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Visiting an Osteopath for Concussion Recovery; What Happens on a Visit

So you’ve hit your head, seen your GP, and received a concussion diagnosis. Now what?The most important next step is to see a concussion professional as soon as possible. Early assessment and rehabilitation have been shown to greatly improve the chances of a smooth, faster recovery. The sooner you start, the sooner you can return to doing the things you love.What to Expect at Your VisitsYour recovery journey will depend on how long it’s been since your injury.
If it’s been less than a we...

Concussion Recovery: Building on the Right Foundations

Besides all the exciting tests and exercises you may get, there are a few very basic things that can be invaluable to do for your concussion recovery.As with anything, getting the foundation right is key to building on it and ensuring you reach your goals — and stay there. Here’s a Concussion Recovery Pyramid (from Complete Concussions and The Concussion Fix) that helps to understand how the building blocks of recovery are organised....

Persistent Concussion Symptoms (PCS)

I recently wrote an article about what happens in a concussion when you first get one. You can read the article by clicking, here. To recap, the damage is functional with very little, if any, structural damage to the brain, and that functional deficit heals in ca 22-30 days. So why do some people still have symptoms beyond that period?Well, the consequences of the metabolic cascades that happen in the body sometimes last longer than the issues in the brain itself. So the secondary affects c...

Concussion - The Basics

What is a concussionConcussion is a temporary functional dysfunction in the brain cells.                                There is very little, if any, structural damage to the brain.What happens in a concussionThe functional dysfunction happens as a result of stretching and shearing in the brain cells. It was thought that the brain got damaged due to coup - countercoup injury, meaning that the brain was sloshing aroun...

Sinus Blockage, Facial Pain, and Headaches

Sinus infections and upper respiratory infections are a common but often underestimated cause of facial pain and headaches. When the sinuses become inflamed, either due to a viral, bacterial, or even fungal infection, the delicate drainage pathways can become blocked. This leads to a buildup of pressure, resulting in the dull, throbbing discomfort many people feel in the cheeks, forehead, or behind the eyes.The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the skull that are lined with mucous membranes. Th...

Managing Menopause with Osteopathy: More Than Just Hot Flushes

When most people think of menopause, the common symptoms that come to mind; hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and brain fog. These well-known effects are primarily the result of hormonal fluctuations, particularly declining estrogen and progesterone levels. However, what is less commonly discussed are the significant musculoskeletal changes that also occur during this time.Studies show that up to 71% of perimenopausal women experience musculoskeletal pain, often due to hormonal changes aff...

The Body as an Instrument: How Osteopathy Supports Ballet and Contemporary Dancers

Finding freedom in the body that works so hard to contain it.The dancer’s body is a cathedral built on bruises. Every plié is a prayer to gravity, every leap a small act of rebellion against it. Beneath the lights and silk and discipline lies something raw; tendons that ache like confession, joints that creak like the floorboards of an old stage. To watch a dancer move is to see control masquerading as freedom; to treat one is to listen to the whispers underneath the performance.In the quiet ...

How to keep mobile and supple as you get older

At around forty to fifty years of age, we usually notice our joints getting stiffer and muscles tighter. Things we could do easily at twenty, can become an effort and without a wise approach, the risk of injury increases.As a Registered Osteopath, I often hear “Oh it's just me getting older” from patients. However, have you stopped to think if that is really the case? It is true that our tissues lose some elasticity with the increasing loss of collagen as we head beyond forty, however resear...

The Savage Ballet of Ageing Bones: Mobility, Decay, and the Fight to Keep Moving

Somewhere around the age of forty, the wheels start to come off. Subtle at first: the morning stiffness, the hip that clicks like a broken metronome, the knees that howl with the savage joy of your youth’s forgotten crimes. Then suddenly, you’re staring down the barrel of fifty or sixty, and your body has become a grotesque carnival of creaks, groans, and mutinous cartilage. Friends, half-strangers, and even medical professionals will affix the expression of sympathetic relatability and tell...

What is Hypermobility? What You Can Do To Feel Better

What is hypermobility Hypermobility is a connective tissue disorder where a person's ligaments and other connective tissue is looser or more elastic than usual. This means the person’s joints can move more freely or bend further than what is considered typical. This allows joints, like knees, elbows, fingers, or shoulders, to stretch beyond the normal range of motion. Some people are naturally more flexible and may not even notice they’re hypermobile. Some people are affected in only a few j...

The Knee–Core Connection: An Osteopathic View on Injury, Integration, and Stability

The Knee–Core Connection: An Osteopathic View on Injury, Integration, and StabilityIn osteopathy, one of our core approaches to treatment is that the body is a unit; no structure works in isolation, and when one part suffers, the entire system compensates. This principle becomes especially clear in the case of knee and other lower limb injuries and their impact on overall stability and function.While a knee injury is often seen as a localised event—perhaps involving a ligament strain, menisc...

Understanding The Hidden Causes Of Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the most common complaints seen in Osteopathic clinics.Whether it’s a dull ache when walking downstairs, sharp pain during sport, or discomfort after long periods of sitting, it’s common to assume the knee itself is the problem. Although often, it’s not that simple.Osteopaths understand that the source of pain may not always come from where you feel it. This is especially important to consider for the knee, an area that is often the victim of a dysfunction elsewhere, su...

