Who needs it Excerise therapy Pregnancy excercises Geriatric Care

What is physical therapy?

A combination of:

• Remedial massage, joint mobilisation
• Exercise therapy

Who needs physical therapy?

• People recovering from injuries
• People with stiff joints and sore muscles
• Those needing to correct postural imbalance
• People with various degrees of scoliosis
• Pregnant women to prevent back problems
• Post pregnancy rehabilitation

What is remedial massage?

Remedial massage is given specifically to and around the painful area of the body. Passive stretching and joint mobilization will follow this. In some cases, this form of massage is the preceding step to osteopathic manipulation.

For example, if a patient is experiencing severe pain from muscle spasm in the neck (cervical torticollis), the osteopath may recommend that the patient be given remedial massage to the muscles of the neck, followed by passive stretching of these muscles and mobilising of the neck joints.

Exercise therapy

Exercise therapy consists of the following:

• Postural education
• Back education exercises
• Ante-natal and post-natal exercises
• Post-injury rehabilitation

We also believe that it is important to exercise as a preventative measure.

The role of exercise in relieving back pain

Back specific exercises are designed to support the musculo-skeletal structure of the spine in maintaining joint mobility and muscular strength. A secondary benefit of this type of exercise is increased postural awareness, and the ability to correct poor posture. Many back problems begin with poor posture. The advantage of learning back- specific exercises is that postural awareness is an integral part of the exercise.

It is important to mention here exercises for the neck and shoulders. It is often presumed that back exercises are only for the lower back. From our perspective the back involves both upper and lower back exercises.

Exercise as a preventative measure

Regular exercise (15 minutes a day) can minimise the chances of repeated attacks of back pain. In the event that pain should occur, the stretches in the exercise program will help you to minimise the symptoms and to maintain as much movement as you can. Check our exercise section for some basic ideas for mobilising your back. Maintaining good muscular strength of all the spine-supporting muscles is an integral part of any preventative measures that you should consider.

The abdominal muscles, particularly the lower abdominal muscles (transversus abdominus) play a major role in maintaining the correct alignment of the pelvis. When these muscles are slack, then the pelvis has a tendency to dip forward causing a “sway back”. This in turn can lead to a range of back problems, ranging from mild discomfort to debilitating pain.

In many cases, the simple exercises that are used for rebalancing, muscle tension are often enough to begin to ease back pain.

The buttock muscles (gluteal muscles) and the back muscles all play an equally important role, as do the muscles that form the waist girdle (internal and external obliques). All of these muscles come together to form a corset of muscle that can support the spine in a balanced way.

Postural education

Many people suffer from back pain related to poor postural habits. A physical therapist can help you to understand how to correct your posture, and show you specific exercises to assist this process.

Back education exercises

Many people find that they are unable to find time for regular exercise. As a result the spine supporting the muscles becomes weak. When the spine is not well supported by muscle it is easy to strain your back or for the back to “feel tired”.

Weakness in the musculo-skeletal support system can also be a direct result of chronic back pain, where the patient activity level has become restricted due to chronic pain. Learning specific back strengthening exercises can help you to mobilise your spine, and to strengthen your muscles in order to maintain good posture.

Ante-natal and post-natal exercises

Pregnancy can be a time where the change in posture can give rise to pain and discomfort. Many women find a combination of osteopathic treatment and specific exercise can help them to keep their postural muscles strong and the joints pain free.

After childbirth, many women experience a loss in muscular strength, and are eager to get back into shape. Back strengthening sessions assist in regaining strength, and preparing the body for the demands of motherhood.

Post-injury rehabilitation

It is common for the injured area of the body to become weakened from restricted use during the painful stage. Rehabilitation exercises are specific to the injured area, and help the patient to return to normal functioning.

The Osteopathic Health Centre provides advice regarding back exercise as well as all of the above disciplines. People attending sessions have reported increased flexibility, muscular strength and improved postural habits. Several people who had been chronic back and neck pain sufferers found themselves able to manage their own discomfort and minimise it with specific exercises.

Exercises for pregnancy

Exercises for pregnant women are very important for the following reasons:

• To maintain muscular tone, joint flexibility and cardiovascular fitness
• To prevent incontinence (weak bladder control)
• To prevent or minimise back pain
• To provide additional muscle support for the heavier breasts and for the growing abdomen
• To prepare your body for the demands of motherhood
• To help regain your figure quickly after giving birth

Breathing and relaxation exercises

It is very important to learn relaxation techniques to assist you in having a stress-free pregnancy and childbirth. Childbirth is painful, but even more so when you are stressed. We encourage pregnant women to attend relaxation sessions at our Centre. Along with the relaxation exercises, you will be taught correct breathing techniques to assist you through the different stages of labour.

Post natal exercises

Helping the new mother to regain her muscular strength and joint mobility, this is a gentle return to exercise. Sessions are are structured with great consideration to the new mother who has had sleepless nights, and has to cope with the demands of a new baby. The Osteopathic Health Centre provides post natal sessions on a one to one basis.

Geriatric Care Exercise & massage for the elderly

There are numerous benefits to exercise for the elderly

At the OHC, we offer private sessions for elderly patients who would like to benefit from regular exercise and massage. The individual is assessed first by a physical therapist and a medical history is taken. The physical therapist will then set the protocol for exercise that will be specifically designed for the individual.

The exercises will be designed to:

• Improve joint mobility
• Improve muscle strength
• Improve cardiovascular strength and endurance.
• Postural correction exercises
• Increase flexibility
• Improve balance

Each session will be of 60-90 minutes duration (depending on the individual case). Half the session will be taken up with exercise; the second half will be a therapeutic massage session.

There are economical packages available that combine both treatment and massage. Please contact us for details of costing.

Exercise Benefits in Disease