Hands OnWadsworth Osteopaths May 2014Newsletter

In this issue A sleeping baby - Cranial osteopathy helps a baby with sleep problems Pregnancy problems - Osteopath Maxine McFarland explains her work with expectant Mums Is Olive Oil all it’s cooked up to be? - Nutritionist Derek Wilson gives his view on olive oil Focus on….. Kirstie Skelton - Our Massage therapist tells her story Vacancy - Holly House Clinic requires new cleaner

Thanks to everyone who has complimented us and given feedback on our first edition of the e-Newsletter. In this edition we’re focusing on ‘Mums and babies’.

Most people are familiar with osteopaths treating back problems but many are not familiar with the work we do with babies and expectant mums. Many families struggle with new born babies who have colic and sleep problems and there are lots of pregnant mums who can suffer quite severe pain during pregnancy but they simply don’t know what treatment is available. We hear one mother’s story about how cranial osteopathy helped her baby get a good night’s sleep, and Maxine gives a fascinating account of how osteopaths help

with pregnancy problems.

This month, we also welcome tips from Nutritionist Derek Wilson who takes a look at saturated and unsatu-rated fats in cooking. Derek is a mine of information when it comes to diet, nutrition and fitness. He has lectured in nutrition and has worked with many sports people and famous names in the world of film and

television! We’re delighted that he has recently joined the team at Wadsworth Osteopaths and will be providing lots of helpful advice.

Meanwhile, Kirstie, our wonderful massage therapist, is back in business after her maternity leave.

We are very happy to hear you feedback. If you have any ideas or requests do let us know.

In this issue A sleeping baby - Cranial osteopathy helps a baby with sleep problems Pregnancy problems - Osteopath Maxine McFarland explains her work with expectant Mums Is Olive Oil all it’s cooked up to be? - Nutritionist Derek Wilson gives his view on olive oil Focus on….. Kirstie Skelton - Our Massage therapist tells her story Vacancy - Holly House Clinic requires new cleaner

Thanks to everyone who has complimented us and given feedback on our first edition of the e-Newsletter. In this edition we’re focusing on ‘Mums and babies’.

Most people are familiar with osteopaths treating back problems but many are not familiar with the work we do with babies and expectant mums. Many families struggle with new born babies who have colic and sleep problems and there are lots of pregnant mums who can suffer quite severe pain during pregnancy but they simply don’t know what treatment is available. We hear one mother’s story about how cranial osteopathy helped her baby get a good night’s sleep, and Maxine gives a fascinating account of how osteopaths help

with pregnancy problems.

This month, we also welcome tips from Nutritionist Derek Wilson who takes a look at saturated and unsatu-rated fats in cooking. Derek is a mine of information when it comes to diet, nutrition and fitness. He has lectured in nutrition and has worked with many sports people and famous names in the world of film and

television! We’re delighted that he has recently joined the team at Wadsworth Osteopaths and will be providing lots of helpful advice.

Meanwhile, Kirstie, our wonderful massage therapist, is back in business after her maternity leave.

We are very happy to hear you feedback. If you have any ideas or requests do let us know.

A Mothers Story: How Cranial Osteopathy MeantHenry (And His Parents!) Could Finally Get A

Good Nights Sleep

The Osteopath Says:“Cranial Osteopathy is a superb treatment for babies for all sorts of conditions but its benefits are not widely known. It’s certainly not the first thing a parent thinks about when their baby has colic, is struggling to sleep or has problems feeding. However, the fact of the matter is that we are now seeing increasing numbers of newborns with great success.”

Just like Henry! His mum says that making an appointment was the best thing they could have done!

“The treatment is very calming and soothing, just like a mini head massage. Henry loved it! It is something that I cannot recommend highly enough. It’s painless and extremely effective. Thank you so much for giving us our sanity back and making night times a much more peaceful experience for both Henry and us!”

Right from the start, Henry had never been a great sleeper and was always restless. Then at 9 months old things just got worse when his sleep became even more disturbed. He would wake up at least once a night,

wide awake, crying and screaming for up to four hours.

It was at the point of exhaustion that his mother got in touch with Wadsworths.

“I had taken Henry to Wadsworths when he was only a few months old for cranial osteopathy treatment to help his colic, which virtually disappeared after the second treatment, so I knew it was effective. I therefore

contacted Mr Wadsworth to see if he was able to help with his sleep problems too.

“I took Henry for a half hour treatment - and that night he slept through for the first time in nearly 2 months. At first, I just wondered if it was a coincidence. But from that night on we haven’t looked back. Not only did he sleep through after the first treatment, he has slept through every night since! And his sleep is so much

more settled than it has ever been.”

