Rohan Osteopathy Posts

This is one of the most frequently asked questions asked by patients over the phone and also at a first consultation. It is a difficult question to answer succinctly but the link shown here from NCOR ( National Council for Osteopathic Research ) is interesting as it looks at what each profession says about itself and also summarises the information provided by the professional body for each group.

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The Hazards Of Hairdressing

Many occupations involve some degree of manual work which will often include lifting. Those people that are traditionally engaged in jobs like building and plumbing are thought to be at particular risk of injury. This is true but not everyone would consider hairdressing a risk occupation; however studies have shown that 70+% of hairdressers suffer from work related injuries. These affect all parts of the body, mainly in the low back, neck and shoulder areas.

We shouldn`t really be surprised, as standing on the feet using the arms repetitively whilst performing intricate tasks for long periods of time, causes various strains on the body, which can lead to injury.

These strains are often mechanical in nature but stress can also be a factor. Some of the knock-on effects relate to inefficient blood supply and waste clearance in the muscles which are supporting the body and arms.

The feet, veins, knees and back are vulnerable to prolonged standing on hard floors. Bending to shampoo hair can also contribute to aches, pains and restrictions affecting the body. There are also natural stresses related to clients who share their own problems with a hairdresser for example.

Typical Conditions

Here are some commonly diagnosed conditions (labels) attributed to hairdressing:

• Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
• Locked or restricted joints in the neck or spine
• “Trapped nerves”
• Postural Related Fatigue
• Tension Headaches
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Muscle / joint tightening and strain
• Varicose veins
• Tennis/Golfers` elbow
• Tendinitis
• Stress Related Effects
• Migraines and Headaches
• Cramps

So How Can I Help Myself?

Here are some measures that can help

1.    Leave plenty of time for travel where possible so that you start the day in a       relaxed state

1. Cushioning with a rubber mat or similar to help reduce compressional stresses

2. Evenly distribute weight during breaks by sitting on a properly designed chair eg. a saddle stool  This can also reduce the stress on the legs

3. Help the circulation by moving to adjust your position whilst standing

4. Keeping your centre of gravity near the midline helps to balance the weight distributions through the spine and legs

5. Appropriate, supportive non-slip footwear is advisable. Avoiding heels is therefore sensible

6. Orthotics or insoles can reduce compression and help with the foot mechanics. This translates to less stresses and strains in the knees, hips and spine

7. Standing with one foot in front of the other or with one leg elevated on a support where health and safety is not compromised can spread loads and reduce low back strain

8. Avoid excessive bending by standing closer to client

9. Clients chair heights should be adjustable where possible

10. Neck, arm and back stretches between clients or at break times in the day are essential

11. Keep an eye on the weight and exercise regularly to keep down the stresses put through the body

12. Drink water to keep hydrated

13. Smoking has been linked to many illnesses including muscle and joint pains so find a way of giving up if you are a smoker (https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree)

14. Use a mirror to assess your posture and improve

15. Use good quality scissors to reduce hand stress

16. Wrist position is important so avoid twisting strains

17. Meditation and/or other relaxation techniques can help

     

By taking some simple precautions injuries can be avoided and this in turn will make us more productive; Manual treatment can also help to reduce stiffness and to improve joint function which will often alleviates aches and pains.

Good Luck

Rohan Iswariah D.O

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Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month – May 2016

It is estimated that around 3 million people in the UK have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which the usually strong support struts that make up the inside of most bones becomes thinner, which can lead to bones becoming fragile and breaking easily, resulting in pain and disability.

In the UK, one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will fracture a bone, mainly due to poor bone health. But osteoporosis is often a silent condition, giving no pain or other symptoms to alert you to the fact until the worst happens and a bone breaks. As such, many people living with osteoporosis are unaware that they have fragile bones until this happens, sometimes with devastating consequences. Indeed an alarming new study published by the International Osteoporosis Foundation suggested that 37% of men that sustain an osteoporosis related hip fracture will die in the first year following the break.

Those that smoke or drink in excess of the recommended daily alcohol intake are at greater risk, but gender, genetics, age, race and low body weight are all contributing factors.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There is a lot you can do to prevent the condition, and to reduce your chance of breaking a bone if you do get it. Your local osteopath can screen you for the condition using a special online screening tool called the FRAX questionnaire and can give you dietary, exercise and lifestyle advice to help manage your risk factors to reduce the impact of the condition on your lifestyle.

To find out more about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, contact the National Osteoporosis Society via their confidential helpline (0845 450 0230) or by visiting their website at: https://www.nos.org.uk/

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There is plenty of research to show that gardening is good for your health

However gardening can cause aches and pains in the back, shoulders, elbows and knees mainly.

In this blog I will try to advise on how gardening is good for your general health and also how to avoid injury when participating?

Ten Health benefits.

1. Gardening can reduce the risk of stroke along with other exercise

    

2. Gardening burns calories. One hour of light work can burn 300+ calories,

    3.   Engaging in at least four hours of any exercise each week is associated with weight loss, reported the authors of a review published in “Medicine and Science in Sports and        Exercise” in February 2009.

    4.   Gardening includes weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise which are important for building and maintaining bone density

    5.  Gardening can reduce psychological stresses and might be more effective than some other forms of exercise a report from the Netherlands suggested.

    6.  This in turn can help prevent the leaching of calcium from bone into the blood to balance the acidic stress hormones like cortisol.

    7.  Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones by enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium; we get most of ours from sunlight exposure, and gardening is largely an outside pursuit

    8.  The best times to make vitamin D from sunlight is from March to October, especially from 11am to 3pm. Remember to avoid overexposure to sunlight though!

    9.  The connection to land has profound mood boosting benefits.

  10.  As too much stress weakens the immune system, it follows that any activity that helps us to relax will improve the immune system.

Many benefits are afforded by hobbies involving gardening but we need to do this safely and try to avoid injury.

Twelve tips to reduce injury risks.

1. Don`t do a lot of heavy lifting, digging or weeding in one go to avoid over-fatigue

2. Avoid bending forwards for long periods and take regular breaks

3. Access ground level by kneeling but avoid to much pressure on the knee caps by using a kneeler

4. Wet soil may be easier to dig but is heavier to carry

5. Use smaller spades with longer handles (Better leverage)

6. Weeding by using a hoe can help and remember large roots can be awkward so don`t twist the body too much when pulling

7. Divide up large loads for carrying, try to use a wheelbarrow when possible

8. Work at comfortable heights where possible

9. Avoid rotating too much when mowing lawns with hover mowers and be careful when pulling the cord on petrol mowers

10.A hot bath can help relax muscles afterwards, but remember if you have injured yourself heat can make inflammation worse so seek advice

11. Also seek advice if an ache or pain persists and doesn`t seem to be going away

12. Stay hydrated !

Rohan Iswariah D.O. (Registered Osteopath)

www.localosteopath.com (Phone 01491-838866 for free advice)

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