It is a sad truth that a large number of the patients we see at the clinic are there because of their jobs. Possibly the biggest category are those who work in an office. The hours people put in and the time spent without breaks are extraordinary. Identifying the risks for many is very hard. You may have had a work station assessment but how effective was it?

In an effort to offer further support to our patients, we can do a mini assessment for you. Simply have someone take a photograph of you from the side, sat at your desk, showing the screen, desk and you. We will then discuss your work station and any alterations we feel would help, linking this directly to your treatment. This will usually speed your recovery and improve your working comfort.

So bring in those pictures and see what we can do for you.

Hi all. Some of you may have noticed that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) released guidance on the treatment of low back pain. They recommend manual therapy (a term that includes osteopathy) for low back pain;

‘Consider offering a course of manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, comprising up to a maximum of nine sessions over a period of up to 12 weeks’.

Of course, this is then in the hands of local GPs and although some are aware of what osteopathy can offer their patients, some still view us with caution. Indeed, I am still concerned at the lack of awareness amongst some GPs of the areas we treat, the techniques we use and the level of training registered osteopaths receive. Having tried previously to inform local GPs of our services and relatively failed, I just hope that our patients positive feedback will, in time, sow the seeds of change. NICE comes in for a lot of flack but the latest guidance, covering a less contentious area than usually hits the press,  is based on a huge amount of research.

On the other hand, do we want to become part of the NHS? Maybe Groucho Marx had the right idea when he said, ‘I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member’.

Jon McSwiney

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Osteopathy is a way of detecting and treating damaged parts of the body such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints. These could lead to knee problems and pains, back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pains and could be caused by sports injuries, work related injuries, arthritis or just a bad posture.

When the body is balanced and efficient, just like a well tuned engine, it will function with the minimum of wear and tear, leaving more energy for living.

Expert Advice and treatment:

Jon McSwiney is a registered osteopath with more than 12 years experience who also teaches in this field. He provides consultancy to businesses on work environment and ergonomics.

Kate Lockwood is a registered osteopath who specialises in advise and treatment for horse and rider and is currently involved in a masters in animal osteopathy.

Selina Humphries is a registered homeopath. Selina specialises in the treatment of children and is involved in the clinical education of student homeopaths.

What the osteopaths treat

Arthritis & Joint Pain
Back pain
Neck pain
Sciatica
Sports injuries
Knee problems
Trapped nerves
Headaches
Muscle pain
Rheumatism
Work related disorders

What the homeopaths treat

Where are we?
23a High Street
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 0BP

Tel: 01491 838363