We are an osteopathic practice with clinics in Looe, Saltash and Millbrook, offering effective treatment for back pain and a wide range of related conditions including neck pain, sciatica, arthritis and a sports injury clinic. We are a welcoming and friendly clinic dedicated to quickly getting you back to full health.
Booking is easy with our online system. There are no long wait times and you can normally see a clinician face-to-face within 24-48 hours of booking your appointment. We are here to help and if you have any questions about our treatments, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Back pain is one of the most common conditions people suffer from. Back pain is the third most common reason people visit a doctor, and around 80% of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their life.
The high incidence of back pain reflects that fact that it has a wide range of causes. Sometimes these may be obvious, such as an acute injury or ‘putting your back out’ from twisting awkwardly, bending over or lifting a heavy object. Other times back pain may come on gradually or occasionally, perhaps as a result of sitting for long periods at a desk or driving, or muscular pain from activities such as housework or gardening.
Many other conditions can also cause back pain. These may be conditions where the issue itself is the cause of the pain, such as a slipped disc or sciatica, or may be due to a chronic condition which causes back pain as a secondary issue, such as fibromyalgia, osteoporosis or arthritis. Pregnancy also frequently causes back pain, and many women also suffer from back pain at certain points in the menstrual cycle.
Your osteopath can help release the muscles in your back, improve spinal alignment and reduce pain, and also help manage the musculoskeletal effects of any chronic conditions you may be suffering from.
We have two welcoming and conveniently situated clinics
Many people begin by trying home treatments for their back pain. Painkillers such as paracetamol may help reduce pain but do nothing to deal with the underlying causes. There is nothing wrong with taking painkillers occasionally but if you find your back pain is becoming a regular issue, speak to a professional to diagnose the underlying cause and find a more lasting solution.
Heat pads, hot baths and lying down are also common approaches to self-treating back pain and all may have a therapeutic effect. Your osteopath can advise you on how these might help in your particular case, including where to best place a heat pad if the location of pain is not the source of the problem, and the best sleeping or lying position to help reduce pain.
Activities like yoga, pilates and stretching can all be very beneficial to releasing your back, reducing pain and improving spinal alignment. These kinds of physical activities are likely to have a greater effect on improving your posture, flexibility and reducing pain than self-treatments such as heat pads and laying down. Be careful not to overdo it as you can also injure yourself further by doing too much too soon, and some poses and stretches will be more beneficial or detrimental to some people than others. Again, your osteopath can advise you.
Physical therapy such as osteopathy is generally the most effective treatment for most back pain. If you are in a lot of pain, or you find that you are trying self-treatments and your back pain is still bothering you, a physical therapist can help to diagnose the root cause of the issue and work on the problem directly.
Registered with the General Osteopathic Council and Institute of Osteopathy
Osteopaths are experts on the spine and musculoskeletal system. Osteopaths consider the function of the body as a whole, and are trained to find the underlying cause of your back pain and give you a professional and accurate diagnosis at the first appointment. Osteopaths use a range of physical therapy techniques to treat back pain directly, including directly manipulating the vertebrae of your spine, soft tissue techniques such as deep tissue massage, mobilisation, stretching and dry needling. Osteopaths work directly with the body and do not prescribe medication.
Osteopaths complete a minimum of 4 years training and are registered and regulated in the UK by the General Osteopathic Council. Our osteopaths are additionally registered with the Institute of Osteopathy. Osteopathy is recognised as one of the 14 Allied Health Professions and many osteopaths work in musculoskeletal departments of the NHS. Osteopaths are also trained Primary Care Practitioners, able to diagnose your problem and refer you to other services if osteopathy is not the most appropriate therapy for you, or for scans and x-rays if necessary.
Your first appointment is 60 minutes long, allowing you time to explain your problem to your osteopath. Your osteopath will then take a medical history and carry out a thorough examination, both of any painful areas and of your general biomechanics, before giving you a full diagnosis and explaining the most appropriate course of treatment for you. They will explain whether and how many follow-up appointments are likely to be required and begin treating you at the initial session. You will normally notice an improvement in your symptoms immediately.
Booking is easy with our online system. There are no long wait times and it is normally possible to see one of our osteopaths within 24-48 hours of making your appointment, at one of our three clinics conveniently situated in Millbrook, Saltash and Looe. If you have any questions regarding our treatments or whether osteopathy can help you, we are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Osteopaths are able to help with a wide range of complaints including aches and pains, minor injuries, and chronic conditions. If you’re not sure whether we can help in your case, please contact us for a free telephone consultation.
The information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Yvonne Cosbie BOst BSc, osteopath and clinical director, Whole Body Osteopathy.
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