Osteopathy is often an ideal treatment for most sports injuries, and whether you’re an enthusiastic amateur or an elite professional, an osteopath can help with the prevention and treatment of common sporting injuries:
Pains and strains:
· low back pain (including sciatica).
· muscle and ligament injuries.
· knee pain (including mobility and degeneration).
· shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries.
· foot and ankle complaints.
Functional complaints:
· reduced joint flexibility (e.g. golfers' immobility).
· mechanical limitations (e.g. gymnastic manœuvres).
Injuries caused by overuse:
· tennis and golfer’s elbow.
· jumper’s knee.
· tenosynovitis and tendonitis.
Recurrent injuries.
Osteopathy recognises that much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in our body’s structure and function. Diagnosis and treatment deals with problems with muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints to help the body’s natural healing ability.
Most treatment involves gentle, manual techniques: easing pain, reducing swelling and improving mobility. Often, this involves manipulation which can result in an audible ‘crack’ which is simply the sound of gas bubbles popping in the fluid of the joints. Osteopathic treatment does not involve the use of drugs or surgery.