Why do I need to Stretch?

In today’s world the nature of our lifestyle is much less active. We have, over the last few years become much more sedentary.

This is mainly due to the advances in technology. Sitting becomes the most commonly performed action. We no longer need to stand up and take down files or even go to the fax and copy machines. We do it all on our PC and more than ever our smart phones.

When we sit with our knees bent, the three hamstring muscles relax, they attach on our ‘sit bones’ (ischial tuberosities) and partly the back of the Femur. At the other end they attach below the inside and outside of the knee. They are, in essence a postural muscle responsible for controlling the strong quadriceps on the front of our legs. They need to remain in a state of constant readiness, called resting tone. If shortened for any length of time, small receptors in the muscles called ‘muscle spindles’ measure their length, send messages via the spinal cord to the cerebellum to reduce the actual resting tone length.

This is why after being seated for any length of time at a desk or in a car, plane, train or sofa, the act of standing become difficult as the muscles have become shortened. Stretching helps to re-set the resting tone to be longer again and also improve speeds and stride length when training.

Does Stretching Help?

Many patients ask about the benefits of stretching and whether or not it may help with their back problems. We will attempt here to explain the various benefits and disadvantages to be aware of within yourself, that may make Stretching part of your daily activities.

Recommended Daily stretches

Hamstrings, Hip Flexors, Gluteals, Calves, Neck muscles. For more details visit the following five pages on differing body areas for stretching.

Other muscles commonly shortened

In the side of the neck when holding the telephone for long calls regularly, ladies check out the raised muscles when trying on that nice summer dress that always slips of the shoulder. The back of the neck when slouching on your chair gazing at the lap top or screen that is too far away from you. A classic for developing that headache that comes on later in the day! Those Psoas or Hip flexors that attach fom the inside of your upper leg, head through the and under your tummy vessels to a fix to the front of the lumbar veterbrae, when you stand up they are tight and create a bigger dip in your low back, this can make your tummy look larger and bloated. Wearing High Heals shortens the calf muscles making wearing flat sandal painful in the achilles tendon.

Is it wise to see an Osteopath before starting regular stretches?

Probably a good thing as the osteopath will be able to assess the quality of the muscles and their respective functions. This allows the osteopath to advise which stretches are more beneficial and specific to you and the envirnment you are in.

The Osteopath

When visiting an Osteopath with chronic or acute problems, you are assessed and treated with a view to prevention of further injury, combined with corrective exercise. The Osteopath is empathetic to the patient’s need to establish a speedy recovery of the body and return to the achievement of intended goals.

Trapped Nerves

A ‘trapped nerve’ is a common and unpleasant condition in which a nerve can be irritated by either the chemical or mechanic effects of inflammed tissues. Symptoms that may suggest that you have trapped nerve include:

• Neck pain and stiffness with a combination of radiating pain, tingling, numbness and weakness down the arm, forearm and fingers
• Low back pain and stiffness, also, with a combination of radiating pain, tingling, numbness and weakness down the buttock, thigh, legs and feet.

A typical case history of a patient presenting with a trapped nerve may sound like this:

‘I woke up one morning with an incredibly stiff neck. I could hardly turn it. It took me a lot longer to get changed for work – brushing my teeth, putting my jacket on and reaching for things were particularly painful. I took some Nurofen which seemed to free off my neck a bit but later in the day, I started to get a pain down my arm and a couple of my fingers went numb. Although the stiffness has improved somewhat, I’m still getting these symptoms down my arm 3 days on.’

Sciatica is another example of a trapped nerve. Sciatica can be caused by a number of different injuries such as a slipped disc, arthritis, a sacro-iliac injury or a muscle tear in the low back.

Because there are many injuries that can cause a ‘trapped nerve’ it it worthwhile visiting an Osteopath to determine the root cause of the symptoms. If the Osteopath is unsure, you may be referred to have an x-ray, MRI scan or ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.

Once a diagnosis is made, a treatment plan can be created that will firstly reduce the pain and discomfort and secondly help to prevent recurrence of the injury.

There has been some press recently on tinnitus and it’s affects on Mental health. I have been approached on several occasions to ask am I able to treat this phenomenon with Cranial Osteopathy. Here is my response to the enquiry.

I have been a long term sufferer of Tinnitus for as many years as I can remember. My mother also suffered along with sinus issues. Over the years of living with this I have yet to discover a finite “cure.” I have however using some techniques reduced the severity to background irritation. I will point out that this has not removed it but made it less noticeable.

