Are you peering?

Are you peering? Some people peer at the computer screen, others peer while driving, some peer all the time.

When you peer:-

1.  your chin goes forward.

2.  your head and neck are no longer over your shoulders.

3.  you get an increased curve of the neck and a hump at the base of the neck.

4. your head tilts back on your neck.

5.  the muscle (in green) becomes tight.

6.  your shoulders become rounded and stooped.

The result of this is that the muscles at the back of the neck and shoulders have to work harder to keep your head up. This, along with over extension of where your head sits on your neck, can lead to headaches, neck pain or shoulder pain.

To correct this posture, you need to bring your chin back towards your neck around where the Adams Apple is. This automatically brings the shoulders back into a better position.

Sometimes the muscle (in green) needs to be streched, to allow the head and neck to move back into a better position.

If you would like help to reduce headaches, neck and shoulder pain, please make an appointment with Anna Potter. You can do this online at http://www.glasgowosteopathy.co.uk, or phone 0141 332 2220.

Holiday tips

It is holiday time. Here are a few reminders and hints to help you look after your back and prevent low back pain.

1. When pulling your luggage, swap your luggage to your other hand regularly. Pulling your luggage causes a twist through your body and may strain your sacroiliac joints.

2. Remember there are still times when you need to pick up your luggage, such as getting it in and out of a car, checking in luggage and removing it from a carousel. Be aware of your back at this time, especially that you do not over arch your back.

3. Sun loungers are very low, take care when getting on and off them.

4. Some sun loungers do not lay completely flat. This may cause an arch in your back when lying face down. Fill in the gap with a towel to prevent this.

5. Look after your back when sitting for prolonged periods of time in a plane, car, bus or train. Make sure you move or change your sitting position frequently. A folded hand towel in the small of your back or under your buttocks, helps change the position of your pelvis and back and may help prevent or relieve any low back pain.

Enjoy your holiday.

If you do suffer with low back pain, as an osteopath, I see many people with back problems. Make an appointment online to see me today.

Low back pain – is it the sacroiliac joints?

Up until 1930’s low back pain was frequently diagnosed as a sacroiliac problem. Now, the sacroiliac joints are largely ignored.

Spine and Pelvis seen from behind, showing Sacroiliac Joints

Many people who have low back pain may be sent for x-ray or MRI of the lumber spine. Often nothing is found from these investigations, or “wear and tear” is the diagnosis. Unfortunately this leaves the person still with pain and frequently the only solution is painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

In recent studies Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1995 Jan 1;20(1):31-7.Pain Physician. 2012 May;15(3):E305-44. it has been estimated that around 20% of people with low back pain actually have sacroiliac pain

Although sacroiliac joints provide only a small amount of movement, when they stop working they can cause a lot of pain.

Any change in the way you move on your foot or leg will put a stain through the sacroiliac joint. Therefore a twisted ankle or knee may affect the sacroiliac joint. Falling onto your buttocks may also knock the sacroiliac joints out of alignment.

As an Osteopath I recognise that the sacroiliac joints can cause stiffness and pain, usually on one side. They may also cause symptoms down the leg. I not only work to free up the sacroiliac joints, I also try to find the source of the original strain and help to ease that.

Twisted Ankle

Many people twist their ankle. It can also be called a rolled ankle. It can happen when you fall off a kerb, step or uneven ground, fall off your shoe, while playing sport or just mis-stepping.

When this happens, you are usually moving. So what may happen, is that you twist the rest of your foot as you put weight through it. This may cause bruising and/or swelling in your foot.

Depending on how badly you twist it, your ankle may become permanently swollen, especially around the ankle bone.

The ankle is not the only joint affected:-

1. The joints through the foot may become restricted, so your foot does not move as easily as it did.

2. The 2 bones in the lower leg may become misaligned. this can cause the muscles in the leg, especially the calf to tighten. The Achilles tendon may become sore.

Longer term, if there has been a change in the way you use your ankle and foot, this may affect your knee, hip and back.

As an osteopath in Glasgow, I can help to resolve this problem, I will feel your foot, ankle and leg. I will use techniques such as mobilisation, to improve the movement of the joints of the foot and ankle. This will allow the foot and lower leg to realign, which will lead to relaxation the muscles of the leg and a reduction of swelling.

Hello

Hello,

My name is Anna Potter, I am an osteopath with a practice in the centre of Glasgow.

I treat adults, children and babies. I treat all the joints in the body from the head to the toes. The main problems I see are in the back and neck. I also work alongside a vet treating animals.

I have an online booking system on my website www.glasgowosteopathy.co.uk.

Welcome to my blog. Here I will be discussing common conditions and injuries. I will talk about how osteopathy can help. I will give tips on how to help yourself. I will also be adding other useful and educational info.

I hope you find this all useful, fascinating and enjoyable.

Anna