Spinal Stenosis Spinal stenosis is a condition which affects many people and happens when the space around the spinal cord becomes narrowed. This occurs most commonly in the lumbar region, but can occur in the cervical region too. As the space becomes narrow, there may be pressure on the spinal cord and also the supporting […]
News
How to set up your bike for a less painful ride Throughout Covid, many more people have taken to their bikes. One key way to improve comfort on your bike is to get it set up correctly so that your body is taking the strain of any exercise evenly and not taking it all through […]
Osteopathy and Indian Head Massage could assist sinusitis problems The sinuses are small air filled chambers which are located above your eyes, around your nose and in your cheekbones. Their function is to warm and moisten the air as it makes its way to the lungs and to trap bacteria. The bacteria can then be […]
Choosing a Mattress that is right for you is so important for a good nights sleep. The old saying of one size fits all certainly does not apply to mattress buying. There is a common belief that for a mattress to be good, it must be firm, but this is not always the case. Here […]
Workstation set up. Is your workstation working well for you? During Covid we have seen a lot of patients presenting with neck, upper back and arm pains. A lot of this could be related to poor desk set-ups and longer times spent in poor positions. Try looking at the following pointers to see if they […]
Try these top tips to beat the winter blues and take care of you As the weather becomes colder, wetter and the skies turn grey, we may not feel so energised and enthused to go outside, but exercise is so important, both mentally and physically. It helps us to stay supple, gets the blood pumping […]
Sleep and pain There are many reasons why we may not be sleeping well including stress, mental over-activity or pain. Sometimes chronic pain can result in weeks or months of poor sleep and longer term sleep deprivation. This cycle of poor sleep can then lead to increased pain as the body has less recovery time […]
Keeping fit during the Winter months- try these top tips from the team The damp, cold days are not great at motivating even the best of us to get out and exercise, but maintaining fitness is so important, both physically and mentally. Being outdoors in the fresh air and enjoying nature and the changes it […]
Piriformis Syndrome- a very real pain in the bum For such a small muscle, the piriformis can cause a lot of discomfort, both locally in the buttock and down the leg too. Attaching from the tail bone (sacrum) to the upper part of your leg, the main role of this muscle is to turn the […]
Helping manage Anxiety Anxiety is a measure of our mind and body’s response to a stressful or new situation. Most of us will have experienced it at some stage. It can present as physical feelings such as a racing heart, shaking, feeling sick, breathlessness and sweating to mind racing and feelings of panic. Often anxiety […]
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Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterised by severe, disabling fatigue, and other symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, impaired concentration and headaches (Reid 2007).![]()
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The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome has been estimated to be from 0.007% to 2.8% in the general adult population, and from 0.006% to 3.0% in primary care, depending on the criteria used (Afari 2003). Chronic fatigue syndrome imposes substantial economic costs on society, mainly in terms of informal care costs and lost employment (McCrone 2003).![]()
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The cause of the syndrome remains poorly understood, but hypotheses include endocrine and immunological abnormalities, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, abnormal pain processing and certain infectious illnesses, such as Epstein-Barr virus and viral meningitis (Gur 2008, White 2001). People who have had a prior psychiatric disorder are nearly three times more likely to have chronic fatigue syndrome later in life than those who have not (Harvey 2008).![]()
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Prognosis is poor, with only around 5% of adults returning to pre-syndrome levels of functioning (Cairns 2005). Aims of treatment are to reduce levels of fatigue and associated symptoms, to increase levels of activity, and to improve quality of life. Conventional approaches include graded exercise therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressant drugs (DTB 2001).![]()
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How acupuncture can help![]()
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There are consistent positive results from observational studies (Wang 2008, Huang 2008, Guo 2007), but very few randomised controlled trials as yet (Wang 2009a, 2009b; Yiu 2007; Li 2006) In the meantime, given the often unsatisfactory outcomes from conventional treatments, Acupuncture may be a worthwhile option to consider, probably as part of a combined approach. There is evidence to support its effectiveness for some of the common symptoms – chronic pain, insomnia, depression (refer to the relevant Fact Sheets for details), but for chronic fatigue syndrome as a whole there is a need for more, and higher quality, research.![]()
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#acupuncture #fatigue #chronicfatigue #LongCovid #me #worthing #BOPOsteo #broadwaterosteopaths
Repetitive strain injuries![]()
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Repetitive strain injuries, are, as the name implies, injuries sustained as a result of repetitive movements and overuse. Injury occurs to the musculoskeletal and nervous system, generally in an accumulative fashion.![]()
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The condition tends to occur more in the upper body, effecting the hands, wrists, forearms, arms, neck and shoulders.![]()
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Patients will commonly describe symptoms which build up gradually and may include pain, stiffness, weakness, cramping, tingling, numbness and swelling. These symptoms can range from being mild to severe, but without treatment they can become more severe and longer lasting.![]()
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What causes it?![]()
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It is often repetitive activities or a combination of poor posture and poor working positions. Vibrations and excessive gripping or trauma may also cause it. Cold temperatures and stress are also thought to contribute to it.![]()
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What can you do?![]()
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Look at activities that you feel may be causing the symptoms. Is there any way you can adapt these activities or change them or rest from them for a period of time? Speak to your employer if this relates to work.![]()
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Ani-inflammatory drugs and pain killers may assist with symptoms. Splints and supports can also give some relief as can the use of hot and cold packs.![]()
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Osteopathy, acupuncture, physiotherapy and massage may also help to reduce symptoms. The use of electrotherapy like ultrasound can also help.![]()
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Prevention![]()
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It is a good idea to assess your daily tasks and see how you can make small changes to them.![]()
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Take regular breaks, stretch and use good postural control![]()
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Look at yoga or pilates to help you with this and strengthen weak muscle groups. Look at tackling stress and general wellbeing too, to aid a more relaxed mental attitude. ![]()
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Check how your desk is set up and speak to occupational health if you require advice on this or check out some of the government sites online. ![]()
These offer simple ways to help you understand how to set your desk up properly.![]()
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#RSI #worthing #repetitivestrain #BOP #BOPOsteo #broadwaterosteopaths #osteopath #acupuncture #wellness #electrotherapy