It is irritating for that should a patient discuss their tinnitus I will immediately be aware of my own.

What would I be looking for to help? Primarily as an Osteopath and Cranial Osteopath the first thing would be to assess the function of fluid flow within the head by gently holding the cranium in the palm of my hands and perhaps the sacrum. Once I have a good feel of what is happening I will be looking for any restrictions that may be affected ting the flow, ie structure attached to the various cranial bone from the neck back and Pelvis. I would then assess all the sutures of the cranial bones and the upper segments of the Cervical Spine. Of particular interest is the Sphenoid bone in the picture which houses the Vestibular and heating apparatus.

If there are restrictions in ay of these areas it may cause reduced functionality of the cerebra spinal fluid movement, blood supply and venous drainage. All of these can contribute to increased cranial pressure in turn headaches poor sinus drainage and venous drainage.

After treating these areas we return to assessing the flow. Hopefully this will enable the body to normalise. This will enable improved movement.

There are times when I suffer, that I will concentrate on good breathing technique whilst quietly listening to gentle classical music. Improving diaphragmatic function also improves flow within the cranium as there is a large fascial attachment from the diaphragm to the Cranial base of Sphenoid and Occiput bones. If the diaphragm is restricted it can affect all sinus drainage and Cranial function.

How successful this approach can be is never a guarantee. However it is not invasive and  uses no drugs. 

Good luck and hope this is of assistance.

Great winter break!

Now back enjoying seeing patients.

gorger

• bad chair
• Bad light

Causes of Elbow issues

Elbow pain can be caused by many problems. A common cause in adults is tendonitis.This is inflammation and injury to the tendons, which are soft tissues that attach muscle to bone.

People who play racquet sports are most likely to injure the tendons on the outside of the elbow. This condition is commonly called tennis elbow. Golfers are more likely to injure the tendons on the inside of the elbow.

Other common causes of elbow tendinitis are gardening, playing sports gripping small handles ie racquets, horse riding reigns, fly fishing rod handles, using a screwdriver, driving a car with thin steering wheel or overusing your wrist and arm.

Young children commonly develop “nursemaid elbow,” which often occurs when someone is pulling on their straightened arm. The bones are stretched apart momentarily and a ligament slips in between. It becomes trapped when the bones try to snap back into place. As a result, the child will usually quietly refuse to use the arm, but often cries out when they try to bend or straighten the elbow. This condition is also called an elbow subluxation (a partial dislocation.). This often gets better on its own when the ligament slips back into place. Surgery is usually not needed.

Other common causes of elbow pain are:

• Bursitis — inflammation of a fluid-filled cushion beneath the skin
• Arthritis — narrowing of the joint space and loss of cartilage in the elbow
• Elbow strains
• Infection of the elbow
• Tendon tears — biceps rupture 

Home Care

Gently try to move the elbow and increase your range of motion. If this hurts or you cannot move the elbow, call your health care provider. 

When to Contact a Professional

Call your medical professional:

• You have a prolonged case of tendinitis that doesn’t improve with home care.
• The pain is due to a direct elbow injury.
• There is obvious deformity.
• You can’t use the elbow.
• You have fever or swelling and redness of your elbow.
• Your elbow is locked and can’t straighten or bend.
• A child has elbow pain.

What to Expect at Your Clinic Visit

Your Osteopath will examine you and carefully check your elbow. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms such as:

• Are both elbows affected?
• Does the pain shift from the elbow to other joints?
• Is the pain over the outside bony prominence of the elbow?
• Did the pain begin suddenly and severely?
• Did the pain begin slowly and mildly and then get worse?
• Is the pain getting better on its own?
• Did the pain begin after an injury?
• What makes the pain better or worse?
• Is there pain that goes from the elbow down to the hand?

Treatment depends on the cause, but may involve:

Manipulation

Soft tissue work

Stretching

Surgery (last resort)

www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/hip-pain-causes-and-treatment

Hip Injuries

The knee is one of the body’s more complicated joints and is susceptible to various injuries. Not all are severe, but some can last longer than others and have more of an effect on movement. This MNT Knowledge Center article presents ten of the most common knee injuries as well as methods of treating them. Here are ten common injuries.

Source: Knee injuries: Common injuries, treatment options, and prevention