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Learn about your spine with Reg. Osteopath Lara Sanders

12/4/2016

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PictureFive lumbar vertebrae with discs, the sacrum and then the coccyx. All the bumpy bits are for muscle attachments. Note the nerves as they exit the intervertebral foramena/spaces
Ten Interesting Facts About Your Amazing Spine

1.      The bones of the spine are called vertebra, which comes from a Latin word meaning ‘to turn’.  The spine is so flexible that if it were removed from the body and bent, it could form two-thirds of a perfect circle!  Osteopaths are trained to find the areas of your spine that aren’t moving well, and get them moving again.
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2.      Babies are born with 33 individual vertebrae, but adults only have 26.  This is because five bones fuse to form the sacrum which sits at the back of the pelvis, and three fuse to form the coccyx at the base of the spine.  Osteopathy offers a gentle and safe treatment for newborn babies to the elderly – at all stages of spinal fusion!
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3.      The sacral vertebrae start to fuse in the teenage years, and are usually fused into a single bone by 30 years of age.  Heavy falls onto the backside throughout this period can set the scene for back pain in later life, so it’s worth getting them gently treated early on.
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4.      The coccyx is the remnant of a vestigial tail which is most prominent in human embryos at 31 to 35 days old, hence the term ‘tailbone’.   The coccyx performs a very important role as the attachment site for our pelvic floor muscles (the ones we need to prevent incontinence).  Tailbone pain is relatively common, especially during and after pregnancy, and it can be treated osteopathically.

PictureThe curves of your spine combined with your discs are very important for shock absorption
5.      The first vertebra at the top of the spine is called the Atlas, named for Atlas from Greek mythology because it holds up the globe of the head.  The second vertebra is called the Axis, because it forms the pivot upon which the Atlas rotates.  Problems with the movement of these two bones are a common cause of headaches.  Osteopaths are trained to palpate the movement of these bones and gently restore normal function to reduce headaches.
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6.      The spinal column has approximately 220 individual ligaments keeping the vertebrae interconnected and stable and over 100 joints, giving flexibility.  Osteopaths look at how the whole spine moves when making a diagnosis, and sometimes the painful area isn’t where the actual problem is.
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7.      The curves in our spines are very important because they allow the spine to support ten times more weight than if it were straight.  That’s why proper lifting is so important – if you bend at the waist to pick up an object, you straighten out your lumbar curve and put your low back at risk of injury.  Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people see an osteopath.

8.      Between the vertebrae are cartilage discs which make up a quarter of the length of the spinal column.  As we age, the discs lose height and we become shorter, but old age is no excuse for back pain! Good postural habits and back care throughout life can keep you moving happily through life.  Many people choose to get regular osteopathic treatment with this goal in mind.




9.      The intervertebral discs are structured like a jelly donut, with a soft, jelly-like substance in the middle and a tough outer layer.  They act as shock absorbers in the spine.

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This is a picture representing one vertebra, one intervertebral disc (in pink) and a cross section of the spinal cord showing spinal nerves as the exit/enter through the intervertebral space.
10.  The spinal cord, protected inside the vertebrae, begins at the base of the skull and continues down to approximately waist level - it doesn’t continue down the length of the entire spine.  Instead it turns into the cauda equina – Latin for ‘horse’s tail’ – because the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine resembles the tail of a horse. 

​Osteopaths  have an excellent understanding of the spinal nerves and their role in back pain and can help in the management of nerve-related pain.
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Lara Sanders 
M.Ost., B.App.Sc.(Human Biol.),
Reg. Osteopath, MONZ




www.cityosteopaths.co.nz
Phone 04 4991439 for an appointment

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Osteopathic Testimonial Archive October 2016

10/9/2016

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Over the years we have been given wonderful testimonials by many of our patients. As of October 2016 the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand has stated that Registered Osteopaths should no longer display testimonials. In order to comply with this we have removed them from our osteopaths page. Our practice treats a wide range of unique conditions for patients which the testimonials reflect. We won't be adding any new ones but here they are for reference as they may be helpful to people in need.
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Registered Osteopaths Sebastian Tucker, Melanie Young, Chris Thompson, Aydan Hajyeva and Lara Sanders are in this photo, surrounded by our registered acupuncturists, naturopaths and massage therapists.
​All of these testimonials are from actual patients and are verifiable.
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"I would highly recommend City Osteopaths, they are professional, efficient and yet still always make you feel like you are the most important person they are seeing that day.


