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Looking after yourself is vital to your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Finding the time and motivation can be a barrier to self-care. Here at Body Back-Up we understand the importance of individualised care. We carefully assess every patient and their individual needs, forming a working diagnosis and treatment plan.
Our approach is designed to help our patients, work, rest and play better. We look to assess your lifestyle and help you to define a healthy balance in your daily activities that will keep you flexible, strong and free from injury. We enable you to participate in all aspects of life more fully.
Work
We understand the importance of remaining comfortable while working and avoiding unnecessary time off through injury or pain. Not being able to work effectively or comfortably can cause wider issues for you and your family.
Whether your work means sitting at a desk all day, heavy-lifting, long-distance driving or standing all day, everyone’s body is put under varying levels of stress and strain. It is vital that you rest and recover as well as maintain strength and flexibility.
By looking at your current working set-up, we can tailor treatment and exercise to you and your job to make your working day more tolerable.
Rest
Rest is a very important component of health and is often forgotten in the wider context of your general wellbeing. Not sleeping well due to discomfort will result in having less energy to work and exercise.
Pillows and mattresses can aggravate your back and neck if they are not matched correctly to your body shape and weight over time. We can advise you on the correct sleeping posture and the right pillows and mattress to suit your individual needs.
How you sit on the sofa and use a laptop or watch TV are all part of relaxing. Sitting badly and for too long can create stiffness that can lead to headaches and put you at risk of everyday activity causing you to strain your back or neck.
At Body Back-Up our treatment will ensure your periods of rest are pain free and comfortable.
Play
Staying active is vitally important to our mental and physical health and wellbeing. If you enjoy exercise or sport but are worried about injury or aggravating an existing longer term complaint, we are here to help.
We understand how exercise can be used both to overcome pain and stiffness as well as a preventative tool when used appropriately. Everyone can make progress but understanding the details of your problem and then being guided to take the best course of action to suit you as an individual is key.
Body Back-Up osteopaths can help you to utilise periods of activity to reduce pain and prevent injury.
We assess your posture, gait, and mechanical function to understand how your body is really working and the root of your problems. In doing this we will discover movement and strength blocks and help you resolve the problems in your body that need the most help with treatment and personalised remedial exercises.
In resolving these problems we reduce fear of painful movement and help prevent injuries resulting from over-protecting areas of the body that feel weak and vulnerable. We will also discover any uneven effects of sports and gym workouts that leave the body working off-balance, or areas where a stronger part of the body is compensating for a weaker one.
We review your foot and ankle mechanics, balance and control, detecting any problems that may either cause pain in these areas, or cause referred pain elsewhere in the body. Problems may create points of strain that interfere with walking and running or with other daily activities.
We may prescribe remedial exercises or low-cost (from £25) orthotics to give your feet the correct support and correct any postural problems stemming from poor foot mechanics and balance.
Please bring your usual footwear to your appointment, whether sports, working or day to day. For more information see the orthotics page.
Joint Manipulation
Joint manipulation involves the therapist moving joints of the body in specific ways for therapeutic effect. When applied to the joints of the spine, it is called spinal manipulation. Osteopaths undergo extensive training to manipulate joints correctly and safely.
There are many benefits to joint manipulation including reducing musculoskeletal pain, increased range of motion and “unlocking” stiff joints. It is generally used as one part of an overall treatment plan which might also include other techniques.
Joint manipulation can be applied to any joints in the body, from the neck and shoulders right down to the toes.
Functional Active Release
Functional Active Release is a manual therapy developed by Robin Lansman. Whereas in typical osteopathy the patient lies static while the osteopath manipulates their joints and muscles, FAR works muscles in three-dimensional movement during treatment. FAR utilises functional movements which explore and expand range of motion in the joint during treatment.
Cranial Osteopathy
In cranial osteopathy, the therapist places their hands on the head rather than manipulating muscles and joints of the body. The approach is not only used to treat headaches or other problems related to the head, but is also used to treat conditions in the rest of the body, according to the principle that everything in the body is connected.
Cranial osteopathy is very gentle. It is often the preferred osteopathic approach for babies and small children, as babies’ skeletons are softer than those of adults. Many people also find cranial osteopathy to have a calming effect, and it can help people who feel generally tense or have trouble relaxing.
Soft Tissue Massage
Soft tissue massage involves massaging the muscles of the body for therapeutic effect.
This has many potential benefits including increasing blood flow to the area, stretching the muscle, increasing range of motion and treating “knots”. Soft tissue work can also release tightness in a muscle and break down scar tissue.
Massage techniques are typically used alongside other osteopathic techniques such as joint manipulation. Many people also find soft tissue massage to have a generally relaxing and calming effect.
An important part of your treatment is the use of personalised remedial exercises that should be carried out at home. These reinforce of the benefits of treatment on a daily basis, ensuring your recovery is moving forward in between treatments. The exercises prescribed to you will build strength and flexibility in weak or tight areas, increase range of motion, and aim to reduce pain and soreness through the promotion of healthy mechanical function.
Your osteopath will provide you with exercises personalised to you as part of your treatment, normally to be performed on a daily basis or several times a day.
Book Now
You can make an appointment quickly and easily using our online booking system for our London NW3 and Maidenhead clinics. It’s simple to find an appointment that suits you and pay online, and you’ll receive confirmation of your appointment by email. We also offer online video consultations.
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Work
We can help prevent and treat any problems and keep you in top condition, whether your work involves lifting and moving, driving, sitting at a desk or working from home.
Rest
Whether you need advice buying a new mattress or you suspect your favourite chair is the cause of your stiff neck, we can treat your aches and pains and help you rest like a champion.
Play
No matter what your age or fitness level, we can prevent and treat conditions arising from sports, walking or other activities, helping you to continue getting the most out of life.