City Osteopaths Wellington | Osteopath Wellington | Chiropractor Wellington | Homoeopath Wellington | Acupuncture Wellington | Natural Medicine Wellington | Alexander Technique Wellington | Wellington Osteopaths | Osteopaths Wellington | Osteopathic Clini
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission at City Osteopaths
    • Appointments & Fees At CIty Osteopaths
    • How We Work as a Team at City Osteopaths
  • Osteopathy
    • Our Osteopathic Team
    • What to Expect
    • More Information and Research on Osteopathy
    • Useful Links & Resources
  • Acupuncture at City Osteopaths
  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
  • Alexander Technique at City Osteopaths
  • Massage at City Osteopaths
  • Naturopathy at City Osteopaths
  • CannaDoc at City Osteopaths
  • Articles and videos by our team
  • Contact, admin team and directions

Gentle Osteopathic Treatment of new born babies at City Osteopaths

9/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Registered Osteopath Aydan Hajyeva treating a new born baby.
Over the past twenty five years in New Zealand, the awareness of osteopathic treatment for babies has increased, however we are still often asked when to seek treatment for a baby. We also often see older children who could have benefited from treatment as a baby. We are keen that all babies and children who need help, receive it in a timely fashion.

This article is to inform parents when to seek osteopathic treatment for their baby and what to look for in an osteopath.

​A baby will often communicate there is a problem by being unsettled, irritable or wakeful.
​Symptoms in a newborn baby to be aware of are:
  • colic
  • excessive wind
  • continuous crying
  • difficulty feeding or a preference to feed from one breast
  • sticky eyes
  • sleeping difficulties
  • stiffness of the neck muscles
  • favouring the head to one side 
  • a misshapen head
  • tongue tie or jaw restriction
PictureRegistered Osteopath Melanie Young treating a young baby
What education do Osteopaths have?

Osteopaths train for forty hours per week for five years full-time at university and are required to competently pass well over one hundred exams and undergo clinical competency training and exams.

Osteopaths are government regulated and registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand and must partake in ongoing professional education each year. We are also ACC treatment providers.

Osteopaths who treat babies and young children ought to have done extra post graduate study in addition to their undergraduate paediatric study.
​

Why would a newborn baby have anything wrong with them that is needing help by an osteopath?
A baby's passage through the birth canal is usually a difficult process however nature ensures that the bones of the skull are pliable enough to overlap to enable this to happen. Sometimes the bones do not return to their normal positions after delivery. This can happen if the labour is unusually long or fast, if there is a large baby passing through a small pelvis, if a baby has a large head or if intervention is necessary for example a forceps delivery or ventouse extraction. A baby may suffer a cranial base, neck, shoulder or back strain during the birth process. Pre-term babies may have strain from being out of the uterus too early and there is also likely to be alterations in nervous system function.

A Caesarian birth may involve trauma to the baby who is stuck in the mother's pelvis. Alternatively, problems can occur in utero if there is insufficient amniotic fluid.

Very often your midwife or lead maternity carer will refer you and your baby to see an osteopath for assessment and treatment, particularly if the birth has been difficult. We also work with Lactation consultants to help with feeding issues. This can include jaw and cranial base problems that may be affecting the baby's ability to latch, or to treat the tongue and surrounding structures in cases where a posterior tongue tie is affecting baby's function.

How soon should my baby see an Osteopath?
If there is nothing particularly troublesome going on for your baby then we recommend two weeks after the birth is a good time to have made an appointment as that gives you time to feel settled at home and also figure out how to get out of the house and travel with a new baby.
If the birth has been difficult or your baby is very upset and won't settle, then we recommend bringing them in to see a cranial osteopath as soon as possible.
​
What does the assessment and treatment look like?
First a medical history of the mother and baby is taken relating to the pregnancy and birth and any concerns you may have. Then your baby is gently assessed from their feet up to their head. Findings and treatment process are explained and then treatment will take place with your consent.
The treatment looks calming and is very gentle for your baby. If necessary we can treat your baby while they are being breast fed or sucking on a finger to help soothe them. Osteopaths use their hands to gently help the baby undo strains in the fascia (the connective tissues of the body), to help restore better alignment and function. We are also able to assist the autonomic nervous system of the body, calming the sympathetic and boosting the parasympathetic nervous system. This is very relaxing and helps the digestion to settle and ideally the whole body to be in self healing mode. Please note cranial osteopathy is not just to do with the head, any tissue in the body can be  treated with this gentle approach. Our clients find it is surprisingly effective.