Alleviate stress: How the Alexander Technique helps you to manage the demands of daily life

What is stress?Stress can be defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional, or mental strain. Stress is your body response to anything that requires attention or action. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way you respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to your overall mental and physical well-being.Sometimes, the best way to manage your stress involves changing your situation. At other times, the best strategy involves changing the way you respond to the s...

Shoulder impingement, what is it and how can I fix it?

What is shoulder impingement?Shoulder impingement happens when soft tissues in your shoulder get pinched, usually when you raise your arm. This can cause pain, especially with overhead movements like reaching, lifting, or throwing.A Simple Look at the AnatomyYour shoulder is the most mobile joint in your body. It’s where your upper arm bone (humerus) connects to your shoulder blade (scapula), forming what’s called the glenohumeral joint.Above this joint is a bony part of the shoulder blade c...

ACT- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ACT: A new approach to freedom from anxiety, pressure & self-doubt.ACT can help you move forward without needing to have it all figured out.Let’s be honest: trying to always stay positive or manage your mindset can feel like another full-time job. Especially when your mind is constantly:Overthinking every decisionPlaying the ‘what if’ gameHolding you back with fear, perfectionism or self-doubtYou want to live with more ease, purpose, and emotional balance but nothing seems to stick, or...

Preventative Osteopathic Care: Supporting Health Before Problems Arise

Did you know that you can come to an osteopath not only to treat issues, but to prevent problems? Many of the concerns we treat as osteopaths develop over time, creating compensations that eventually lead to the symptoms that prompt people to go and see an osteopath.  Preventative osteopathic care can be defined as regular osteopathic treatments that are aimed at maintaining optimal function in the body and preventing dysfunction. Having regular check ups with your osteopath can preve...

How Osteopathy Can Help You Avoid Surgery: A Holistic Alternative to Invasive Treatments

You may have been recommended surgery to resolve a musculoskeletal issue—but surgery isn’t always the only option. Sometimes, it’s worth seeing whether a more conservative, holistic approach could suit your situation and needs better.Osteopaths often see patients looking for less invasive, more natural ways to manage pain and improve function. Osteopathy offers a hands-on, whole-body approach that can often reduce or even eliminate the need for surgery.Osteopathy doesn't just treat symptom...

Gentle Osteopathic Care for Families in Wellington

Supporting Mums, Babies & Children with Compassionate, Expert CareAt City Osteopaths Wellington, we specialise in providing gentle, effective osteopathic care for families. Our experienced team is dedicated to supporting pregnant women, newborns, and children through every stage of growth and development. Whether you're seeking relief from back pain during pregnancy or looking to help your unsettled baby find comfort, we're here to assist you with care and expertise.Why Choose Osteopathy for...

Role of Osteopathy in Managing Cumulative Load

Cumulative load refers to the total mechanical stress experienced by a joint or tissue over time, particularly during activities such as running or lifting. Understanding cumulative load is essential for preventing injuries, especially in athletes and active individuals. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of monitoring cumulative load to mitigate the risk of overuse injuries, which can arise from both excessive training and improper biomechanics [1-2].Understanding cumulative loadCum...

How can osteopathy support women during perimenopause and menopause?

Osteopathy supports women during perimenopause and menopause by addressing musculoskeletal, circulatory, and hormonal changes through a holistic hands on and lifestyle changes approach. We focus on improving mobility, reducing tension, and enhancing blood supply plus venous and lymphatic drainage. In these ways, osteopathy helps a person's body function better and can alleviate symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, and muscle tension. Osteopaths also provide guidance on posture, ergonomics, an...

Ageing and Musculoskeletal Health: The Role of Muscle Mass and Strength in Older Adults

The ageing process affects the entire body, including organs, the nervous system, and the musculoskeletal system. As we age, muscle tissue undergoes degenerative changes that primarily involve the loss of muscle mass and strength, a process known as sarcopenia [1]....

Understanding the Physiological Changes in Muscle as We Age

As people age, the following physiological changes are observed in muscle:1. An increase in fat and connective tissue: Body fat distribution changes with age, with a reduction in subcutaneous fat and an increase in central adiposity. The accumulation of body fat in the abdominal region has been shown to be associated with several adverse health outcomes, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality, independently of BMI [1].2. A decrease in protein ...

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of persistent heel pain. It develops when the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue running along the bottom of the foot, becomes irritated or inflamed. This tissue is essential for supporting the arch of the foot and absorbing shock during activities like walking, running, or standing.Pain and stiffness associated with plantar fasciitis is felt near the heel with symptoms typically worsening with prolonged activity or after periods ...

Understanding TMJ and How to Manage Jaw Pain

What is TMJ?TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jawbone to your skull on each side of your face. These joints allow you to move your jaw for essential functions such as speaking, chewing and yawning. TMJ dysfunction (TMD) refers to issues affecting the joint, surrounding muscles, or associated nerves. Symptoms can range from pain and stiffness in the jaw to clicking sounds, headaches, or even difficulty opening your mouth fully.Why Do I Get Jaw Pain?Jaw pain can arise...

Pain between the Shoulder Blades

Tired of That Annoying Pain Between Your Shoulder Blades? Here’s How to Fix ItThat ache between your shoulder blades can feel like it’s always lurking, ready to ruin your day. Whether it’s a dull, nagging discomfort or a sharp pinch that flares up, this pain is frustratingly common. But why does it happen, and what can you do about it? Let’s break it down so you can find relief—and get back to living your life.What Causes Pain Between the Shoulder Blades?1. Muscle OveruseRepetitive mot...