Your first appointment and onward at BODYBACKUP Osteopathy

What to expect from your first visit

to Body Back-Up Osteopathy & Sports Injury Clinics

• During your Initial Consultation, we’ll look at how your symptoms started and what makes them fluctuate - completing a Case History form.

• We will then take your medical history and examine you to assess your posture, structure and function – At this stage you will be asked to remove some items of outer clothing so we are able to observe your Spinal Mobility – We may need to see your lower and upper body to assess your function more completely, so wearing underwear you are comfortable with is best – (shorts are an option).  We offer a blanket or towel on request too.

• We conduct a ‘Standing’ examination to assess your spinal and muscular function and you will be asked to bend in different directions as far as you are ‘able’ to comfortably – or perform a Dynamic Squat test. - This will help inform us of off areas that we might treat.

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• We'll also look at aspects of your lifestyle - especially if you have a long history of problems or an injury - to help us gauge the right treatment and advice.

• We can then make a diagnosis and will explain your treatment plan so you'll know how many treatment sessions you will need and what to expect afterwards.

Our Treatment Management Plan

• Treatment may be in the form of Joint

Manipulation, Deep Massage for muscles,

Stretching and Joint Mobilisation as well

as other techniques to suit your needs.

• You can usually expect a Follow-Up session 

within three to seven days after the initial

consultation –

• A number of sessions in between depending

on your needs may be suggested.

• A final appointment check-up two to four weeks later.

• With Sports Injuries, we look at what treatment will help your injury to heal, explain what you can do to speed up recovery and let you know when you can safely return to your sport – we may provide some individualized remedial exercises.  

For more detailed information on how we manage sports injuries

Click LINK Sporting care at Body Back-up

‘Follow-Up’ Appointments

• We will assess how you are improving at the start of each consultation - you should notice a progressive difference at each visit – symptoms should reduce and your mobility improve – we will ask you to ‘score’ the change to help gauge progress.

• We aim to provide advice and individual exercises to reduce the chance of your problem recurring and these will be reviewed regularly to see if you are reaching your goals or need the exercises modified to make them more effective.
  
  
• We will also ask you whether you have noticed improvement in your lifestyle, work comfort, or improved sports performance etc.  -  These are useful measures of your progress.

Once your set of appointments is completed, we'll also ask you to fill out an aftercare questionnaire on-line to help us improve what we do.

Body Back-Up checkup – Your Future Management

Once you're feeling good we want you to stay that way, so, with your agreement, we'll send you a check-up invitation from time to time by post or email or text message to your mobile phone.

Possible After Effects of Treatment

Any side effects of treatment will be explained – you may feel soreness, - or tender, normally develops a superficial bruise (if you bruise easily).  This will all clear in 24 hours or so, and is quite normal.  Some patients also feel tired after treatment. If you have any concerns – please contact us.

Patients choice? Osteopathy for NHS patients in Berkshire?

Dear Doctor

Many thousands of people across Berkshire visit Osteopaths and are frequently delighted with the results that Osteopathic care has given them.

Body Back-Up Osteopathy & Sports Injury Clinics was established in Maidenhead since 1988 by Robin Lansman.  Over the years we have treated people on referral from GP’s as well as on recommendation through “word of mouth”.

We had contracts with two large NHS GP practices, who referred patients for treatment and covered the cost of their treatment.  Many people were able to access Osteopathic care for the first time.

Over the last few years the pressure of “Patient choice” on expanding NHS services has become apparent.  Though after much correspondence through Theresa May, MP and Home Secretary and exchanges of letters with Berkshire NHS Chief Executive Berkshire NHS has decided to veto any possibility of including Osteopathic care for the foreseeable future.

The decision seems to have been made using “narrow view” and “out of date” research that provides a poorly informed perspective in ‘modern’ musculo-skeletal medicine – claiming the only reason for excluding Osteopathy is that there is insufficient evidence for the efficiency of Spinal manipulation.  Other research, which is much more favourable, has been overlooked.

We feel this is a huge travesty.  Patients really value their Osteopathic care – which has far broader and wider reaching benefits than Berkshire NHS have explored to date.

