Firstly, why do we feel pain? The simple answer is: To Protect You!

We could just end this article right there, put a big ‘full stop’ and all go home. That would give an answer to the question but it would still leave us scratching our heads and still asking, ‘but why do we feel pain and how does the body process it?’

Ultimately, your body tells you that you are in pain because it is telling you that something is wrong, and you need to do something about it. In fact, you can go to this web-site to avail pain-relieving products.

What is wrong? You have been exposed to a dangerous stimulus, for example fire, a damage has occurred for example a broken bone or an injured or stressed muscle.

You can think of how the body processes pain as a cycle of Stimulation; Transmission; Recognition and Localisation; and Awareness.

Lower back, neck, shoulder and knee pain

The biology of pain

Several things can stimulate specific nerve endings in the body. As examples, out of accidents you can seek help from injury claims lawyers in Pikesville to claim compensation.Pain can also be caused out of injury, inflammation, an impact, a stress or chemicals. These nerves transmit this stimulation to your brain, via your spinal cord, for processing. The specific part of the brain where this stimulus is processed is called the Thalamus.

Your brain performs two vital functions. Firstly, it tells your conscious mind that something is wrong in the part of your body where the stimulus originated, and it transmits that a message back to that part of your body. This all happens very quickly, and in many cases, it is a matter of microseconds and feels immediate.

These two actions that your Thalamus performs helps to achieve two things. It alerts your mind to the presence of a ‘bad’ stimulus with a hurting effect, and it identifies and localises the location of these on your body. This way you know that you are hurting and you know where you are hurting. Your body also has other complimentary nerves and mechanisms to help you identify the type of stimulus.

It will detect whether or not it is due to the cold or heat, or if it is due to blunt trauma, incorrectly positioned or inappropriately stretched muscle, or if it is due to one of many other causes. These nerve endings are pervasive in your body and are just about everywhere you can think of.

Why does pain last longer than the initial stimulus?

The brief answer to this question is that it is a combination of two things. It is a protection mechanism that alerts you to something that is hurting you and as long that hurting stimulus persists you continue to feel pain. If people are looking for attorneys for metal in baby food, and the pain caused due to it , they can get them from clicking on their official site.

Another reason that you can continue to feel pain even after there isn´t hurting stimulus, is that so long as these nerves are stimulated, they will continue to transmit information to the brain, which will continue to recognise the stimulus as pain and localise it. Finally, your brain will continue to make your conscious mind and body aware of the location of the pain.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

The post How The Body Processes Pain – the underlying biology appeared first on Perea Clinic.

Pain? Who should you choose, a chiropractor, an osteopath or a physiotherapist? There is no doubt, all have a place. Also, they share the same goal. What is it? It is simple: to get you out of pain! But what is the difference between them? In this blog, I want to share with you what they do, but also, their differences; so then you can decide who best suits your needs. Let ‘s take a look…

What does a Chiropractor do?

Chiropractic is a complementary and unconventional medical treatment in which your chiropractor uses her/his hands to manipulate mainly your spine in order relieve pain.

A chiropractor believes that the function of the spine is pivotal to your health. In addition, if the spine is properly aligned, the body can start to heal itself. And clearly, because the spine houses the central nervous system, it makes sense that it should play a prominent role in your general well being.

Benefits of having an aligned spine:

• the central nervous system is the channel through which signals are sent throughout the body. In essence, by keeping this channel clear the body can work optimally. And in turn, can restore itself to good health. 
• Good posture
•  A  fully functional spine helps bolster both your neurological and your musculoskeletal system.

To keep in mind…

And the practice has a long history. It dates back to the late 19th Century. It’s continued use gives it a certain amount of credence. It is a licensed profession. However, Chiropractors are not medically trained.

What does an osteopath do?

An osteopath takes  global view of the body, taking an holistic approach of your general wellbeing. Osteopaths believe that all body systems are interrelated and dependent on each other. So having an holistic approach can give you the best results. 

