TREATMENTS
At The Aark Clinic, we offer a range of treatment techniques in order to best assist your injury recovery. All treatments offered at The Aark Clinic are conducted by a registered Osteopath and are priced the same regardless of whether you require a single treatment type or a combination (e.g. Osteopathy & Medical Acupuncture in 1 appointment). The Osteopath will discuss with the patient on the day which techniques are most appropriate.
WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY & HOW CAN IT HELP ME?
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. Facilitating the removal of obstructions to health. If your body is in good structural & functional balance, physically and physiologically, illness and/or disease should NOT ensue.
Osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths use touch, joint manipulation, stretching and deep tissue massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. Tailored advice on posture, nutrition and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent recurring symptoms is given to all patients.
We at The Aark aim to communicate to the community our professional credentials of medical expertise on Anatomy, Physiology and disease prevention in a way people can easily understand and implement.
Ownership of one’s health and possessing the tools to understand ways in which maintaining a healthy lifestyle can increase longevity of life, increase one's vitality and ultimately feel younger for longer.
TREATABLE CONDITIONS
-
Back Pain
-
Neck Pain
-
Arthritic Pain
-
Ankle Pain
-
Bio-mechanical Problems
-
Sports Injuries
-
Frozen Shoulder
WHO IS OSTEOPATHY SUITABLE FOR?
Osteopathy is a primary healthcare model suitable for a ll the family. From babies and children through to adults and elderly, osteopathy can be of benefit to all.
-
Repetitive Muscle/Tendon Strain RSI
-
Pregnancy Preparation/Problems
-
Neuralgia
-
Slipped Disc / Prolapse
-
Muscle Spasm
-
Joint Pain/Stiffness
-
Postural Problems
-
Tennis Elbow
-
Sciatica
-
Knee Pain
-
Whiplash
-
Head Pain
-
Digestive Problems
PATIENT MODESTY & SAFETY
You won't be asked to dress down into your underwear. In order to assess postural, muscular, neurological and circulatory function you may be asked to remove top layers. However, if the patient wishes, garments CAN be left on. Appropriate under garments/vest tops etc are advised to be worn. Clothing will always be left on where possible but if a patient does need to remove an item of clothing, towels are always used to cover and protect modesty.
THE INITIAL CONSULTATION
The initial consultation involves a detailed case history covering the primary complaint, general health, diet, lifestyle, as well as any medical history. This is followed by a physical examination and treatment. This allows for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to individual needs of the patient. Patients will receive treatment in the 1st session.
PROFESSIONALISM & REGULATION
The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) is the governing body regulating all Osteopaths. The term ‘Osteopath’ is protected by law and all Osteopaths are registered with the GOsC. All osteopaths practising in the UK have completed rigorous training. Students of osteopathy follow a four or five-year degree course, during which they study anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, nutrition and biomechanics. In addition they undergo a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical training. Qualification takes the form of a 4-5 year medical degree.
MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
Medical Acupuncture (also known as Dry Needling) is a safe, effective method of treatment for a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. It uses acupuncture needles to encourage the body to self heal and provides stimulation to regulate pain mechanisms for symptomatic relief. It is often used to relieve myofascial trigger points and adhesions to reduce pain and increase range of movement. It is not the same as Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture is a Western medicine technique which requires a diagnosis by a qualified Practitioner. Acupuncture needles are inserted into specific tissues to provide relief.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? IS IT PAINFUL?
You will feel a small pin prick which may be accompanied by a muscle ache or twitch. Sometimes the ache can be felt more deeply like a heavy feeling in the area being treated. Some patients experience an initial twinge or jump when the needles are inserted, especially into any adhesions in the muscle.
WHO IS MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE SUITABLE FOR?
Dry Needling is suitable for many people including pregnant patients, however a full medical case history and evaluation will always take place as there a few conditions where Medical Acupuncture may be unsuitable such as certain blood conditions.
ARE THERE ANY ASSOCIATED RISKS?
Medical Acupuncture uses special solid filiform needles which are inserted into the skin. Nothing is injected into the body with the needles and they are sterile. Needles are disposed of in a dedicated sharps bin. Patients may experience a small amount of bruising and soreness up to 48hrs after treatment. This is normal while healing takes effect.
STAND ALONE TREATMENT OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OSTEOPATHY
Medical Acupuncture is often used in conjunction with Osteopathic treatment. It is also effective as a stand alone treatment for certain conditions and symptoms.