Affordability of Osteopathic care is also an issue, as well as patients suffering from musculo-skeletal conditions being given the chance to try Osteopathy.

We would like a campaign to try and persuade Berkshire NHS to review their policy and include NHS Osteopathy provision across the area – or at least some local GP surgeries to offer NHS Osteopathy services.

We are ready to help!

Robin Lansman

Robin Lansman D.O.

Osteopathic Principal

Body Back-Up Osteopathy & Sports Injury Clinics

Council Member – British Osteopathic Association

Nurses and Back pain - a bad mix! Osteopathy for Nurses?

Nurses 'need more advice over back pain'

23 May, 2012 | By The Press Association

NHS workers need to be given more advice about what to do when suffering back pain, according to a report.

The Royal College of Physicians’ national clinical audit of back pain management found nurses and other healthcare workers suffering such problems needed clearer information.

The audit of more than 5,000 cases comes at a time when two-fifths of NHS sickness absence are related to back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. Previous research by Unison found that every year 3,600 nurses have to retire because of back problems.

Researchers found that since the previous study was conducted four years ago there had been an improvement in the care given to NHS staff suffering back pain.

The report called for nurses and other workers to be reminded that returning to work as soon as possible could help stave off long-term problems.

Dr Julia Smedley, lead consultant on the audit, said: “There has been a revolution in the way we manage back pain and there is now good evidence to show that what you do in the early stages is very important - in most cases, the sooner you get moving and doing your ordinary activities, the sooner you will get back to normal.

“I would urge any NHS employee who is suffering from a back problem to seek advice from their occupational healthservice.”

The audit of NHS members of staff, over half of whom were nurses, also revealed that:

• 59% had taken time off sick due to their back pain
• 87% of the consultations encouraged patients, where appropriate, to stay at work despite residual pain
• 95% of the consultations resulted, where appropriate, in practical advice to managers about the adjustments they could make so that their staff could remain in or return to work

Yoga for better sleep? Try this....

Yoga For Better Sleep

Saturday 19th January 2013 3:30pm-5:30pm

At Special Yoga Centre - Kensal Rise

Lack of sleep can have many adverse effects on your mind and body.

It can reduce your ability to deal with stress, compromise your concentration and reduce the quality of your life. It can leave you tired, ungrounded and physically and mentally tense.

In this workshop you will learn simple techniques that are meant to activate your parasympathetic nervous system and promote relaxation and a sense of letting go.

The workshop consists of restorative poses, relaxation techniques, grounding and core focused practices as well as body awareness and mood regulating practises.

When your mind-body complex is given sufficient amount of time and quality of attention, your muscles during sleep are less likely to remain tense and the stress hormones are less likely to remain high.

Investment for the workshop: £20 in advance or £25 on the day

Booking in advance is recommended as there is a limit of 10 students per workshop.

To book please call The Special Yoga Centre on 020 8968 1900 or follow the link below to sign up.

http://specialyoga.org.uk/yoga-centre/workshops/

If you have any questions or worries please do not hesitate to contact me. :)

If you woud like to be notified of future events please send me an email to:  info@yogainmind.me.uk

Rest Well Sleep Well.

Namaste.   Elka

http://www.yogainmind.me.uk/yoga-for-better-sleep-workshops

Pilates for back pains? Help or Hinder ?

In Osteopathic practice I see people who have increased their pain or stiffness as a result of doing their Pilates too often or for too long. Many people are naturally 
asymmetrical in the way they work or play their sports and as a result they need to consider this before adding exercise like pilates to the mix. 
Additionally the back postural muscles need to be in balance with the frontal muscles of the chest and shoulders and front of the hips and pelvis. 
So often the emphasis is on the so called "weak core" and strength is the greater goal than flexibility. 
Without adequate flexibility and full function of the muscle over it's full length the muscle power is always reduced. Tension on the central part of the muscle causes 
shortening and reduced blood flow and as a result the muscle is functionally weakened!
Spinal joint function should also be checked by a well trained professional - or all the exercise is fighting resistance - leading to possible injury and dysfunction.

Exercise and depression. Are they a good mix?