The stem of the word ‘osteo’ means ‘relating to the bones’. At the heart of the treatment is a belief that by manipulating the structure of the body (the bones), your osteopath can help to restore your body’s proper function.

Osteopathy facts

Osteopathy also has a long history. It too dates back to the late 19th Century. For many years, the practice was considered to be very much out of the mainstream. However, recently it has achieved greater recognition. In fact, it gained formal recognition from parliament in 1993 through the Osteopaths Act.

The practice is now highly regulated too. Individual practitioners are well trained and are governed by the General Osteopathic Council within the UK.

What does a Physiotherapist do?

A physiotherapist is a trained healthcare professionals. She/he is an expert in the musculoskeletal system and movement who focuses on helping you to maintain, improve, or restore your physical function and mobility. 

Physiotherapy is a holistic approach to treating a wide range of conditions and injuries, primarily through physical methods such as exercise, manual therapy, and other non-invasive techniques. They also educate patients about their condition, help them develop strategies for self-management, and promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent future issues.

Why should I visit a physiotherapist?

• Pain relieve
• Rehabilitation ( crucial role in helping patients recover from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses. This includes restoring muscle strength, joint flexibility, and overall mobility.
• Improve body functions and general wellbeing.
• Injury prevention
• Chronic conditions managing

Physiotherapy is included on medical treatment, it is commonly prescribed for conditions related to

•  musculoskeletal pain, 
• sports injuries, 
• neurological disorders, 
• cardiovascular conditions, 
• respiratory problems, 
• and many other health issues. 

Remember that your treatment plan will be tailored according to your needs, always taking into account to promote your healing, recovery, and improved overall well-being.

In conclusion

• These practices are considered to be manual therapies.
• They have an excellent reputation for helping to deal with issues of chronic pain. 
• People use them to treat issues such as back, neck or other joint pains.
• All remark the importance of the spine.

On the other hand, Osteopathy and physiotherapy are broader in scope. That’s because they take into account the body as an integrated unit. As such, it is able to tackle a wider range of conditions.

All forms of treatment have value. You should look for what works best for you where you are treated better.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington.

For more information or contact an osteopath visit: https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/home/

We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chiropractic/#:~:text=Chiropractic%20is%20a%20treatment%20where,not%20a%20conventional%20medical%20treatment.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteopathy/what-happens/

The post Osteopath, chiropractor or physiotherapist?: what is best for me? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine modality which originated from China approximately 2,000 years ago. Originally, it is based on an ancient theory that the application of very fine needles in the specific parts of the body can improve the flow of the Chi. Chi is an energy or a life force which is believed to be flowing through everything including us. When the flow is disrupted, people can start having health problems including muscle and joint pains or aches as well as other issues.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is another alternative medicine modality which uses the application of fine needles. However, it is different from acupuncture in many ways. For example, the depth of insertion, the number of needles applied in one area, stimulation technique and theory behind it. Although the research on understanding exactly how dry needling works and its physiology is lacking, it is suggested that dry needling focuses on releasing the myofascial trigger points by applying needles directly into them in order to elicit a ‘twitch’ response. The ‘twitch’ response is a mild contraction of the muscle in the affected area which helps to release it, resulting in decreased levels of pain and discomfort.

What can acupuncture help with?

It is believed that acupuncture can help with a variety of different conditions. Those can include musculoskeletal presentations such as lower back and neck and shoulder pains and aches, headaches, arthritis, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis and to promote recovery after an injury. Also, acupuncture can be used to help with more complex conditions such as asthma, hay fever, digestive disorders, anxiety, fatigue, menstrual disorder, tinnitus and diarrhea. This list is not extensive, however, these are most likely to be the most common conditions which can be treated with acupuncture.

What can dry needling help with?