I have Fibromyalgia which means there are regular issues I need to deal with on a day to day basis.  City Osteopaths have helped me combat everything from a painful jaw to a shortened hamstring to putting my upper back out – even headaches. 
I have been given the tools to be able to deal with a lot of the body issues I get myself now. I highly recommend City Osteopaths." - AW, Wellington



"My son had an accident which resulted in his front tooth being knocked forward and his top jawbone protruding through his gum. The dentist was going to cut the bone out. I went to City Osteopaths and after just one visit to Melanie, who is a cranial osteopath, the bone began to re-align into place. Within a week it was completely healed and the bone could not be seen at all. His behaviour, which had been affected badly due to headaches since the accident, also quickly came right after the treatment. I would highly recommend seeing an Osteopath to heal your ailments". - Mother of a ten year old boy, Wellington


"I have been treated by Melanie since April this year following an injury to my knee which was severely limiting what I could do. The injury also compounded problems with my back and neck. I had regular treatments with Melanie and several acupuncture sessions with Janine to add support to my healing process.This is one of the real benefits of coming to an integrated healthcare provider which practices an ethos of genuine care and support to people to do their healing. So I'm healing well and hugely grateful to be moving with increasing ease and confidence".  - Vicki


"I have had long term back and shoulder pain. This has been totally fixed by my osteopath Sebastian in the last three weeks. A great change to my life and lifestyle.  Recommend the practice (City Osteopaths) to anyone." T.Lynch


"Finally, thanks to my osteopath I am pain-free after 8 months of pain and various tests and a mis-diagnosis by my GP and specialists. I was getting desperate with not knowing what was causing my pain. The GP had pretty much given up on me as he had explored all the avenues he could think of. A friend recommended that I try her osteopath, who she described as "wonderful". I was a bit sceptical but thought I had nothing to lose and no-one else seemed to have any ideas about how I could investigate further. Within a couple of appointments I was feeling the benefit of the treatment - which was non-invasive and relaxing - and the improvement has continued with each appointment so that I am now pain-free. From talking to me the osteopath quickly identified the cause of the problem and was then able to treat it. 2010 is the year I will remember as "my year of pain" but that is now just a memory, thanks to the osteopath.
I would recommend an osteopath for any mysterious aches and pains you have which your GP cannot identify or treat successfully. It certainly worked for me".  - J McDougall

"Lara has a lovely, calm demeanour that allowed me to relax when she was working her magic on me. I had never been to an osteopath before but thought I'd give her a go after I found a GP's advice for my sore tailbone was not helpful. Lara's handy work and exercises she gave to do at home worked wonders and she has also been very effective with treating a sharp stabbing pain near my hip. Lara helped me to understand the reason for my pain, which really eased my mind". - N. Harris 


"I had constant sinus issues and headaches from the earlier stages in my pregnancy which I hadn't ever had before. I also had lower back pain. After visiting Melanie twice at five months pregnant, everything cleared up and my head, back and sinus have been fine during the pregnancy since. Would recommend this practice to anyone." - L.Snowdon


"Excellent work from City Osteopaths to resolve the ear pain and discomfort from a nasal fracture that was left to heal by itself after a visit to the doctor. I would recommend that everyone visits and osteopath for an annual checkup, these people can work wonders with things that you never knew needed healing." - A Google User


"Since being treated by Aydan for an ongoing compressed leg injury, my lifestyle has dramatically improved – subtle methods of therapy have helped me regain my ability to function at work, and even walk properly again. Whilst my treatment is still ongoing, I have regained my confidence and feel positive moving forward. I would happily recommend City Osteopaths to anyone experiencing physical difficulty, the staff give you 110% of their time and focus, dedicated to your eventual full recovery.”  - K.Wood


"I have been having seeing Sebastian for the last few months, after suffering from neck, shoulder pain and stiffness and lower back stiffness and discomfort. Most of the pain and stiffness I was experiencing has disappeared and my overall posture has improved significantly. Sebastian has also recommended targeted exercises and magnesium and vitamin B all to assist with my overall recovery".
M. Mallet