CLINICAL SPORT MASSAGE / GRASTON TECHNIQUE
PREVENTING INJURIES . RELEASING CHRONIC PATTERNS OF TENSION . STAND ALONE TREATMENT OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OSTEOPATHY
OSTEOPATHY FOR SPORTS INJURY
Osteopaths are ideally placed to treat sports injuries. When encountering a sports injury, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible in order to prevent surrounding structures over working and fatiguing, further compounding the injury. An Osteopath's approach to treatment, with their knowledge of body mechanics, can provide the best scenario for healing. Treating the entire body, not just the injury, enables the body to function closer to its potential, ensuring less chance for injury and greater performance. Osteopathy is very well suited to treating injuries such as back pain, neck pain, muscle strains or sprains, tennis elbow, hip problems, knee issues and more. At The Aark Clinic, Lloyd's experience in professional golf and teaching the bio-mechanics of the golf swing, enables him to provide sports specific treatment and advice to improve your game from a physical aspect. This is useful for sports people of all levels from amateur to professional. The mobility and integrity of the sportsman/sportwomens body is crucial to their potential and overall ability. Poor mobility and/or flexibility is a huge factor in the cause of injuries. Osteopathy can be used as a preventative measure for sportsman to train at their best physical condition.
GETTING A SPORTS MASSAGE FROM AN OSTEOPATH
The advantage of having Clinical Sports Massage at The Aark Clinic is it is performed by Osteopaths who are highly qualified, skilled & experienced in the treatment of pain and injury. At any time during the treatment, if the practitioner deems necessary & with your consent, they can easily transition to Osteopathic approaches to address imbalances that may be the root causes of symptoms. We price our appointments on our time, so the cost is the same as Osteopathy (which maybe more than you are used to elsewhere for a generic sport massage), but when trusting someone with your body you want to be assured your practitioner has the most experience and expertise available to them. At The Aark, we see all manner of injuries in all areas of the body. Sports massage is a highly effective technique to relieve tension, improve circulation and restore balance to the musculoskeletal system. Deeper than your average massage, sports massage focuses on removing adhesions, scar tissue build up and contracted areas of the muscle and fascia. Mostly utilised by athletes before and after events, but beneficial to all, sports massage alleviates lactic acid build up, tension, trigger points, fascial tightness, metabolic build up, fatigue, swelling, muscle shortness and postural imbalances.Techniques such as, deep tissue, friction massage, fascial unwinding, effleurage, trigger point release, stretching, compression and kneading are used to achieve improve blood flow and tissue condition assisting the recovery of strains, aches and pains.
FASCIA / MYOFACIAL RELEASE & GRASTON
Fascia is responsible for load balancing, distributing weight-bearing, whilst giving shape and form to the entire body's framework. A great deal of research and understanding has been made at The Aark Clinic on how crucial fascia is to our bio-mechanical movement patterns. Our highly trained Osteopath Lloyd Tilney understands the importance of treating the fascial tissue. Connective tissue connects everything to everything and provides a gateway of communication across the whole body. Pulling the fascia in one area causes a drag on tissues in another area. Poor posture, bad habitual movement patterns can lead to dysfunction and injury. Graston technique employs the use of instruments to scrape adhesions or scar tissue out of the fascia to reduce pain and enhance function.
OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT DURING PREGNANCY
A principle of Osteopathy is that structure and function are intrinsically linked and interdependent to one another. Treatment aims to normalise the structural biomechanics, so that it functions as efficiently as possible. Osteopathic treatment assists the natural process of pregnancy by allowing the body to adapt efficiently as the pregnancy progresses. Osteopathic treatment achieves this by using safe and effective techniques, while making sure the mother is comfortable at all times. Without osteopathy, dysfunctional biomechanics during pregnancy can cause the mother’s pelvis to become twisted or rigid which can interfere with the baby’s passage through the birth canal during labour. Osteopathic treatment helps to align your body so that your pelvis and lower back mechanics are in the best possible position with as little tension or restriction as possible. Osteopathic treatment will maximise your body’s ability to support you and your baby with minimum pain and discomfort.
OSTEOPATHY FOR BABIES
Osteopathic treatment for babies is a very different approach to treating adults. Being born is a very traumatic journey. Essentially you are held tightly in a muscular sac, pushed through a tube and squeezed through a pelvis just barely big enough. This can take hours before its over, and when complete, the journey can leave lasting effects on your baby both physically and emotionally. The pressure on the babies head from the uterus, the contorted position of their shoulder as they pass through the pelvis, assisted deliveries using forceps or ventouse all potentially cause moulding and bruising and compression of the babies body. These tensions can still be present even if your babies head and body looks in normal shape. This can cause physical and emotional pain often seen as poor sleep habits, colic, wind, reflux, persistent crying etc.
PREGNANCY & BABIES
- Osteopathy -
A safe method of treatment for you and your baby.