Neck Pain

Neck pain is a very common condition treated by osteopaths. The chance that you will have neck pain at some point in your lifetime is nearly 50%. Neck pain peaks in middle age and has a higher incidence in females than males.  For most people, an acute episode of neck pain will resolve in approximately 6-8 weeks with conservative management. Chronic neck pain persists in 10-34% of people. 

Symptoms include:

• Pain aggravated by posture or neck position

• Muscle tightness and spasm

• Restricted movement

• Headache

• Altered sensation in your fingers or hands eg pins and needles

Your osteopath will take your medical history, examine your cervical spine and make a diagnosis and treatment plan to assist your recovery. 

Causes of neck pain can include: 

~ muscle strains

~ osteoarthritis

~ facet joint sprains 

~ disc irritation 

~ torticollis 

~ whiplash 

~ other diseases eg rheumatoid arthritis 

Treatment 

Osteopaths use a range of hands-on techniques to reduce muscle tension, increase joint mobility and restore balance to your cervical spine. We can also provide with a personalised exercise plan to manage your neck pain at home as well as provide postural advice including workstation setup. 
Tips for neck pain 

• osteopathic treatment

• be aware of and improve your posture.

• stay active with walking, movement and gentle exercise

• neck exercises including stretches and strengthening

• heat/ice therapy

• take frequent breaks if you are travelling in a car or sitting at a computer for extended periods

• adjust your workstation including your desk, chair and computer 

• sleep in a good position with a supportive contour pillow. 

When to see your G.P. 

Your osteopath is a primary care practitioner who can make a  referral to your G.P. or for further investigations if indicated.  

Contact your G.P. if your pain is severe, persists for several days without relief, spreads down your arms or legs or is accompanied by headache, numbness, weakness or tingling. 

References 

www.mayoclinic.org  

www.painmanagement.org.au

Hip Pain

Anatomy

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. It has a high degree of stability and range of motion.

The “acetabulum” is composed of 3 components of the hip bone; the ilium, ischium and pubis which merge together in a Y-shaped cartilage. 

The peripheral edge of the acetabulum is deepened by the acetabular “labrum” (a rim of fibrocartilage) which further enclose the femoral head.  The joint capsule attaches around the labrum and to the neck of the femur. The capsule is loose to allow movement but is extremely strong.  

Stability of the hip joint is enhanced by ligaments, including:

• ligament of the head of the femur (ligamentum teres) 

• the iliofemoral ligament

• pubofemoral ligament

• ischiofemoral ligament

How does hip pain present? 

Hip pain tends to affect certain age groups more commonly; the young (0 to 15 years old) 

and people over 45 years old.  Hip pain may present in the buttock, groin, inner thigh or sometimes the knee.  The pain can be dull or sharp. There may be associated stiffness, locking or catching of the joint. Pain may be worse lying on the affected side, or at night. The symptoms may be aggravated by prolonged standing, sitting or certain movements such as stepping out of a car or climbing stairs.  Hip pain may be acute, or chronic (lasting more than 3 months). 

Hip Conditions

There are several common conditions that affect the hip and muscles. However, it is important to exclude referred pain from the spine or other pathology which may require further investigation.  During your examination we assess your gait, posture, lower back, pelvis, hip, knee and ankle joints.   We use osteopathic, orthopaedic and neurological examination to determine a diagnosis for your symptoms.

The most common causes of hip pain that we see include: 

• Osteo-arthritis of the hip joint 

• Tendinopathy affecting the gluteus medius muscle insertion

• Trochanteric bursitis 

Osteopathic treatment aims to restore balance to your whole body, not just the symptomatic region.  We look to:

• increase mobility of the lumbar spine and hip joint

• decrease myofascial tension of the gluteal, piriformis and ilio-psoas muscles

• improve lymphatic drainage

• address strains of the pelvis, sacro-iliac and the lower limb joints

• restore balance and a sense of neutral to your whole body, allowing healthy function.

Depending on your diagnosis, we may recommend heat, ice or specific stretching and strengthening exercises to to help you manage your pain.