BodyBac

BodyBackUp Osteopathy W9199 days 

In Osteopathy practice we ask what motivated someone to consult us. Often pain and stiffness is the answer. However, another reason is worry about their problem and the fact that they cannot work or do the activities they enjoy most. The sports injury case is often amplified by fear that they cannot perform or compete or even enjoy the social aspects of team sports. If treatment has failed them over an extended period or more importantly the have no diagnosis or treatment plan they feel let down and even depressed. Many of life's stresses they have pushed away or managed with exercise begin to play on the individuals mind and can create greater depression and lack of motivation. 

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/exercise-doesnt-help-symptoms-of-depression-say-experts-7819723.html

In Osteopathy practice we ask what motivated someone to consult us. Often pain and stiffness is the answer. However, another reason is worry about their problem and the fact that they cannot work or do the activities they enjoy most. The sports injury case is often amplified by fear that they cannot perform or compete or even enjoy the social aspects of team sports. If treatment has failed them over an extended period or more importantly the have no diagnosis or treatment plan they feel let down and even depressed. Many of life's stresses they have pushed away or managed with exercise begin to play on the individuals mind and can create greater depression and lack of motivation. 
It is not that their injury is always due to damage but is a functional problem that needs insight and understanding and perhaps hands on treatment such as osteopathy . A plan of action with goals and outcome measures. At least then sports men or women who are professional or amateur can feel they have some way forwards. Depression is clearly a complex issue and very individual and requires individual care rather than generic case management.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/exercise-doesnt-help-symptoms-of-depression-say-experts-7819723.htmlExercise and depression ? A good mix?Robin Lansman Osteopathhttp://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/exercise-doesnt-help-symptoms-of-depression-say-experts-7819723.htmlRobin Lansman Osteopath

In Osteopathy practice we ask what motivated someone to consult us. Often pain and stiffness is the answer. However, another reason is worry about their problem and the fact that they cannot work or do the activities they enjoy most. The sports injury case is often amplified by fear that they cannot perform or compete or even enjoy the social aspects of team sports. If treatment has failed them over an extended period or more importantly the have no diagnosis or treatment plan they feel let down and even depressed. Many of life's stresses they have pushed away or managed with exercise begin to play on the individuals mind and can create greater depression and lack of motivation. 
It is not that their injury is always due to damage but is a functional problem that needs insight and understanding and perhaps hands on treatment such as osteopathy . A plan of action with goals and outcome measures. At least then sports men or women who are professional or amateur can feel they have some way forwards. Depression is clearly a complex issue and very individual and requires individual care rather than generic case management.
Robin Lansman Osteopath

Claiming osteopathy fees on health insurance - terms and conditions

Policy Excess Do you or your company need to pay the first part of the treatment fees? Claims Limit Have you already used all your allowances for treatment for a similar problem during the financial year of your insurance policy? Your Health Insurance may stipulate that you have a ‘set’ number of Appointments over a time interval – and then your case is reviewed. Health Insurance normally state that treatment must be for Acute Care rather than on-going maintenance treatment.  Check your policy wording. GP Referral Does your policy require you to have a Referral letter to a “named” Osteopath to enable the claim to be settled? Claim Forms Do you need to complete a Claim Form and have it signed by your GP - or can the Osteopath treating you sign it? Claim Numbers You will need your Membership Number. If you are in Company Scheme you will also need your Group number - this is the number allocated to your company, you will then have your own membership number. You may also need an Authorisation code from the Health Insurance Company. Further Help If you need help with any of these details, please contact your Health Insurance Helpline number. You may have someone in your company - perhaps in Human Resources - who can also direct you. If you are still confused or not sure what to do, we are here to provide help and advise if you encounter any problems.

GP attitudes to osteopathy? 2012

Being in practice since 1988 and lecturing to many audiences on Sports biomechanics and other topics– for Osteopaths, Nurses and GPs here have been challenges, but something to be learned from them.

A new lecture for GPs......

“Osteopathy – to be taken once a week for six weeks –Mix medicines with care”

With the view that GPs often use osteopaths as a “pill” offering a single modality of treatment – Manipulation for Low back pain which the BEAM trial was based on– or GPs that simply don’t engage with or have the time to learn about the range of diagnostic and individualised treatment and patient management that “Osteopathy” encompasses.