"For months I suffered lower back pain, specially when I played the piano - I couldn't work out what was wrong with my posture, but I began to think I'd have to stop playing.  When I went to Melanie with the problem,  I could hardly believe it when, with just gentle touching, she somehow magicked the pain away!  It wasn't even a question of it gradually getting better, it just went.  Extraordinary and wonderful".  - L. Cox 


As an athlete, my body needs to operate at 100%. The treatment I get from Sebastian at City Osteopaths is second to none. He gets me back into shape quicker so I perform at my best. I would highly recommend Sebastian to any prospective clients wanting to get back to their best"  April 2015 Feedback form


"I have been seeing Sebastian, and I was a little skeptical initially. However he has helped mobilise my back and pelvis to a point I have never had so much movement in my life. He has been so kind and supportive in every way possible and made me feel comfortable at all times. I have urged so many others to book in and see him". 
Sarah, Wellington



"I highly recommend City Osteopaths, I've suffered from migraines for the last 8 years and by chance was shown a video that Osteopath Chris posted about the connection between posture/neck/back tension and migraines. The knowledge and skill that Chris has is amazing and I haven't had a migraine since I've been working with City Osteopaths. Thank you!"
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Back Pain, Leg Pain, Sciatic Pain help, City Osteopaths Wellington 

2/23/2015

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Back pain is bad enough, but what if your pain also goes down your leg? Is your leg the problem or can it be coming from your back? Where do you go to get effective and lasting relief fast? At City Osteopaths our practitioners are experts in helping back and leg pain. We provide excellent treatment and work with you so you are back to full health quickly.
What is sciatica?
You’ve probably heard people saying they have sciatica – and if you’ve had back pain, you might have even wondered if you’ve got it yourself.  Sciatica is a commonly used (and occasionally    abused) term - but what does it actually mean? 


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The sciatic nerve is the largest in diameter in your body and when its in trouble the pain can be excruciating

The word sciatica describes a set of symptoms, including lower back, buttock, hip, leg and foot pain as well as numbness, weakness, "pins and needles" or tingling in these areas.  


The symptoms are due to irritation of the sciatic nerve, a large nerve about the same circumference as your thumb that starts in your low back and travels down the leg to the foot, supplying power to muscles and sensation to skin along the way.  So while the term sciatica describes the symptoms, sciatica is not a diagnosis by itself – the diagnosis comes from figuring out what is irritating the nerve in the first place – and there’s quite a few potential causes!  Here are a few of the most common causes:

·   If one of your lumbar discs is bulging or herniated, it can press on and irritate part of the nerve as it exits the spinal cord.

·   As we get older, our spines often start to exhibit age-related changes, occasionally growing bone spurs, or just starting to narrow and compress the spinal cord, thus pinching and irritating nerves as they exit the spine.

·  The sciatic nerve passes very close to a muscle at the back of your pelvis, called the piriformis.  When the muscle shortens or spasms, it can compress the sciatic nerve, causing symptoms down the leg. 

PicturePiriformis muscle shown in pink
         
·     During pregnancy, the weight of the foetus can press onto the sciatic nerve.  While it’s not harmful to the baby, it can be very frustrating for expectant mothers!


·   And for the gentlemen, there’s “wallet sciatica”, caused by sitting down with an over-stuffed wallet in your back pocket, thus compressing the nerve as it passes around the back of the pelvis.  There’s a simple solution for this one!






However, there are a lot of other conditions which can cause very similar symptoms.  As osteopaths, we are trained to be able to determine the most likely cause of your symptoms, whether it is something relatively simple, or a more complex condition that might require further specialist attention. 

At your appointment, we’ll make a diagnosis, then discuss treatment options with you.  Treatment will usually involve the application of some gentle and very effective osteopathic techniques to calm the irritation in the area and relieve pressure on the nerve.  We can advise you on what you should and shouldn’t be doing, and offer you some simple stretches and exercises to continue the healing process on your own time. 

We are able to send you for an x-ray if we think it will give us information helpful in the management of your symptoms, and we can refer you for further specialist attention if needed.  



At City Osteopaths, we are excellent at getting you out of pain quickly. We also regularly collaborate with our on-site acupuncturists and massage therapists to provide a well-rounded healing process. 