How will I know if my baby will benefit from cranial osteopathy?

The most common reasons a parent would bring their baby for treatment are: 1. Colic - episodes of crying which last for 3 or more hours a day, often worse in the evening. Legs are pulled up to the stomach and the cry is often high pitched and piercing. (Henry’s cry was good and vigorous but it was getting too much and was obviously distressing him – as well as Mum and Dad!)2. Feeding problems - difficulty latching on, sickness after feeds (not related to illness or disease.)3. Sleep problems - difficulty getting to sleep, waking frequently during the night (often crying).

The Osteopath Explains:“We think these symptoms often come about because the bones of the skull have been compressed during the birth process. The bones of a young child are soft and mouldable and the skull bones are designed to overlap to allow easier passage through the birth canal.

Babies with these problems have often experienced a difficult birth, either long, slow and complicated or very fast. In a difficult birth, pressure of the bones at the top of the neck causes compression of the occipi-tal bone (the back and floor of the skull). The occipital bone is made of 5 pieces in a newborn and there are some important nerves which pass out through holes in the occipital bone. Compression of the vagus nerve, which controls the stomach, may be responsible for colic symptoms whilst compression of the hypo-glossal nerve, which controls the tongue, can cause feeding difficulties.

The Osteopath Explains:“We think these symptoms often come about because the bones of the skull have been compressed during the birth process. The bones of a young child are soft and mouldable and the skull bones are designed to overlap to allow easier passage through the birth canal.

Babies with these problems have often experienced a difficult birth, either long, slow and complicated or very fast. In a difficult birth, pressure of the bones at the top of the neck causes compression of the occipi-tal bone (the back and floor of the skull). The occipital bone is made of 5 pieces in a newborn and there are some important nerves which pass out through holes in the occipital bone. Compression of the vagus nerve, which controls the stomach, may be responsible for colic symptoms whilst compression of the hypo-glossal nerve, which controls the tongue, can cause feeding difficulties.

What happens during an examination?

When we examine a baby we will check to see if the bones of the skull are free and mobile. If not we use the gentle cranial osteopathy technique to loosen and free off the restricted areas. Don’t worry, most children find this quite a relaxing experience and it is not unusual for babies to fall asleep while we work on them! If the problem does involve compression of the skull, it usual only takes 3-4 treatment sessions for the problem to settle. Older children are not always keen to sit still while we work on them so, as with Henry, we encourage Mums and Dads to bring toys and books to keep their attention while we work. Even mobile phones! (Henry loved one of the nursery rhyme apps!)

Helping Expectant MothersA small and very fortunate minority of women will sail through the forty weeks of pregnancy without encoun-

tering any physiological problems along the way. However, the vast majority – no matter how many times they have been pregnant before – will at some stage suffer from muscle and joint problems which occur as

a result of fluctuating hormone levels. For example, the most commonly recognised side-effect of raised oestrogen levels in the early stages of pregnancy is “morning sickness”. Oestrogen targets the smooth

muscle of the gut, which in turn affects the efficiency of our digestion and causes frequent attacks of nausea. Although “morning sickness” usually settles by itself oestrogen levels can cause heartburn and acid

reflux. Then, as the foetus gradually grows, it will push against the diaphragm and oesophagus, thus increasing the symptoms.

Although osteopaths cannot do anything to make the effects of oestrogen less severe, they can considera-bly help to relieve pain resulting from various structural changes that happen over the three trimesters. As soon as fertilisation has taken place, a hormone called relaxin is released, which increases the mobility of the joints in general, but in particular the pelvic and lumbar spine joints. The extra mobility is vital for the rotational changes that will occur in the lumbo-pelvic region every three months, but it can also be the source of some extremely painful mechanical complications. Expectant mums frequently present with

lumbar spine and sacro-iliac joint pain, coccyx pain, sciatica and SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction), all of which can make pregnancy a miserable experience. Obviously, these women cannot resort to taking pain

killers, but, if they know about it, osteopathic treatment can address these conditions sometimes easily and quickly. Ligaments are softer during pregnancy, making it easier for us to treat expectant mums. Joints can

be loosened with less effort, leaving mum free to prepare her body for the more important aspects of her pregnancy, such as labour and the post-natal period.

Another common complaint is upper back and neck pain. As a pregnant mum’s breasts increase in size, the consequent rounding of the shoulders puts great strain on the muscle attachments at the thoracic and

cervical spine. Again, osteopathic treatment will resolve these issues, allowing “mum” to stay healthy and comfortable.

