Reasons to visit an osteopath

If you’ve been experiencing some painful joint or muscle problems, you might be considering visiting an osteopath. People visit an osteopath for many reasons. Here are some of the most common:

  1. Spine

Anyone who has a problem along their spine could visit an osteopath. Spinal issues can be caused by a variety of factors such as spending too much time sitting (a problem for office workers) and not enough strengthening exercise. An osteopath will spend some time identifying the issue and then get to work treating it.

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  1. General aching

Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint an exact problem but a patient may feel pain and aches all over the body. Osteopaths are trained to look at the whole body to find the root cause of the discomfort. Aches can be felt by anyone at any age. Teenagers for example might develop a problem from carrying a heavy school bag full of books all day.

  1. Neck

It is a misconception that osteopaths only deal with back pain. When pain is experienced, osteopaths look to the whole body and all its interconnecting parts. Often neck pain can be the result of an issue somewhere else, such as the way you move your shoulders or your posture.  For professional cheltenham osteopaths, visit https://www.cmosteopaths.co.uk/

  1. Female health

Pregnant women especially experience pressure in the joints from carrying that extra weight around. Women’s bodies go through significant change during pregnancy, with ligaments softening and extra stress on the back. Therefore, there are various issues that can cause discomfort for pregnant women and an osteopath can help with these.

  1. Sporting injuries

Osteopaths treat many people who have had a previous injury that they haven’t allowed time to heal fully before returning to exercise. A recurring problem should be sorted out sooner rather than later, whether you’re told to keep off exercise for a while or told to keep exercise light for a time.

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  1. Too much sitting

Osteopaths see a great many people who complain of ailments relating to remaining sedentary for too many hours a day. This is a problem for anyone who must sit at a desk for more 8 hours a day. An osteopath can advise on the best ways to sit, the ergonomics of your office furniture and how to adopt skills that will reduce your risk of illness or injury caused by a sedentary lifestyle.

  1. Scoliosis

An osteopath will be able to identify whether a child or adult is presenting with scoliosis of the spine. They can do this from assessing with both their hands and through the use of x-rays. The extent of the problem can then be examined, and the appropriate referral made if necessary.