Osteopathy is a "whole body" system of manual therapy, based on unique biomechanical principles, which uses a wide range of techniques to treat musculo-skeletal problems and other functional disorders of the body.

The World Health Organisation recognises the Osteopathic concept of somatic dysfunction as being scientifically proven, and the British Medical Association also recognises Osteopathy as a discrete medical discipline.

In Australia, Osteopaths are statutorily registered practitioners and five year, full-time university training is available, which covers anatomy, physiology, pathology and general medical diagnosis in addition to Osteopathic technique.

Osteopathy Globally

2004 saw the establishment of the first global osteopathic organisation. WOHO has been embraced by osteopaths and osteopathic institutions from around the world and carries a mission statement which includes:

to promote, develop, protect and establish throughout the world, the study, knowledge, philosophy and practice of osteopathy, its application and research for the benefit of the peoples of all nations; to ensure the world-wide availability of the practice of osteopathy at the highest possible standards.

For further information on the World Osteopathic Health Organisation visit the website
at www.woho.org

The Effects of Ageing

In life, ageing is a natural physiological process. One part of the body, which is greatly affected by the process of ageing, is the musculo-skeletal system. As we get older, the elasticity present within our body deteriorates and thus increases the chance of injuring the soft tissues and bony structures of the body.

The effects of ageing on the body's structure gives rise to symptoms such as:

. generalised, early morning stiffness
. lower back pain and stiffness
. neck pain and arm pain
. hip pain
. arthritis and joint swelling

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a common and sometimes debilitating respiratory disorder which can affect people of all ages. About one in ten Australians suffer from asthma at some time during their lives. Sufferers may occasionally experience difficulty in breathing, accompanied by a wheeze and a tight, restricted chest. Other symptoms may include coughing, vomiting and shaking.

What is the difference between allergic and non-allergic asthma?

There are two different types of asthma: allergic and non-allergic. In allergic asthma, symptoms are usually the result of inhaling or consuming some kind of external substance such as pollen, dust mites, mould, wheat or dairy produce.Non-allergic asthma can be triggered by a range of different factors, including fatigue, physical exertion, some medications, stress or exposure to environments which are cold and damp.

About Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be remembered as a joyful and exciting time, but for some women, pain, discomfort or illness can darken this picture. Osteopaths can assess and treat many of these complaints which are associated with pregnancy.

What are the most common complaints associated with pregnancy?

. lower back pain
. sciatica (leg pain)
. neck, shoulder, middle back pain

Early stages of pregnancy are often associated with symptoms such as nausea, morning sickness, headache, fatigue and dizziness. As the pregnancy progresses, the extra weight creates a shift in the body centre of gravity, combined with softening of muscles and supporting ligaments. This added mechanical stress can cause symptoms such as generalised back pain, sciatica from nerve pressure, pubic symphysis or sacro-iliac joint pain from instability, scoliosis and accentuation of the normal back curves.

Whether you are a weekend warrior or an elite athlete, your osteopath can assist with prevention of injury as well as treatment of many common sporting injuries. These include:

. neck and back strains
. shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries, eg. tennis elbow
. hip, knee, leg and ankle injuries, eg. shin splints
Ankle and shoulder injuries are very common in amateur and professional sport. These injuries can be poorly treated or not treated at all which can lead to recurrence and early degenerative conditions.

Prevention is definitely better than cure!

Headaches are one of the most common medical complains of civilised humanity, however severe headache is only infrequently caused by serious underlying disease.

Common causes of headache

Headache originating from the neck is the most common type of headache. Other varied causes are eyestrain, sinus disease, neck injury (e.g. whiplash), tension headache from stress, poor posture etc., migraines, jaw misalignment (e.g. following dental work).

There are other more serious causes such as infection, haemorrhage and brain tumour. Osteopaths, as primary health care Practitioners, are trained to differentiate between headaches with common causes and those due to serious pathology.

Leon Chaitow ND. DO. MNRO
(Excerpted from Osteopathy: A Complete Health Care System)

If you have ever had an aching back, stiff neck, tennis elbow, 'gammy' knee or some such affliction of the body, then the chances are that you have sought the help of, or have been advised by someone to go to, an osteopath for relief.

If, however, you have, or have had, a more serious health problem such as asthma, migraine headaches, angina pains, digestive disturbances (to name but a few examples), then it has probably not occurred to you that the condition might have some of its origins in a dysfunction of some mechanical component of the body, the musculo-skeletal system.

You would, therefore, probably not have taken such a problem to an osteopath practitioner. Surprising as it may seem, many such 'illnesses' are often the end result of biomechanical changes in the structure of the body which are amenable to osteopathic treatment.