Dry needling is much more focused on helping with musculoskeletal issues such as myofascial pain syndrome (which basically means pain in a muscle or a muscle group), various tendinitis, lower back and neck pain, headaches, manage inflammation and promote recovery after an injury.  

What to expect during the acupuncture treatment?

Firstly, your acupuncturist will ask you questions about your presenting complaint. After enough information is gathered, your acupuncturist will do an extensive physical examination/observation. This can include observing the colour, coating and shape of your tongue, checking the rhythm, quality and strength of your pulse. The acupuncturist may also palpate (feel) the areas associated with your complaint to find any tender spots. This may indicate the needle insertion point.

Needles are very fine and they do not feel like having an injection or having your blood taken at all. The time you will be laying with needles varies. In most cases it could take anywhere between 10 – 30 minutes. Also, when the needles are inserted they can also be stimulated by twirling them manually or by using a very light electric current. Technique used depends on your acupuncturist.

During the treatment you might feel soreness, numbness or heaviness in the needle application areas. This is totally normal and is to be expected as it suggests that the stimulation of the insertion point is correct. Most people find acupuncture very relaxing, hence, this is something you may also expect.

What are the side effects of acupuncture?

Side effects of acupuncture vary, but generally they are not concerning. In the vast majority of cases you might expect some soreness where needles were inserted, feel lightheaded, faint or dizzy, and the condition you came to see an acupuncturist might worsen before it gets better.

What to expect during the dry needling treatment?

Just like with acupuncture, the needles used are very fine, hence, they are not as painful as when you are giving blood or having an injection. 

At the beginning of the treatment your practitioner will ask questions about your presenting complaint which in most cases will be followed by a physical examination. Questioning and physical examination may vary between practitioners. This depends on the severity and complexity of the complaint, but also on the qualifications of the practitioner as dry needling is widely used by physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, sports therapists and massage therapists. Each professional can have a slightly different examination approach.

After the examination is completed, your practitioner will decide on the number of needles and area in which they will be applied. Application may also vary depending on the training of the practitioner. Some might use just one needle, inserting it in one area, and stimulating it by moving it in and out. Others may apply a number of needles and allow them to stay in for 10 – 20 minutes with some stimulation of the needle during the treatment time.

What are the side effects of dry needling?

Side effects of dry needling are the same or very similar to acupuncture. You might feel soreness where the needles were inserted, aggravation of the symptoms you originally presented with, bruising or bleeding, faint or fatigue.

Are you dealing with pain, aches or injuries? Maybe it is time to try new treatments like acupuncture or dry needling!

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1116804/pdf/973.pdf 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1179/108331913X13844245102034?needAccess=true& 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cagnie-Barbara/publication/242016975_Physiologic_Effects_of_Dry_Needling/links/0046352fc7854394e5000000/Physiologic-Effects-of-Dry-Needling.pdf 

The post Dry needling vs Acupuncture appeared first on Perea Clinic.

1.What is a Thai massage?

It might sound unexpected, but Thai massage was actually found in India and not Thailand as most would assume. It was started to be practised approximately 2,500 years ago by a person named Shivago Komarpaj who is believed to have been a personal physician to Buddha himself. Nowadays this treatment is quite a popular alternative medicine modality widely used in western countries for great, non-invasive, bodily benefits.

2.What are the benefits?

This massage helps to alleviate tension accumulated in the muscles by manipulating them. It also improves the range of movement of the joints, promotes the local circulation, which sends more blood into the area allowing for better function, as well as having an impact on lymphatic drainage helping to remove the waste products such as lactic acid and carbon dioxide from the areas treated. Moreover, Thai massage can promote relaxation which can help to relieve stress and anxiety and improve your sleep, lower the blood pressure during and few hours after the treatment and improve athletic performance.

3.What conditions can be treated with Thai massage?