Afterwards your baby may be more hungry than usual and be a bit unsettled or sleep for longer periods as their body works with the treatment to undo strains and find better alignment and health. 
Picture
Ideally all pregnant mums would be assessed and treated at around 35 weeks pregnant to help balance up the pelvis and ready the connective tissues of the body for birth.
Research shows 
http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2092759) that this results in a better birth with fewer interventions. This also means post birth we can see you for a one hour 'Mother and baby' check up together.

Some research:
Meta-analysis of research shows Osteopathic treatment reduces length of stay and costs in preterm infants. March 2017 insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00005792-201703240-00043
Osteopathic treatment of children with cerebral palsyjaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2093549#72971939

Research evidence for cranial bone mobility:

http://www.icnr.com/articles/radiographic-evidence-of-cranial-bone-mobility.html
​
Research on cranial rhythmic impulse and the Traube-Hering-Mayer oscillation:
http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2092406 
Research on measuring intracranial wave form pulsatility:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9779147
Pre-term-infants(Research:http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0127370 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3648440/)
Research on treatment of colic http://​www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388105001350
Research on plagiocephaly www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S174438811100020X
Research evidence on safety of Cranial Osteopathy: 
http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2093194
Picture
Thank you to the parents who have given us permission to use a photo of their baby.
For more information please see our website www.cityosteopaths.co.nz
For an appointment or if you have specific questions, one of our osteopaths can call you back on 04 4991439


Melanie Young 
B.A., B.App.Sc. (Clin.Sc.), B. Osteo.Sc. Reg. Osteopath, MONZ
Reg. Osteopath
Director City Osteopaths


0 Comments

City Osteopaths article on osteopathic treatment before and during pregnancy - “supporting the change”

2/9/2017

0 Comments

 
PictureOsteopaths love to help women through the process of fertility, pregnancy and birth
One of the most unique times in a woman’s life, pregnancy is quite a special state. Fortunately, many women have an easy, straightforward experience, but for those who don’t, osteopathic treatment can be very effective at easing discomfort and making this unique time enjoyable - the way it should be.

In an ideal world, every woman who is planning to become pregnant would have an osteopathic assessment and treatment in preparation for the journey ahead. This is particularly important if she has any musculoskeletal issues, be it lower back pain, neck and shoulders tension or pain, bad posture, or had a severe injury in the past (as for example, a past unresolved ankle sprain can alter walking patterns even slightly which may lead to tricky pelvic and spinal dysfunctions or restrictions that can interfere with the necessary postural adaptations in pregnancy and even labour). 
​​

PicturePain can crop up in pregnancy as your body is trying to adapt to major postural changes
​While particular attention should be directed towards the pelvis, osteopaths try to make sure the whole body is able to adapt efficiently to the incredible changes that happen on many levels during pregnancy. Some things we focus on pre-conception are improving blood flow and lymphatic circulation in the pelvis and abdomen. This is so important these days when most people spend hours sitting at their desks or in vehicles. Balancing the autonomic nervous system (which usually means reducing the effects of stress by calming the sympathetic nervous system) is another area that often needs help and can make for a very different experience once a woman becomes pregnant, for both herself and the baby.

While sorting out dysfunctions that can be dealt with pre-conception is ideal, treatment in pregnancy is very beneficial and often needed. Pregnancy is a very dynamic state where the body undergoes some profound changes in a relatively short space of time.



​​I will touch on a few of those below and mention briefly what osteopaths can do to help “support the change” or reduce discomfort if the changes are not happening as smoothly as they should:


1) Postural/mechanical changes: as the body’s centre of gravity shifts for obvious reasons, the posture changes dramatically. It is of vital importance to ensure that there are no major restrictions so the structure is able to adapt to new demands. One very important aspect is to ensure normal mobility of the sacrum so that it can move during labour thus making it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. But it’s not just about the pelvis. Chronic sitting in desk workers often leads to tension and sometimes constant pain in the shoulders/neck or between the shoulder blades. Not only is this uncomfortable and stressful, restrictions there would prevent a woman from achieving a deep squat with good form - which is one of the most useful exercises in pregnancy as well as a great position during labour that helps the baby descend. Having a mobile thoracic spine and ribcage also means you can breathe more efficiently getting more oxygen for yourself and the developing baby, have more energy and a clearer head! 


