At present I have an Human Osteopathic Practice in the Littlejohn Osteopathic Centre in Walkinstown Dublin 12. I run smaller practises in Fethard-on Sea Co.Wexford and Blessington Co.Wicklow.

In humans, Osteopathy can help relieve acute or chronic problems, from back and joint pain to digestive disorders. It can provide relief from pain and dysfunction of an area and contribute to the management of long-term complaints, such as asthma and painful periods.

For more information or to book an appointment please contact me.

Osteopathy is a natural primary health care system which is scientifically based but is expressed as an art. It works by restoring structure and function to the musculoskeletal system in the event of injury or trauma. Health is the natural state of the person, and the body has the ability and the ingredients within itself to heal. Osteopathy removes the restrictions that prevent healing by restoring the structure and allowing the physiological function to flourish.

It is an effective, gentle and natural healthcare system that can be used uniquely or to assist another health system such as medicine.

Osteopathic treatment offers a wonderfully gentle way of helping the body adapt to the changes which are taking place during pregnancy, helping to relieve aches and pains as the mother's body tries to accommodate the growing baby.

What can Osteopathy help?

Osteopathic treatment can help with low back pain, hip and pelvic pain, neck and shoulder pain, heartburn, indigestion, SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction), post-natal coccyx (base of the spine) pain, mid back pain due to breast feeding - to name just a few.Osteopaths may also advise on posture and show some self-help techniques for the mother and her partner to do during labour. The mother is usually advised to return from between 4 to 6 weeks after birth for a post-natal check-up to restore pelvic, bladder and joint function.

Osteopathy can help Sports Injuries

An osteopath can help improve performance as well as treat the injuries being suffered. By using their knowledge of diagnosis and highly developed palpatory skills they can help to restore structural balance, improve joint mobility and reduce adhesions and soft-tissue restrictions so that ease of movement is restored and performance enhanced.For those of you wishing to keep fit, the osteopath can help you keep supple and improve muscle tone so reducing the risk of injury to soft-tissues unaccustomed to the extra work they are being asked to do.

Sports activities are a regular way of life for many of us now, and involve people from across all age groups from those who have an avid interest to those who just wish to keep fit; from the elite professional to the casual participant.Many of the injuries are the result of overuse i.e. playing too hard and too often e.g. tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and biceps tendonitis, or from not warming up properly beforehand or not cooling down after exercise. Sometimes incorrect equipment can lead to injury - ill-fitting footwear can cause hip, knee and foot injury (e.g. Achilles injuries).Reduced joint flexibility will affect the degree of performance and may result in injury if the player is unaware that they cannot perform to the same level as they used to, for example golfers who cannot turn at the waist as well as they used to, and the enthusiastic older footballer whose knees do not bend as well as they once did.Young people especially are vulnerable in sport as their growing bodies are often expected to perform to high standards and are putting exceptional physical demands on themselves.The good news is that although sports injuries are common, those who are fit tend to recover more quickly and easily from their injuries.

Remember

• Begin slowly and build up, especiallyafter an injury
• Warm up first, and then cool down with stretches afterwards
• Drink plenty of water when exercising
• Exercise regularly, and try to alternate the types of exercise that you are doing every day.
• Following a joint injury apply ice to the area for 10 minutes, every hour, if practical. Apply a bandage to compress the tissues. Elevate and rest if possible.

Back Pain

Trouble with your back does not simply produce pain in the back. Often it may cause symptoms in more remote areas such as the buttocks, groin, hips, and legs (commonly called sciatica). And problems in the spine and neck can also cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, clicking jaw, pins and needles and many more. Indeed research has shown that problems related to the back may affect over 60% of the UK's population at some stage in their lives.Osteopaths are trained professionals who are skilled in diagnosing problems, including those which may require further investigation if necessary. Osteopaths have treated thousands of patients successfully over the past one hundred years and continued success is demonstrated by reliable and practical results.The osteopath will explain to you clearly what the problem is. If they can help they will explain what they can do to help and also offer advice on self-help treatments.

Keeping a healthy spine and joints

When young, the body can adapt easily to the stress and strain it is put under. As it grows older (over 25 yrs!) it begins to lose some of the elasticity which gives the flexibility to cope and adapt. In particular this applies to the discs between the vertebrae and the joint cartilage. These require regular movement to ensure their maximum range and thereby increase local circulation and nutrition to the surrounding fluids and tissues.

10 top tips for back care

• Keep moving and stretching
• Take regular exercise
• Take frequent breaks between repetitive tasks and vary the rhythm
• Change position - avoid 'computer hump'
• Pace yourself when the work is heavy e.g. gardening
• Adjust car seats, and on long journeys, have breaks and stretch
• Watch children's posture - don't let them carry bags on one shoulder
• Avoid strain when lifting especially when shopping and with small children
• Is your bed the right bed or is it getting old?
• Seek osteopathic advice earlier rather than later

As You Get Older

I am very interested in keeping the older person agile, healthy, and independent.

Retirement can bring time for leisure, travel opportunities and interests to the older person. This is the chance to take up those sports and activities that you never had time for whilst working and bringing up your family, e.g. golf, gardening, badminton, fitness classes etc. The body, however, has changed. It has lost some of its elasticity and ability to adapt. It has also experienced injuries and postural stress during those years, often resulting in repetitive strain injuries, stiffness and degenerative changes. The onset of health issues such as high blood pressure, digestive and circulatory disorders and arthritis have all begun to have a noticeable effect on the body's energy and ability to perform. Many grandparents also help working parents by caring for their grandchildren - a pleasure for many but also a strain on the older body.Quality of life is especially important for this age group when there are increasing concerns about loss of independence and mobility.

Keeping healthy

Osteopathy can help greatly during this time.An osteopath will take a full case history so they can understand how the body has been affected so far. Then, after a full examination and assessment the osteopath will be able to offer treatment and advice to help improve mobility, circulation and immune function, and reduce joint stiffness so that the older person can enjoy a full and active life in retirement.The treatment is usually gentle and aims to maintain health and prevent further injury. Dietary advice may also be given to help maintain healthy bones and joints.

Remember

• Gentle stretching daily to maintain tissue elasticity and joint mobility

• Walk as much as possible to keep circulation healthy and maintain muscle tone
• A daily rest - to recover energy for the rest of the day's activities
• The use of trainers or similar footwear can help to reduce wear and tear to the knee and hip joints, and can also help reduce back pain when walking on hard pavements