There are several conditions that Thai massage can help to improve and manage. Those include:

• Acute and Chronic lower back and neck pain.
• Headaches.
• Muscle tension and soreness.
• Reduced joint mobility.
• Although Thai massage can not cure anxiety and stress, it is a great alternative treatment to help you to manage it.
• It may help you manage withdrawal symptoms if you are fighting an addiction.
• It may also help with physical rehabilitation if you are recovering from an injury such as a muscle strain or a ligament sprain.

4.What to expect during the Thai massage treatment?

Thai massage differs from deep tissue, sports massage or Swedish massage quite a lot. It is always performed fully clothed. Therefore, you should ensure that you are wearing comfortable clothing to your appointment. The treatment is done on an exercise mat where the therapist is moving your body passively through many yoga-like movements and stretches. It may also include some pressure applied onto certain areas which the therapist might find restricted or tight. In some occasions breathing techniques may also be included. After the treatment you usually feel relaxed but energised at the same time.

5.What are the side effects?

Because Thai massage involves passive body movement alongside some deep pressure on certain areas, it may result in soreness, bruising or aggravation of your symptoms for the first 24-48 hours after the treatment. However, if the massage is very vigorous, it may result in muscle, ligament or even bone damage. Hence, we strongly recommend that when you are having any type of massage and feel that the treatment is way too strong and painful, do not just clench your teeth and go with it, communicate it to your therapists so that the treatment can be eased off to avoid any unnecessary injuries. 

We hope this information is useful. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always glad to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

3063-Article Text for Production-5304-1-10-20220305.pdf 

The post What Is Thai Massage? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

Massage in general is one of the oldest treatment modalities used for thousands of years worldwide. There are over 60 different methods on how to apply the massage treatment. Deep tissue massage is included in the list and is widely used by allied healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, osteopaths and occupational therapists and other professionals such as massage therapists, sports therapists and more. Deep tissue massage can be used as a treatment on its own or in conjunction with exercises and other alternative treatments to reduce pain and discomfort, promote recovery and improve the quality of life.

What is a hot deep tissue massage?

Hot deep tissue massage is exactly the same as deep tissue massage, but your therapist will be using heated stones instead of hands to manipulate the muscle tissue. Although it would seem that hot deep tissue massage is quite a new treatment modality, it has been used for thousands of years just like massage. The aim of the treatment is also to promote recovery, reduce pains and aches and improve the quality of life.

What are the benefits of hot deep tissue massage?

There are several great benefits to having a hot deep tissue  massage. Those include:

• Lowering of blood pressure.
• Helping with rehabilitation after an injury.
• Managing pain of chronic conditions such as arthritis or other joint pains and aches.
• Improves the function of the treated area by loosening the muscle tissue.
• Reducing stress and anxiety.
• Improving sleep.
• Reducing pain of tired, sore and fatigued muscles.
• Promoting overall relaxation.
• Helping to reduce lower back and neck pain.
• Helping to alleviate tension type headaches.

What to expect during the hot deep tissue massage?

Firstly, your therapist will ask you several questions about the presenting complaint. The process is known as an objective examination. After the questioning, physical examination will be performed in most cases. The extent of objective and physical examination depends on the severity and complexity of the complaint. 

After the examination is complete you will be asked to expose the affected area so that stones and in some cases some massage oil could be applied directly on the treated area, hence, ensure to wear comfortable clothing when going to your appointment. The stones should be heated so that they feel pleasantly warm and not too hot. If you feel that your stones are too hot, always communicate that to your therapist. 

There are two common ways on how treatment can be performed which depends on your therapist. In some cases, your therapist can be using the stones instead of his/her hands to apply pressure on the treated area during the whole treatment. In others, your therapist might use the stones initially to warm up the tissue and continue with usual massage techniques while the area is still warm.

What are the side effects of hot deep tissue massage?

You might experience soreness in the areas where treatment was applied. You may also feel tired, sleepy or slightly lightheaded. In some cases, very rarely, you might experience nausea or headaches. Side effects usually subside completely after 24-48 hours after the treatment.