If you have any questions, call us on 04 4991439 to book an appointment or if you would like Lara to give you a call back.

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Lara Sanders
M.Ost., B.App.Sc. (Human Biol.)MONZ
Reg. Osteopath
To read more about Lara and to meet our Osteopathic Team please click here

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When bad posture isn't really bad posture. An Osteopathic perspective of osteoporosis and what to do about it.

1/25/2015

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When bad posture isn’t really bad posture

As osteopaths, we see many people who are concerned about their posture, often saying “I don’t want to end up like ….(insert name of elderly relative)… He/she is completely hunched over!”.  It’s great to see people who understand the benefits of prevention over cure, but in many cases the person they are thinking of doesn’t just have bad posture.  In fact, they may have an underlying condition such as spinal compression fractures due to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis causes the bones to become very fragile, occasionally to the point where an action as simple as picking up a bag of groceries causes a vertebra to fracture and collapse, leaving the vertebra in a wedge shape and creating a the effect of a hunched-over posture.  This condition has the somewhat old-fashioned name of ‘Dowager’s Hump’.

Osteoporosis can be prevented from developing by maximising bone density in early life, and minimising bone loss in later life.  Weight-bearing, high impact activities (like skipping rope or running) in early life will increase bone mass, alongside an adequate calcium intake. Best sources of calcium in your diet are green leafy vegetables, broccoli and dairy products (ideally raw, unpasterised and unhomogenised). 


An excessively acid diet will also reduce the amount of calcium in the bones. Avoid excessive red meat, coffee, smoking and carbonated drinks (ie soft drinks) as these all require calcium to be taken from your bones to buffer the acidic environment in your body.

You can also minimise bone loss, especially after menopause, by engaging in moderate-impact exercise and strength training, alongside a higher calcium intake to reduce the calcium losses associated with lower oestrogen levels.  In addition, vitamin D is important for bone health.

Osteopaths are able to assess your risks of developing conditions like osteoporosis and give you personalised guidelines for prevention.  We can give you guidance on other treatment providers who may be able to help, such as nutritionists or naturopaths, or send you for a bone density scan.

Finally, we can help you with any postural problems you are having, giving you treatment to help your body make the appropriate adjustments, alongside exercise to help maintain the changes.

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Lara Sanders
M.Ost.,B.App.Sc. (Human Biol.)

Reg. Osteopath

www.cityosteopaths.co.nz
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Ph 044991439

#osteoporosis
#excessiveboneloss
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Sprained Ankle Wellington

10/27/2014

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The long-term effects of a sprained ankle

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries, making up about 14% of all sports-related injuries.  People will often notice pain and weakness in the ankle for months afterwards, and if it isn’t rehabilitated properly, the ankle can be more likely to suffer repeated sprains throughout life… and the reasons why are really quite interesting!

An ankle sprain means that there has been some damage done to the ligaments that support the ankle.  Ligaments contain many nerves (called proprioceptors) that are specially designed to send signals back up to the brain, telling the balance controls in your central nervous system about where your ankle is in space.  Your brain then sends signals to the muscles around the ankle to moderate muscle tension, control ankle position, and keep the ankle stable (all of this usually happens without you even being aware of it!).

After damage occurs to the ankle ligaments, these proprioceptive nerve signals from the ligaments are disrupted, meaning your brain has less effective control over the muscle tension around the ankle, because it has less signals telling it where the ankle is in space.  This leads to muscular instability around the ankle, alongside the ligamentous instability that occurs as a result of the ligaments being stretched or torn.

Osteopaths can help in a number of ways following an ankle sprain.  We can show you exercises designed to re-build the nerve pathways from ankle to brain.  We will make sure the ankle and foot are moving as well as possible, and will assess and address any problems that come up elsewhere in the body as the result of the ankle injury or any limping or altered weight-bearing that you may have been doing as a result of ankle pain.

Ankle sprains may seem fairly minor injuries, but they can have profound effects throughout the whole body.  With some guidance and a good rehabilitation and treatment plan, we can get you back to doing what you love! 

Lara Sanders 
Reg. Osteopath
www.cityosteopaths.co.nz
#anklesprainhelp
#recoverfullyfromanklesprain
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