Common Misconceptions

Common Misconceptions

Alongside our roles as osteopaths in providing treatment and exercise, we also need to do a bit of myth-busting when patients share ideas that might actually make their pain worse. It sounds dramatic, but research shows that the way we think about our pain does affect...
Trigger Points

Trigger Points

Trigger points are a complicated and misunderstood cause of pain. They are more than just “knots”, and they may be responsible for symptoms quite distant from the points themselves (referred pain). Trigger points (TrPs) have been described in a number of...
Sciatica

Sciatica

Sciatica is commonly self diagnosed- although not all leg pain is caused by the sciatic nerve. The term is reserved specifically for a collection of symptoms caused by irritation to the sciatic nerve. Symptoms of Sciatica Whenever a nerve is irritated like this,...
Red Flags for Lower Back Pain

Red Flags for Lower Back Pain

Osteopaths are well known for treating lower backs- but there are a number of red flags that we need to be aware of. These are signs of a potentially dangerous problem that need an urgent referral to a GP or hospital. What Can’t We Treat? We can treat...
The Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ)

The Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ)

The sacroiliac joints are the two large joints at the back of the pelvis. They connect the sacrum (base of the spine) to the two pelvic bones (specifically the ilia). The SIJs are unusual joints in that they are not hinges or ball and sockets. The everyday role of the...