Are you ready to experience deep relaxation with hot deep tissue massage?

We hope this information is useful. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always glad to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859217301067 

The post What Is the Hot Deep Tissue Massage? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

What is cranial osteopathy?

Cranial osteopathy is a branch of osteopathy which osteopaths who are interested can specialise in. Cranial osteopathy follows the same principles and objectives as osteopathy which are to improve the quality of life, manage Chronic pain and promote recovery. However, it is important to note that there are some significant differences between osteopathy and cranial osteopathy. Firstly, cranial osteopaths have a very well-developed sense of touch which is crucial for the evaluation of the symptoms and development of working hypothesis. Also, the treatment feels very different from osteopathic treatment as it feels quite static and very gentle and relaxing.

How does cranial osteopathy work?

Because cranial osteopaths have a very well-developed sense of touch, it helps them to feel muscle tension, joint restrictions, and reduced efficiency of body fluid movement in the areas explored by only gently feeling the affected area. Once your osteopath is happy that he/she explored any relevant area which could be related to your symptoms, an osteopath then develops a working hypothesis and proceeds with a treatment which can only be provided with your consent.

What to expect during the treatment?

Usually, there are three main stages of cranial osteopathy treatment.

•  Firstly, you will be asked questions about your presentation to help your osteopath better understand your complaint and develop an appropriate examination plan. 
• Secondly, there will be a physical examination where an osteopath will make some observations as well as some gentle hands-on examinations. 
• Lastly, your osteopath will proceed with an appropriate treatment, only when it is permitted by your consent, to help you to feel better. In most cases, your osteopath will also provide you with lifestyle advice to further improve your well-being.

What is considered as chronic pain?

Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon. Pain is considered to be chronic when it lasts for 12 weeks or longer. On some occasions it can be a result of an injury or trauma. On others, it can appear for no particular reason at all. Furthermore, chronic pain can be so complex that, in some cases, even if one had an amputation of a limb, the pain can still be present in that limb, although the limp itself is gone. It is suggested however, that chronic pain subsides completely in most cases without any intervention, but that does not apply to everyone.

Which areas can be affected by chronic pain?

Any area of the body can develop a chronic pain. The areas mostly affected are lower back, neck and shoulders, and face. Moreover, if you experienced an injury, but failed to rehabilitate it in good time, it is very likely that the injured area will be painful for a prolonged period of time. The longer the area is left unattended, the longer it might take for it to heal later resulting in chronic pain.

What causes chronic pain?

There are numerous causes for the development of chronic pain. It could be the result of an illness or a disease, an old injury which was left unattended, or it may just appear for no particular reason at all.

How can cranial osteopathy help to manage chronic pain?

There is evidence suggesting that cranial osteopathy has a very successful outcome in managing chronic pain. It is suggested that this benefit is achieved by promoting the cerebrospinal fluid movement which improves the function of the nervous system allowing it to recover and have a positive impact on pain.

For further information or contact and osteopath visit: https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/home/

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2613775/pdf/nihms69869.pdf 

https://uobrep.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10547/623359/Banton_repository%20version.pdf?sequence=1 

The post Can Cranial Osteopathy Help to Manage Chronic Pain? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

Massage guns are also known as percussion massagers. They send a frequent vibration into the area which is being treated. They come in different shapes and sizes. Some are lighter than others and some are more compact. Also, some of the massage guns have more vibration speeds to choose from than others.

What are the benefits of a massage gun?

Frequent vibrations stimulating a treated area helps muscles to relax, hence, alleviating the tension which can help manage muscle tension related pains and aches. Reduced muscle tension also helps to improve the circulation allowing for better blood supply into the area treated which in turn improves muscle function. Better circulation means improved lymphatic flow too. This helps the body to get rid of toxins such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid which can accumulate due to muscle tension or after a hard workout. Moreover, massage guns can be used as a complimentary self-massage technique when recovering from an injury. This can help to manage muscle pains and aches. However, it is very important that you consult a professional before using a gun for the rehab to ensure that using a gun is safe and it will not cause more damage.

