Osteopathy

Osteopathy is widely recognised as an effective treatment for a range of painful conditions – helping restore the function of your joints, muscles and ligaments. The aim is to relieve your pain and get you moving freely as quickly as possible. Patients of all ages, from babies and children through to elderly people, can benefit.

The discipline is a safe and effective form of manual therapy that works on the basis that structure governs function and vice versa, whilst restriction causes pain, discomfort and overload.

Osteopathy helps the body return to its normal function. It works with your body’s own natural healing process via gentle soft tissue massage, mobilisation of the spine and joints, and occasionally manipulation – which involves a quick but gentle release of a joint.

Osteopathy doesn’t just treat pain and tension but can also help you achieve long-term wellbeing. In addition to treating specific problems, osteopathic techniques can be used to promote good overall health and prevent symptoms from recurring, through exercise and good posture.

Cranial osteopathy

Cranial osteopathy (or cranial-sacral therapy) is a very gentle treatment – particularly effective for babies, children and the elderly.

It involves a subtler and gentler approach than regular osteopathy, working with the body to identify the ways in which it would be most receptive to treatment. Cranial osteopathy requires a deftness of touch that can take many years of training to perfect – but the result is an effective, non-invasive treatment suitable for all ages and used to treat a variety of ailments.

Despite the name, cranial osteopathy doesn’t exclusively concern the head, but can also include treatment of the spine, pelvis and whole body. The name is more a reflection of the work to ease the mind, remove stresses and promote relaxation. This is why it can be equally as effective for adults as children.

New parents often seek cranial osteopathy for babies who are colicky, appear irritable or are persistently crying. Cranial osteopathy can be used to promote comfort and remove physical stresses in a gentle, often very enjoyable way.

Find out more about osteopathy for children and young babies here

The Brentwood Osteopath

Your first consultation will involve a thorough case and medical history, followed by an examination. After taking you through active movements and performing the relevant osteopathic tests, Keith will give you a diagnosis and, where appropriate, proceed with treatment.