Looking for an Osteopath or Physiotherapist in Deptford SE8, London?

What is lower back pain?
It could be a mild ache or could be a sharp, stabbing or shooting pain. Lower back problems affect the spine’s stability, flexibility and strength. This may cause pain, discomfort, and stiffness. Just below the ribs down to the upper buttocks is referred to your Lower back.

What can cause lower back pain?
The most common reason could be strain of the muscles, ligaments, joints & nerves. Sitting at your desk for long hours, lifting items incorrectly, increase the strain on the joints and muscles. Modern lifestyles and work means we are sitting for long periods which can cause issues.
Lower back pain may also result from other conditions which are not related to the back itself. These include:

• Gastrointestinal
• Gynaecological
• Kidney (renal) problems

We would recommend always asking for a professional assessment of your lower back pain. We offer a FREE 15 minute spinal assessment, just ask when you book with us.

Symptoms of lower back pain?
If you are suffering from lower back pain you will normally feel stiffness and a restriction in movement. Sitting for long periods like driving or in the office can particularly cause aching or sharp pains. Pain may be in the buttocks or pass down the leg.

What are the treatment options for low back pain?
Following the spinal assessment an Osteopath would be able to outline the options in terms of treatment of the lower back pain. If you would then like to proceed with a treatment then usually this would follow the assessment.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail please use the link below or call one of the team.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is a relatively common problem, especially among adults. In many cases, the cause of the pain is not a medical condition. In fact, in most cases, the cause of the pain goes undetected. When the cause of neck pain is not a medical condition, the pain is usually referred to as ‘mechanical’ or ‘simple’ neck pain and may be cause because of one of more of the following reasons:

• Minor strains and sprains to muscles
• Ligaments in the neck
• Bad posture may be a contributing factor

*** For those working on a desk all day, bad posture can be a contributing factor to neck pain ***

Shoulder Pain

Poor posture and frozen shoulder – may inhibit normal movement in the shoulder joint and can be a source of pain. In extreme cases, movement in the shoulder may be completely inhibited.
Shoulder instability – Also known as Hypermobility. As the name suggests, in this condition, the shoulder joint is unstable and may display an unusually large range of movement.
Rotator cuff disorders – The rotator cuff consists of a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. The main function of the rotator cuff is to keep the shoulder stable. Any disorders in the rotator cuff will lead to instability in the shoulder joint.
Acromioclavicular joint disorders – Acromioclavicular joint is the joint present at the top of the shoulder. Conditions affecting this area are known as Osteoarthritis in the shoulder joints and can be cause because of a fractured humerus (upper arm bone) or collarbone.

Stress

We may not realise it, but emotional stress can lead to increase in muscle tension, especially at the base of the neck, head and jaw. This can in turn, upset normal blood flow, irritate nerves, and cause headaches.

Sciatica is the name give to the Irritation or compression of the ‘sciatic nerve’. The sciatic nerve is actually made up of a group of nerves. These stretch from the bottom of the spine (lower back) and are responsible for controlling the muscles in the back of the knee and lower leg. The sciatic nerve is also responsible for delivering sensation to the back of the thigh, a part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot. It is the longest nerve in the human body.

What are the Symptoms of Sciatica pain?

The symptoms of sciatica start with a mild tingling or a burning sensation in the affected areas. It often starts as a dull ache and may get worse:

• After standing
• After sitting
• At night
• When sneezing
• Coughing
• Laughing
• Bending backward
• Walking more than a feet

Patients suffering from sciatica pain may experience pain in the lower back, leg, and all the way down to the calf.

In most cases, patients experience pain on one side. Patients may feel sharp pain in one leg or hip, and numbness in other parts of the leg. The same may also be felt on the back of the calf and the sole of the foot.

Common causes of sciatica pain include:

•  Slipped disc
•  Spinal stenosis
•  Piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks)
•  Pelvic injury
•  Fracture

Would you like to discuss this in detail? Kindly use the link below or call our team.

Sports massage therapy employs more vigorous forms of massage techniques to help athletes avoid and recover from sports-related injuries. Regular sports massage therapy has been proven to even provide athletes with health and performance benefits. Ideally, the therapy should be performed before and after any significant competition to ensure there are no injuries or loss of mobility.

Physical Benefits

Athletes that engage in physically demanding sports such as rugby, hockey, or football, where physical contact and bruising is common, sports massage therapy can offer unmatched physical benefits. Similarly, activities such as running and cycling exert significant strain on our musculo-skeletal system, something that can be alleviated with regular sports massage therapy. Other physical benefits include:

•    Reduced tension in the fascia
•    Reduction in scar tissue
•    Clearing of harmful metabolic byproducts
•    Improved blood flow
•    Improved delivery of nutrients to your muscles
•    Improved tissue elasticity
•    Relieve stress on joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles

Physiological Benefits

Apart from maintaining overall health and avoiding injuries during sport activities, the main physiological benefits of sports massage therapy include pain reduction and relaxation.