Is there a best massage gun?

This very much depends on how, when and how often you will be using your massage gun. As I mentioned before, massage guns come in different shapes and sizes, therefore, if you will be carrying it to a gym to use it as part of your warm up or take it with you on business travels, something more compact might be more suitable for you. 

Also, some of them can feel heavy, particularly if you do not have a good upper body strength. It might make reaching some body areas such as the upper back neck and shoulders uncomfortable because your arms will fatigue quickly. So, if you are not into physical activity, like to spend long hours sitting at a desk and want something to help you to manage the neck and shoulder tension, look for something small, compact and light. 

Moreover, if you are a professional who is thinking of getting a massage gun and use it as a part of your treatment, then paying attention to the battery life and charge speed should be one of the main things to consider. Last thing you would want for the gun to lose its power and wait an hour or more for it to recharge.

What is the cost of a massage gun?

Massage gun cost can vary significantly depending on a brand, number of functions, reliability, compactness, battery life, recharge speed and more. However, according to our research, there is a massage gun available from as low as £40 and can go up as high as over £500. If you are considering investing a reasonable amount of money into buying one, we recommend you try it out if there is a chance.

Do I need to be trained to use a massage gun?

Massage guns are created for everyone to be able to use them. Most of them also come with manual guides. However, if you are thinking of using the gun to help with a recovery after an injury, we strongly suggest that you consult a professional to ensure that a massage gun is an appropriate tool to add to your rehab. Also, ensure that you follow the guidelines of your physical therapist or manual that comes with the massage gun as overusing it can cause increased muscle soreness, bruising, tendon damage, and nerve damage which may take several weeks or months to heal.

Should I buy a massage gun?

We believe that it is a great tool when it comes to self care, but only when used appropriately and with professional guidance when and if needed. If you have any questions about a massage gun do not hesitate to contact our team.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

The post Should I Buy a Massage Gun? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

Cranial osteopathy or craniosacral therapy is a type of treatment used by osteopaths to treat and relieve symptoms from a range of different conditions. Cranial therapy is a gentle approach to osteopathy using subtle hands-on treatment. It can be beneficial for all ages from babies to the elderly. 

Cranial or craniosacral therapy is performed by the practitioner following the body’s rhythms (also called involuntary motion) of the nervous system and fluids of the body. The practitioner uses gentle mobilisations of the head, neck and spine to the sacrum (the base of your spine just before the tailbone). 

This type of treatment is used commonly for babies after birth and children throughout their growth. 

What can a cranial osteopath treat?

Cranial osteopathy is not only for head or neck conditions and can be used for a variety of issues. Studies have found craniosacral therapy beneficial for:

• migraines,
• chronic neck
• back pain,
• fibromyalgia symptoms
• pelvic girdle pain

Due to the gentle nature of the treatment, patients find cranial osteopathy helpful with stress or anxiety as well as physical symptoms. 

For babies, cranial osteopathy can help following birth issues such as flat head syndrome and torticollis. Recent studies suggest cranial therapy to be beneficial for infantile colic.

Infantile colic is described as a baby crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for at least a week. A baby with infantile colic can be difficult to soothe, and sometimes show redness in the face as well as wind.

What to expect from the treatment? 

Before the treatment, the osteopath will ask some questions regarding your baby or your symptoms or condition to get a better idea of how to help you. 

During the treatment, the practitioner will use subtle manipulations at the head, spine or base of your spine. The treatment will be different for each patient depending on the symptoms or what the osteopath believes will be beneficial. Cranial treatment should feel like very gentle manipulations or pressures and shouldn’t be painful. People usually feel very relaxed during the treatment.