Picture
Gentle Osteopathic treatment lying on the side to be most comfortable and safe.
With relaxin at play the ligaments soften and help the body adapt. Some osteopaths consider the increased secretion of relaxin a wonderful opportunity to work with old strain patterns as everything becomes so much more pliable, responsive and likely to change. However, sometimes this increased softening can contribute to strains and pains, especially in the pelvis, either at the back (sacroiliac joints) or in front (pubic symphysis). Having naturally looser joints (hypermobility) can make this more likely. In this situation gentle osteopathic techniques to balance the tension in the pelvic ligaments to allow the bones to find their natural position is very effective in most cases. Increased lower back curve (“swayback”) can lead to compression of the joints and soft tissues in the back and be quite uncomfortable but is also very amenable to osteopathic decompressive treatment.
It is important to realise that posture continues to change even after delivery - with new demands on the body such as feeding and carrying the baby, nappy changing etc. Gentle exercise such as yoga can help and osteopathic treatment (especially what we communicate to the joint position sensors) can be a useful adjunct, especially early on after giving birth when you should rest as much as possible (as a general rule, 6 weeks of no strenuous exercise after delivery).
Picture
Feeding and carrying a baby for hours a day can be very tiring and hard work. We understand this and can help your body manage the stresses and strains.
2) In pregnancy there is a dramatic increase in the circulating blood volume. The expanding uterus may make venous drainage less efficient which can lead to congestive issues such as varicose veins in legs, vulval varicosities or haemorrhoids. Generalised fluid retention can also cause ankle swelling or carpal tunnel syndrome. Gentle rhythmic osteopathic techniques can assist drainage and reduce the discomfort of swelling.

​3) Changes in the digestive system: during pregnancy, constipation is a common issue and while the importance of a healthy diet (including adequate water intake) and regular movement such as walking, for example, cannot be underestimated, gentle manual treatment that helps balance the nerve supply to the gut can help too. With heartburn being another common problem, easing the pressure on the diaphragm and giving the internal organs more space by gently decompressing the spine, freeing up the lower ribcage and thoracic spine where the diaphragm attaches can make a significant difference.
Picture
Osteopaths use their hands to diagnose and treat. Gently sorting out strains so your body can heal.
In summary, the aim of osteopathic treatment in pregnancy is to support and assist the expectant mother’s body in all the changes and adaptations it needs to go through to make the pregnancy and the delivery as easy as possible. It also creates the best conditions for the developing baby and the baby's passage through the birth canal - this is the ultimate preventative care!
​Our patients often describe a feeling of very deep relaxation during and after treatment, however there’s much more to it than just feeling nice. The more relaxed and well balanced you are, the more the powerful self healing “programme” inside your body is able to function optimally and that is very good for mums and their babies.
​
Some research on Osteopathic treatment in Pregnancy:
Osteopathic manipulative treatment for nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25175885 
Acute improvement in hemodynamic control after osteopathic manipulative treatment in the third trimester of pregnancy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24280470
​
Picture
​Aydan Hajiyeva Honours Diploma in General Medicine, DO M.Ost. Reg. Osteopath MONZ
Aydan has an Integrated Master’s Degree course from the European School of Osteopathy (UK).
Having previously completed six years medical doctor training, she really appreciates the holistic nature of the osteopathic approach. She has been exposed to a variety of treatment approaches at university, including classical, cranial and visceral osteopathy and has undertaken post graduate education, including biodynamics of osteopathy, primitive reflexes and pregnancy care, which have helped her develop her vision of osteopathy. Aydan regards osteopathy as a philosophy allowing her to create a positive change in a patient, by facilitating the expression of the inherent wisdom of the body.
www.cityosteopaths.co.nz 
​Phone 04 4991439

0 Comments

How do Osteopaths help me out of pain and back to Health?

7/31/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
What does an osteopath even do?
By Claire Richardson

We get it. Lots of people don’t really know exactly what we do. First of all, it doesn’t help that our name is a massive misnomer, a relic of the past where bony “alignment” was emphasised far more than what we know to be useful today.
In medical terms, Osteo = bones. Path = disease. Therefore, osteopaths treat diseases of bones right? Well, wrong actually!

Secondly, osteopaths seem to be associated with mainstream medical clinics, but also alternative therapies. Are osteopaths just greedy fence sitters who can’t make up their mind?
First of all – an osteopath isn’t some weirdo replacement for your GP. We’re University trained manual healthcare practitioners.

Our brief job description is simple. We assess, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate conditions of the human body, in particular, the musculoskeletal system. We do this in an allied health setting, with input from other healthcare professionals such as GP’s, exercise physiologists, psychologists, personal trainers and so on.

The vast majority of osteopaths will predominantly deal with musculoskeletal issues such as low back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports injuries etc.Some osteopaths have trained in treatment of other conditions such as constipation or period pain, which can be related to the muscles within our bowels or uterus.