As you are aware commissioning services such as Osteopathy is a hot potato across the NHS – with most Osteopaths operating privately. A number of Hospital Trusts have embraced Osteopathy whilst others remain totally rejecting of this unique modality of hands on patient care. Patients however, are consistently satisfied with Osteopathic care received across the UK.

·         Would it be interesting to your readers to explore the prejudices and hopefully positive views surrounding Osteopathy?

·         Is it possible to shift or open any GP minds on how they see Osteopathy in 45 minutes or start some new dialogue?

·         Where do the key issues lie? Is Evidence base the real worry?

N

National Council for Osteopathic Research NCOR

CityAM news paper in LONDON article by Robin Lansman

Advice from Osteopath Robin Lansman in CITYam

Making NECK manipulation less risky - with careful and considered techniques

Neck pain affects almost everyone during their life.  Sometimes it gradually builds up due to postural stiffness – Common in the work place.

Other cases, happen from carrying children, doing the shopping, play sports, sitting and reading on a holiday sun-bed, or as a result of a car accident – rear shunt and Whiplash.

There are many Chiropractors, Physiotherapists & Osteopaths -  all offering different approaches to try and assist neck pain and stiffness.

As Osteopaths we always take a full medical history and precise and detailed hands on examination before we perform any treatment!

Once any RED flags are excluded and IF spinal neck manipulation is deemed appropriate and useful for the patients’ complaint, the nature of the procedure is then explained fully to the patient.

Any indication of structural abnormality or history of recent trauma or past severe trauma may rule out manipulation. Other techniques such as articulation and soft tissue may be useful as a first line of treatment.

The manipulation Osteopaths use specifically involves loosening the spinal joints to improve movement and is often preceded by soft tissue work into the muscles.

The manipulation itself is done using gentle hands-on contact and combines minimal multi-directional levers thereby reducing rotational forces and avoiding extending the neck.

The low-amplitude impulse applied, most often in side bending and flexion help minimise risks- this is the style of manipulation Osteopaths favour.

At all stages the hands of the professional osteopath guide the tensions required to achieve the specific changes to function the patient needs to improve their neck complaint.

Whatever choice you make, always ensure your patients are in good hands.

Body Back-Up Osteopaths are trained for four years to degree level and registered with the General Osteopathic Council, and fully insured as primary health care professionals.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome TOS - pins and needles in the arms?

Questions to find out if you might fall into this particularly common

 but often mis-understood condition

·         Do you ever wake up in the night with tingling in both arms and deadness?

·         Do you ever wake up with cold hands that don’t feel like yours?

·         Do you find it difficult to sleep on one of your shoulders and yet you don’t have a frozen shoulder, so you keep tossing and turning all night?

·         Have you been told you may be suffering from Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and have various arm symptoms including pain and stiffness?

·         Have you been diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?

·         Maybe you have even had the surgery and yet the symptoms have returned?

·         Do you work at a computer or desk for quite a lot of time or drive long distances and find that holding a pen for a great deal of time or using a mouse or steering wheel has become harder and harder to do over some time?

If any of these do sound like you and you are still at a bit of a loss as to know what to do with your symptoms that are disturbing your life and ruining your life-style, then perhaps come and see us for a consultation and we will be able to help decide whether the problem you actually have is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

It is a very common problem due to postural changes over time or commonly found due to using a computer in the work-place or the types of posture adopted during various sports and is frequently confused with other conditions and where treatment has often failed using this particular diagnosis looking at the area between the triangle between the neck and the collar bone and the upper ribs has been completely missed in the examination diagnosis.

Any X-ray would normally show very little change that would make the problem a structural problem and indeed a functional problem to do with the muscles in front of the throat and to the ribs and to the neck and to the clavicle,  this area is also known as being in the body called the brachial plexus which supplies the upper limbs with the nerves that provide sensation and also strength to the muscles as well as all the major arteries that go into the limbs and veins returning back to the heart.  Any compromise in this area would indeed create a variety of symptoms that can be confused very easily with some of the things mentioned above.