The osteopath’s approach may be different from one consultation to another. Some osteopaths integrate cranial osteopathy as part of their general osteopathic treatment approach. 

Are there any side effects of cranial osteopathy?

The most common reaction after cranial osteopathy is feeling very relaxed following your appointment. Other rare side effects of treatment can include headaches, tiredness or nausea. However, those side effects should disappear in 12 to 24 hours.

How long does it take to work?

Similarly to general osteopathic treatment, you can feel changes to your symptoms during or a few days after your consultation. 

Some people find relief in the symptoms over one or two treatments. For more chronic and complicated conditions, it might require a few more treatments to achieve changes. 

How much does cranial osteopathy cost?

The cost of cranial treatment will vary depending on the osteopath and the particular clinic or area you are being treated at. 

For further information or contact an osteopath visit: https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/home/

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

SCCO:  https://scco.ac/

Sutherland society: https://www.cranial.co.uk/cranial-osteopathy/

Craniosacral therapy and fibromyalgia: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269215510375909

Craniosacral therapy and chronic pain: https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-019-3017-y?fbclid=IwAR2WysXZocpXVNI54ZjIeqpQLLt6CIdEGpvsj2XKukUQqT9mZSly7XiZnpQ

Colic NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/

Colic and craniosacral therapy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31780018/

The post Craniosacral therapy: What is cranial osteopathy? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

Neck and shoulder pain is a discomfort which is felt around the area of the neck, upper back and shoulders. It occasionally may radiate down one or both arms depending on the root of the cause. Recent studies have shown that due to the pandemic neck and shoulder pain has increased dramatically.

What causes neck and shoulder pain?

There are numerous causes of neck and shoulder pain. The most common cause associated with the recent pandemic is working from home and having lack of physical activity. Poor posture and long working hours at a computer added to the above causes and it all results in muscle tightness around that area. Moreover, there are more serious condition which may result in neck and shoulder pain and those include, but are not limited to, a direct injury or trauma, disc bulge, nerve compression, spondylosis (spine arthritis), cancers or tumours and cervical arterial disease (disease of blood vessels in the neck).

What are the symptoms of neck and shoulder pain?

There are many symptoms which can be felt around the neck and shoulders. Most often you may feel uncomfortable and nagging tightness and ache which is commonly present around the shoulders and at the top of the neck due to muscle tension. Muscle tension around those areas may also contribute to the development of tension headaches. Moreover, depending on the root cause of the problem, you might also experience sharp pain during neck movement, severe headaches, pins and needles, tingling, numbness or weakness radiating down one or both of your arms, night pain, night sweats and dizziness. You may observe reduced mobility and stiffness of the neck and the upper back area too.

What is a sports massage?

It is a type of massage which is taught as a part of syllabus in degrees such as Sports Therapy or Sports Rehabilitation. The qualification of sports massage therapist may also be obtained doing a separate course at level 3, 4 or 5. Because there are no laws to protect the public from incompetence of certain therapists, make sure to check that your therapist is registered with an appropriate governing body to show that the therapist is professional, committed and has required qualifications to deliver a treatment of a good standard.

Also, sports massage can feel very similar to Swedish or deep tissue massage as techniques used are essentially the same. Those involve:

• Effleurage – gentle and soothing strokes over the skin to warm up muscles and get them ready for deeper work.
• Petrissage – is kneading and wringing of the muscles whilst applying a deep pressure. It helps to loosen the muscle tension.
• Tapotement – is percussion techniques which can be applied using fingers, edge of the hands or cupped hands. This type of technique helps to revitalise the working muscles, increase the excitability and warm them up for a physical activity.
• Friction – is very focused and deep pressure applied on a specific area of the muscle. It helps to break down adhesions and scar tissue as well as loosen off tight muscles.

What are the benefits of sports massage?

