Often a baby's cry and suckling action can help to restore normal structure. When the body falters in its self healing, osteopathy tries to treat the most influential reason(s) for its failure and enable symptoms to restore health. For example, tight and/or uncomfortable neck muscles may affect:
- feed position and efficiency
- development of symmetry in co-ordination

Babies and infants are treated using gentle rhythmical stretching and 'massage' techniques plus what is called cranial osteopathy. Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle treatment using subtle precise small movements. An adults skill is made up of interdigitated or interlocked bones which allow very limited controlled movement. The infants skill permits more movement, some bones not yet joined 'creating' gaps filled by cartilage or membrane. The infant bone is also more malleable. Each patient is treated differently depending on many factors but babies can respond more quickly to treatment. A treatment session by an osteopathy can very between ½ - 1 hour and costs in the region of £25-50.

Osteopathy can help with the following conditions:

Babies
Sleep disturbance, Excessive crying, Birth strain eg, Vantoux or forceps, Colic, Mechanical strain eg. Talipes, Congenital dislocating hip.

Children
Infections, Glue ear, Walking and gait, Falls, Sprains, Osteocondritis, Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity, Speech and educational, Coordination development

Mothers
Sciatica, Back pain, Coccydnia, Oedma, Posture, Carpal tunnel, Insomnia, Heartburn, Indigestion, Constipation

Ian Clutton BSc (Hons) Ost is a qualified Osteopath and practices at Integrated Health in Sevenoaks. He is happy to discuss the treatment of babies, children and pregnant women or in general, call him on 01732 464109