Perhaps the biggest contribution we, as osteopaths, can make towards ante-natal care is simply to oversee the whole process and ensure that mothers-to-be go through pregnancy easily and without discomfort. We can advise on all kinds of issues, including diet, exercise and lifestyle. Apart from those cases where preg-nant mums are deemed at risk of serious health issues, most pregnancies and labours are midwife-led. In

between the routine scans and checks, the observant osteopath can soon spot irregular signs or symptoms needing medical attention, or deal with physical asymmetries which might cause problems later on. Either

way, your osteopath is eager to help you travel joyfully towards your due date.

Focus On.............Kirstie Skelton Clarke

Kirstie is the resident massage therapist at Wadsworths. She hasn’t always been a massage therapist though! She has a degree in Modern Languages and originally worked for the civil service in London before

qualifying as a Manipulative and Advanced Remedial Massage Therapist in 2008.

“Although being a massage therapist was not my initial career choice, I now can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I realised early on that working in an office didn’t suit me. At the time I used to have regular

massage treatments and was always amazed at how good I felt afterwards. The more I found out about massage, the more interested in it I became. So, I enrolled in a Remedial Massage course at the Northern

Institute of Massage and haven’t looked back since.

There are so many things I love about my job, but nothing beats the buzz of giving a patient relief from pain – pain that they have often lived with for many years. Patients come to me with a wide variety of problems -

from back pain, sporting injuries and arthritic pain to strains and sprains, chronic headaches, back pain during pregnancy, or simply to relax. Many patients enjoy massage so much that once their initial problem

has been resolved, they continue to have treatments to help prevent future problems and because it enhances their general feeling of well-being.

Very often patients try massage as a last resort – when all other treatments or medication have failed and they don’t know where else to turn. They are so often amazed that such a simple form of treatment can have such a significant, positive effect. Chronic pain affects so many people of all ages and the most

common reaction is to take painkillers, which may mask the pain temporarily, but will not address the under-lying causes. Remedial massage is a holistic treatment that aims to track down the root cause of pain and put things right. It is encouraging that more and more people are now turning to treatments such as mas-

sage and osteopathy rather than painkillers, and that these treatments are getting the recognition they deserve from GPs, the NHS and other healthcare professionals.

I have built up an extensive patient list and the vast majority of people I see are referred to me from family, friends or other practitioners, which is a great compliment. I love being part of the team at Wadsworth Osteopaths and greatly enjoy working with the highly skilled osteopaths and other practitioners here to ensure patients receive the best and most suitable treatment for their condition. I feel very privileged to

have such good colleagues, lovely patients - and such an interesting and rewarding career!

To celebrate the relaunch of this newsletter, I am offering all patients – old and new – a discount of 10% on a massage treatment until the beginning of June. Please quote “Newsletter” when booking and the discount

will be applied to the cost of your treatment. I really look forward to seeing you sometime soon”.

Call Us: 01482 875004info@wadsworthosteopaths.co.uk

Tips On Nutrition from Derek Wilson

Is Olive Oil all it’s cooked up to be?

In most kitchen cupboards I guarantee that I would find either vegetable oil, olive oil or both! But while olive oil has many health benefits in its non-heated form, is it really the right oil to cook with? The simple answer

is, “No!”

Olive Oil is primarily a monounsaturated fat that is not stable enough to resist heat induced chemical chang-es. So when you heat it to temperatures of between 90-120 degrees C and it mixes with oxygen, you could be creating an oxidised oil that has become rancid. This should NOT be consumed because it leads directly

to vascular disease.

Coconut oil should be the oil of choice when it comes to cooking because it is nearly a completely saturated fat, which means it’s much less susceptible to heat damage. Your body will either burn it as fuel or get rid of it in some other way. Importantly, it won't store in your body. Coconut oil also delivers quick energy to your system without producing the insulin spike which is related to many other health problems and fat storage.

Other benefits of coconut oil include: Stress Relief Cholesterol Level Maintenance Weight Loss Boosted Immune System Improved Blood Pressure Regulation of Metabolism

Work With Us

We have a vacancy for a cleaner at Wadsworth Osteopaths’ Cottingham Surgery.

Well presented, enthusiastic and with excellent cleaning skills, the successful applicant will be available 1 hour each weekday evening and Saturday afternoon. They will have the opportunity to work in a pleasant working environment with the friendly team at Holly House Clinic, 199 Hull Road, Cottingham, HU6 8RG.

Please send your written applications to The Practice Manager.

In Our June Edition

Next month we’ll be focusing on Arthritis and Rheumatism.