A typical appointment with an osteopath will include a thorough discussion about your condition and your concerns. The osteopath will discuss with you your medical history, and ask questions about your work habits or other relevant health related topics such as diet or exercise.

Following this, the osteopath will assess the area of pain or dysfunction. This might include getting you to move in a certain way, or feeling the muscles. The Osteopath might poke or prod certain areas to get an idea of whether they are moving or functioning properly.

The osteopath at this stage will have a diagnosis of your condition, and will inform you what seems to be causing the problem. If the problem is something that the osteopath can confidently treat, they will begin with your consent. If the osteopath believes that your condition is being caused by something non-musculoskeletal or more serious (such as infection etc.), they will refer you to an appropriate practitioner such as a GP.

Treatment will vary between patients, because each individual body is different, and each presentation of a condition is different. Some patients respond well to gentle treatment, such as light massage, breathing techniques or stretching, whereas others will do better with stronger techniques such as deep tissue massage, manipulation (cracking) or active stretching.

Most of the time, an osteopath will apply some hands on treatment, however, depending on your condition your osteopath may instead get you doing some specific, tailored exercises to help activate or “wake up” certain muscle groups.

Sometimes, osteopaths will also run an education session for patient with chronic pain (long lasting), to help them implement strategies to decrease their pain long term.

So, osteopaths are manual therapists with a dodgy name. No, it’s not just bones. We deal with the musculoskeletal system, we deal with pain, we deal with injuries, and we deal with rehabilitation.

Are we fence sitters? Nope. Osteopaths in Australia and New Zealand are Allied Health practitioners who work with, not against GP’s. Whilst some osteopaths may choose to work with naturopaths or other alternative therapists (just like some physiotherapists do), this doesn’t override their ability and training to refer to a medical professional when necessary and indicated, or sway their likelihood to do so.
​
Osteopaths hang their hats on providing patient centred care. This can only happen with a team care approach – so we want GP’s and their medical expertise on board!

Claire Richardson
Reg. Osteopath
Victoria, Australia

To see one our Reg. Osteopaths in Wellington, phone 04 4991439 or check out our website www.cityosteopaths.co.nz/osteopathy.html




0 Comments

Osteopathic treatment for Pregnancy and birth at City Osteopaths and  Pregnancy Research

1/28/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
At City Osteopaths, all our Osteopaths are Registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand and four of us are trained to assess and treat pregnant women. This includes specific medical history considerations, treatment positioning for comfort and the most helpful, gentle treatment approaches to ease pregnancy pains and prepare for birth. 

We can usually help reduce or eliminate back pain, neck pain, pelvic pain, headaches, sinus, rib pain and/or reflux during any stage of pregnancy. Working in with our pregnancy acupuncturists, Janine Nana and Sharlene McInness, we are able to help prepare women for labour and give space to babies who are breech which may enable them to turn head downwards naturally for successful labour.

We highly recommend all women make an appointment to get a one hour pre-labour back and pelvic check and treatment at around 35 weeks pregnancy. At this initial appointment we take a thorough medical history, do a physical and osteopathic examination so we can assess and assist your back, pelvic joints and associated soft tissues (muscles and fascia)  to be as well organised and balanced as possible for a successful labour. 

At City Osteopaths, we have helped hundreds of women have a successful birth with minimal or no medical intervention.

At around two weeks post birth we recommend you come in with your baby for a check up. 

Over the years we have found all women need their pelvis to be rebalanced due to the forces involved in being pregnant and birthing a baby. (Either through the birth canal or a caesarian section). Also if there is ongoing discomfort, we are able to gently treat the site of an epidural injection and ease the pain away. 


As of January 2018, four of  our Osteopaths are trained and experienced in treating babies. Sebastian Tucker, Aydan Hajiyeva, Chloe Brugne and Melanie Young.

We also are able to give post pregnancy advice for your best recovery including a planned return to exercise safely post birth.

Call us for an appointment 04 4991439 or if you have questions, one of our Osteopaths will call you back as soon as they are free.

Picture
Melanie Young
B.A.,B.App.Sc.Sc.(Clin Sc),B.Osteo.Sc. MONZ

Reg. Osteopath
Director City Osteopaths
www.cityosteopaths.co.nz

Research to show that Osteopathic manipulative treatment slows or halts the deterioration of back functioning in pregnancy:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937809008436


http://unitec.researchbank.ac.nz/handle/10652/1919#
This is a permanent link to Anna Kurth's Osteopathic treatment in Pregnancy research.

INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
It is becoming increasingly common for women to seek complementary and alternative
therapies for alleviation of common complaints associated with pregnancy (Adams et al., 2009).
These complaints can severely impact on women’s quality of life and in some cases affect their pregnancy and childbirth experience (Borggren, 2007; Olsson & Nilsson-Wikmar, 2004).
Alongside this, anecdotal claims have been made that osteopathic treatment can decrease
labour duration by ensuring that biomechanically, the pelvis is working effectively and is
therefore more able to comply with the added demands of pregnancy and the infant’s descent (Borggren, 2007; King et al., 2003). This is thought to play a role in decreasing the need for interventions such as forceps and ventouse extraction. Identifying the attitudes and experiences of women who have experienced osteopathy during pregnancy will offer further information regarding the role osteopathic care played in their pregnancy and birth experience. Research into the effects of osteopathic treatment for this sector of the population is limited and it is hoped that by gaining insight into the attitudes and experiences of the women, valuable information will be added to current literature, providing a research base on which further studies may be conducted. ​
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Acupuncture For OOS/RSI
    Acupuncture For Pregnancy And Birth
    Acupuncture For Sports Injuries
    Acupuncture For Stress
    Alexander Technique
    Ankle Sprains
    Aydan Hajiyeva
    Babies With Reflux
    Back Pain
    Becky Littlewood
    Biodynamic Osteopathy
    BodyTalk
    Breathing
    Breech Babies
    Bunion Care
    Chocolate Celebratory Cake
    Chocolate Mousse
    Chris Thompson
    Christmas Opening Hours
    Chronic Night Time Coughs
    Circadian Rhythm
    City Osteopaths
    Claire Williams
    Clementine Carnus
    Clicking Joints
    Clinical Neuromuscular Therapy
    Concussion Clinic
    Continuing Education
    Counselling
    Cranial Osteopathy
    Excema Treatment
    Fertility
    Foot Care
    Golfing
    Good Nutrition
    Headaches And Neck Tension
    Hip Pain
    How To Keep Mobile And Supple As You Get Older
    Hyperbaric Chamber
    Janice Harris
    Janine Nana
    Jaw Pain
    Josephine Anderson
    Kerry Summers
    Lara Sanders
    Leg Pain
    Lewis Jenner
    Massage Therapy
    Meditation
    Melanie Young
    Mindfulness
    Moist Banana Cake/muffins
    Naturopathy And Health
    Neck Pain
    Osteopathy
    Osteopathy For Babies
    Osteopathy For Birth
    Osteopathy For Children
    Osteopathy For Pregnancy
    Osteoporosis
    Paleo Pancakes
    Poor Posture
    Preparation For Birth
    Raw Chocolate Freezer Fudge
    Recipes
    Recycling At City Osteopaths
    Reflux
    Reuben Friedlander
    Rhianna Smith
    Rosie Wilson
    Running
    Sciatica
    Scoliosis
    Sebastian Tucker
    Sharlene Green McInness
    Sinuses
    Sinus Headaches
    Special Arnica Cream
    Sports Injuries
    Stress
    Stretches
    Suryagita Cox
    Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
    Treatment Of Injuries
    Voice Coaching
    Warm Bircher Muesli

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

For Wellington's Premier Health Clinic, 
Call (04) 499 1439 to Make an Appointment

Osteopathy 
Acupuncture
Voice Coaching and
Alexander Technique
Massage
Naturopathy
Hyperbaric
About Us
Blog 
Contact Us
Picture
Picture
Picture
Online Booking
 City Osteopaths Wellington | Osteopath Wellington| City Hyperbaric Wellington | Acupuncture Wellington| Natural Medicine Wellington| Alexander Technique Wellington| Wellington Osteopaths| Osteopaths Wellington| Osteopathic Clinic | Cranial Osteopathy For Babies | Cranial Osteopathy For Children | Cranial Osteopath Wellington | Osteopathy For Pregnancy | Biodynamic Osteopath Wellington | Massage Therapy Wellington | Therapeutic Massage Wellington | Naturopath Wellington | Medical Herbalist Wellington | Nutritionist Wellington  | Fertility Acupuncture Wellington | Pregnancy Acupuncture Wellington | Back Pain Wellington | Headaches Wellington | Cranio-Sacral Therapy | Back Pain | Neck Pain | Arm Pain | Leg Pin|Shoulder injury| Hand injury| Foot injury| Whiplash| Oos | Headaches | Migraines | Chronic Fatigue | Trigger Point Therapy | TMJ Pain | Tongue tie |HBOT Wellington |Hyperbaric Chamber Wellington | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Wellington| Natural Healthcare Wellington
Website by Small Business Web Designs