In order to assess your walking it is important to see you move bare footed and to see your legs, hence shorts are the attire of choice. For the conventional osteopathic spinal assessment men will need to dress down to their shorts, while for women a suitable bra top is required so the back can be viewed.
The initial consultation will last between one and a half and two hours. I know this is longer than most conventional treatments however the aim is to get unconventional results. If during the initial session I believe that I am not the best therapist to help then I will not charge you for the session and will do my best to point you in the direction of a network of incredible and diverse practitioners who I have had the good chance to work alongside. Follow up sessions may vary from case to case, however, the aim is discharge you in as few sessions as possible with the tools necessary to understand your own body and manage your own recovery.
P-DTR or Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex therapy (…which is a bit of a mouthful), is a form of manual muscle testing that allows us to focus on the nervous system. Simply (ish) put, we have nerve receptors around our body which continually feedback information to the brain about what is going on. We have nerve receptors that monitor stretching, pain, temperature and even tickle and itch sensation. Once the brain receives this information it then processes it and sends back a message to the muscles to act. For instance, if we burn our hand, the heat receptors in the hand send a message to the brain, and our brain sends a message back to the muscles of the arm and hand saying “WITHDRAW!”. This is a marvellous system, however where we start to encounter problems is when the receptors send back faulty information to the brain. Faulty information in results in faulty information out. This can lead to muscle weakness, pain and compensation. P-DTR allows us to break this cycle and prime the system to better accept movement. The treatment can seem a little bizarre at first but go with it as the results can be staggering.
Scar tissue is a must so anyone who has had surgery, C-sections, appendix removal etc. would benefit. In fact, anyone who has had any kind of trauma inflicted on their body (which in my experience is everyone) be it a fall on their head as a child, tattoos, piercings, ankle sprains…..(the list is endless).
Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) was developed by David Weinstock in San Fransisco. This brilliant concept of modified muscle testing enables muscle patterns to be assessed and compensations to be understood. Traditional therapy often favours releasing tight joints and massaging sore muscles, however, this approach fails to understand why they are working so hard in the first place and often results in chasing pain instead of its cause. If a joint manipulation helps for a couple of days, but then stiffness starts to return, then the joint is restricted for a reason. NKT provides a sophisticated assessment and treatment modality that helps to understand the root cause of these poor movement patterns and instantaneous feedback that guides your journey to pain-free movement.
Anatomy in Motion is the ever-evolving brainchild of Gary Ward. Its aim is to unlock the incredible potential that lies within every human body. By observing the body movement during walking it is possible to identify joints, muscles and postures that are being compromised with every step we take. Alongside a thorough case history, it is then possible to paint a picture as to why there is a pain in the system. It is the way that provides peace of mind and the first step towards healing. The solution is to offer back movement to the body, and if the body finds value in this it accepts it (often immediately). It is as if the body has forgotten how to use certain patterns and it just needs a gentle reminder that movement would be so much easier this way. For a more in depth, explanation have a browse through some of the case histories on the blog page.
Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments, connective tissues and mind functioning smoothly together. We believe that for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. Osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. They use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. Osteopaths train for 4-5 years and are governed by the General Osteopathic Council.
The Integrated Systems Model (ISM) is the latest addition to my training and I am so excited about it. Diane Lee is a physiotherapist who is not only versed in all the current research but who also has a ridiculous level of clinical expertise to boot. There has been a lot journeying back and forth to Vancouver to be mentored by her but worth every mile. So what is the Integrated Systems Model (ISM)? Diane would describe it as “just good old physiotherapy” but I think she is underselling her model. It is all about getting to the root cause of your complaint (even if we have to start looking at the other end of your body!) treating it and reintegrating back into movement – just the kind of therapy I love. Diane is also renowned for her work with post-pregnancy issues such as back pain, pelvic pain, prolapse and incontinence and is creating groundbreaking work in these areas. Her teachings have really helped me help my mother 40 (something) years after my birth. It is nice to be able to undo some of the damage I created four decades ago!
Andreo Spina created Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) as a way to train joints and everything that supports them. If only someone had created an evidence based system to become stronger and more mobile when I was a dancer! FRC gives people the prerequisites to move well in what ever sport or activity they should choose. The system begins by making sure that each and every joint can move well, while simultaneously strengthening and controlling this new found movement with appropriately challenging exercises. Ultimately this isolation is integrated into movement patterns to train the nervous system and control your new range. Apart from the numerous acronyms used to describe the movements, FRC is incredibly simple in its intention, but oh so powerful. Here is a link to the CARs routine Andrea developed as a daily practice. I use it myself and with my personal training clients daily.
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India over 5000 years ago. It was intended to promote both physical and mental well being and focuses on poses that increase both strength and flexibility while emphasising breathing and meditation. For more information on Yoga and Magdalena’s teaching schedule please click here or visit Magda’s website here.
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