Osteopathy including Cranial Osteopathy

The cranial approach is a very gentle approach useful for treating conditions such migraine, whiplash associated disorder, fatigue and general ill health. Our treatments are safe and gentle treatment for people of all ages and are tailored to the needs of the individual patient. We aim to treat the cause and not just the symptoms.

What is Osteopathy?
When the body is balanced and efficient, it will function with the minimum of wear and tear leaving more energy for living.

Osteopathy recognises the importance of the link between the structure of the human body and the way it functions as a whole. Osteopaths treat the cause of the problem rather than just the symptoms, focusing on the body's skeleton and joint function along with the underlying muscles, soft tissue and internal organs.

Cranial Osteopathy applies osteopathic principles to the treatment of the whole body, including the skull and its contents. The Osteopath uses their skilled sense of palpation in order to sense how the body is seeking to rebalance itself, and what support or intervention is required to restore the freedom it needs to get on with its job of self-healing.

Who is it good for?
We treat people of all ages and with a wide variety of conditions. These can include back-pain, headaches, musculo-skeletal strains, injuries and pain throughout the whole body, pain and stiffness associated with arthritic conditions and chest complaints, and postural changes during pregnancy. The cranial approach can help conditions such as migraine, whiplash injury, fatigue and general ill health. It offers a gentler approach to osteopathy, and can also help babies with the after-effects of difficult deliveries which may present as tension in spine or head. In a recent research into the effects of cranial osteopathic treatment on babies, some parents perceived positive changes to their children's behaviour such as reduced colicky crying, less irritability and improved sleep.

What happens during your visit?
At the first consultation the Osteopath will take a full case history and perform a detailed examination. With the knowledge gained from these, together with their skilled sense of palpation, the Osteopath will assess the areas of strain, injury or weakness in the body and reach a diagnosis. The Osteopath will then explain fully their diagnosis and discuss the proposed treatment plan with the patient. Treatment, including any advice or exercises, is always tailored to the individual patient and their needs.

How does it work?
Osteopathic treatment usually consists of soft tissue stretching and massage, joint articulation, and techniques to balance the tension of ligaments and soft tissues. Some gentle joint and soft tissue manipulation techniques may be used. The cranial approach uses very gentle techniques in which the osteopath's highly trained sense of touch is used to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations both in and around the joints of the skull, and throughout the body.

Haru Sekiya BSc (Hons) Ost Haru joined the practice in Kendal in the autumn of 2008 and has been working as an associate of Alison Mackie DO. She is a graduate from the European School of Osteopathy. She trained as a professional violinist before she became an osteopath, and for this reason she is particularly interested in musicians' musculoskeletal problems. Haru uses a variety of osteopathic approaches including cranial and visceral techniques. Originally from Japan, she is also interested in oriental health practice and enjoys doing daily chi gong.

FEES:

First appointment, 1 hour	£42
Follow up appointments, 45 minutes	£34

LINKS
General Osteopathic Council - www.osteopathy.org
Sutherland Cranial College - www.sutherlandcranialcollege.co.uk