There are several benefits of sports massage. Those include:

• Relaxation.
• Release of muscle tension and spasm.
• Release adhesions. 
• Break down scar tissue.
• Improved circulation.
• Increase the range of motion of joints. 
• Improves muscle flexibility.
• Helps to alleviate delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) after physical activity.
• help to manage anxiety and stress. 
• Helps to warm up and cool down.
• Increases efficiency of recovery after an injury when used with appropriate rehabilitation programs.

How does sports massage help with neck and shoulder pain?

Sports massage helps to reduce the muscle tension which in turn helps to improve the circulation. This can help to reduce the level of pain or ache that you are experiencing or make it subside completely. Looser muscles will help to regain movement in the upper back and neck too. Furthermore, reduced tension of the muscles can help you to manage or completely get rid of tension type headaches if you are experiencing any. If you are suffering from one or more severe cases, sports massage might help you to manage your symptoms, but it will not treat the root of the cause.

If you are not sure if sports massage is for you, talk to the professional of a clinic you are about to attend and ask for advice.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://www.hong.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/hoy2010.pdf 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2664516/

The post How Can Sports Massage Help with Neck and Shoulder Pain? appeared first on Perea Clinic.

Neck pain always seems to come on so suddenly …

and when it does, you’ll want to know how to relieve it quickly and effectively.

Neck pain can be caused by a sudden whiplash, but in most cases, it just creeps up on you and it is hard to know what was the cause. For that reason, experts called it ‘non-specific neck pain’.

Don´t worry, there are specific things you can do to help relieve it and I will show you some of them in this blog …

How to deal with neck pain – First, some background.

The human head weighs approximately 10 or 11 pounds and accounts for about 8% of your total body weight. It’s only 2 or 3 pounds lighter than a tenpin bowling ball!

That’s quite an object to balance on your neck. However, when you watch a young child first learning to sit upright their heads seem so beautifully balanced. It’s an indication that the bad postural habits you adopt as you grow older can take their toll.

Unfortunately, neck pain is more common in people who spend much of their working day at a desk with a ‘bent-forward’ posture. Two out of three people are thought to experience neck pain in their adult lives, and after the age of 45, about 1 in 5 people are thought to have neck pain problems at any given moment. There are also some cases that neck pains are caused by whiplash which was a result from a recent truck accident or other vehicular accidents.

Posture is a major factor in causing neck pain. But too often overlooked causes of discomfort are; inadequate support for the neck while sleeping, and emotional and psychological stress.

So, how can you relieve neck pain?

First, think about your posture at your office desk. There are a number of things you need to get right, let´s check some of the most important ones.

Make sure your seat is adjusted so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are level with your hips. Also, make sure you have plenty of support for your lower back because poor lower back posture starts a chain reaction to the neck. You can also try a neck treatment from a chiropractor for a long-term relief.

Also make sure that your mouse is kept close to you, that you are square on to the keyboard and computer terminal and that your screen is the right height for your natural eye line. Most importantly, if you can, stand up and move at regular intervals.

Importance of stretching

Clearly, it is going to be beneficial to stretch the neck itself. The following link illustrates three simple neck stretches. In addition to stretching the neck, you should look to open up the chest by doing pectoral muscle stretches. Also, particularly in times of stress, the trapezius muscles can get very tight. This can put a lot of strain on the neck and create pain. Massage is a great way to relieve that type of tension.

Massage

Massage helps you to get relief from pain. It shouldn’t be painful, but if you have built up tension and knots it can feel a bit uncomfortable. Pain is good when having massage as this means that the tight tissue is releasing. it feels great because pain triggers the release of endorphins and also brings circulation in the area and releases tension from the knot.

Think about you

Check your emotions. Ironically, it could be psychological, not physiological factors that are creating the problem (tightness). I’d highly recommend researching into basic meditation or mindfulness as a possible remedy.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. If you like this blog, please share!

We are always happy to help.

The post Neck pain: how to deal with it appeared first on Perea Clinic.