But did you know that tension in your diaphragm tells us all sorts of things about how you breathe (yep – we look!) and how you breathe *might* be an indicator of stress you’re holding of some kind.

When you present for treatment at The Osteopaths we will never treat one system without consideration of the others as they all communicate to each other in health and in pathology.

I wanted to write today about the diaphragm, which for those of you that have had treatment with me, will know that I will always make an excuse to treat it and there’s good reason for that!

 The diaphragm is like a parachute with two domes right and left, and attaches to the lowest 5 ribs, the top 3 lumbar vertebrae, and the bottom part of the breast bone – the xiphisternum.

It has so many important structures running through it!

The aorta that supplies blood from the heart, the inferior vena cava returning blood to the heart, the thoracic duct (lymph), the oesophagus, and of course some very important nerves; the phrenic and vagus nerves. And finally, the wonderful fascia that envelopes the diaphragm and connects it to the surrounding viscera and musculoskeletal system.

Dysfunction in the diaphragm may affect your digestion if it’s impinging on the oesophagus which is common in pregnant woman due to the baby taking up so much room. It may also affect babies bowel movements or their stomach if they are sicking up a lot. It can affect blood and lymph flow in both directions causing many symptoms. When tight it cannot work efficiently and be impacting breathing and/or digestion. Which can then affect exercising, your mental health, your appetite….!

Can you hear how excited I get talking about the diaphragm and it’s impact on your health? It’s like a snow ball effect to me. I think of one thing it does, and that effects the next thing, and the next, and so on! Pretty cool that the diaphragm muscle takes around 24,000 breaths a day and you don’t even think about it!

So the next time you take 5 minutes to take some deep breaths think about all the wonderful things this diaphragm is doing. And think about these breathing cues;

1. Relaxed open hands
2. Shoulders relaxed, not up by your ears
3. Your back teeth should be slightly open, only coming together when you chew
4. And relax your tongue into the floor of your mouth

And finally, remember when you come for treatment, I will no doubt find an excuse to treat your diaphragm and now you know why!

The post Your Diaphragm Isn’t Just For Breathing appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

You’ve got pain.

Perhaps it’s your lower back.

Perhaps it’s in your shoulder.

You go see someone, and the ONLY thing they look at is the “sore spot”.

Sure they’ve “chased your pain”… and to you the patient, it might seem like they know what they’re doing, because they “found the spot”…

The problem is, on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th appointments they’re still finding the spot, and you can still feel the pain!!!

Look, sometimes this does happen with specific injuries, but it’s definitely NOT the norm, and shouldn’t be.

This is especially true for pain that “comes out of no where” or “you just woke up with it”.

So… what does an Osteopath do? What are we thinking when you come to see us?

For starters, we ask a VERY broad history. Lots of questions.

The key to solving your problem isn’t in the question “where is it sore?”

This is where we’re different.

One, just ONE of the possible reasons for your pain, may be how your Viscera (organs/guts/insides) are moving relative to each other.

Yep – just like your body moves on the “outside” – your body moves on the INSIDE.

Most people know that issues with the blood supply of your heart can give you left shoulder and arm pain, just like the gall bladder can give you right shoulder/chest pain.

But what about your stomach? What about your intestines? What about your liver?

Your viscera can cause pain in lots of areas

That said, Of course, it’s not ALWAYS a visceral problem.

And of course, if you’re presenting with appendicitis signs, we’re NOT going to treat it like we’re some magical fairy dust possessing unicorn.

But what if your mid back pain isn’t getting better despite how many times you’ve seen that practitioner who keeps giving your exercises or just keeps cracking your back?

If your practitioner is not getting “results” (i.e. a lot less pain for you) really quickly – rather than think it’s your fault we look at all the other possible reasons WHY that could be the case.

One of those reasons could be your viscera.

So why would your viscera be restricted?

Your body is designed to move, right?

When you squat – your hips, your back – ankles – all these joints and muscles move to help you achieve that overall motion.

Do you think your organs might move too?

Well they do.

Here’s an example:

If you’re in nature and you need to do number 2’s… and there are no toilets around… what do you do?

You squat.

We, as a society (western only) have all but forgotten how to squat.

Why would your brain force you to squat?

Just like every other bipedal (i.e. stands on two legs) animal, we squat because our bowels MOVE into a better more efficient position to help make the process a lot easier and faster…

Surprise surprise!

We eliminate 80% of the internal ease by having a seat. It’s why people sit on the toilet for ages these days (because it’s less efficient). And it’s worse with a phone in front of you while you sit… keeping you there for even longer

Other potential ways viscera may become “restricted” is via infections, scarring, direct trauma, diet, environmental toxins or even emotional stress.

Sometimes helping your visceral motility may help you with “random pain”.

Just like a midwife might be able to help get a pregnant woman’s baby to move into a different position, we may be able to help you improve your organ motility, thereby potentially freeing up tension that manifests as pain on the outside.

So…

If your practitioner doesn’t know to look, or if they’re continuing to “chase pain”, then you may not get the results you’re after.

Sometimes this is so obvious (but not always of course) – and the results can be surprising.

Some examples:

Right Shoulder Pain: May be related to liver motility…
Acute or Chronic Low Back Pain: May be related to your large intestine…
Headaches or Right Side Neck Pain: May be related to your gall bladder…

And much more.

If in doubt, of course, book an appointment with us today

The post Good Practitioners Don’t Chase Pain. appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

You go through the common reasons:

• Hungry?
• Tired?
• Wind?
• All of the above?

Maybe they’re in PAIN. But they don’t have a fever, and you dose them on panadol and it doesn’t change them… If only they could TELL you, right?

Here are the 8 most common questions we get when helping mums and dads with their unsettled children…

1. What do osteopaths do for babies?

Osteopathy may assist a baby or child’s strains or stresses placed on their bodily systems adapting to growing including from the womb where they may have been squished into a small space, and then the forces placed on them during birth, whether it be through the Mother’s pelvis or via the ‘sunroof ‘(C-section).

2. Is osteopathy safe for babies?

Yes. Osteopathy is a gentle and safe, hands on treatment modality. Post treatment you may notice the baby feeds or sleeps better, or they may also open their bowels more frequently. They may also be unsettled for a few hours however this is temporary lasting 24-48 hours.

3. What age can a baby have osteopathy?

Technically they come in at any age! Babies are already receiving treatment if Mum comes in for treatment during pregnancy – a true privilege to treat a pregnant Mum and her unborn child.

4. Do osteopaths help babies sleep?

A baby can be in an alert state causing them to have difficulty sleeping. This may occur during a quick or traumatic birth, or difficult pregnancy. Osteopathic treatment may help settle the nervous system, and in turn, help baby to sleep. An osteopath will also investigate other reasons that may be contributing to poor sleep.

5. Can an osteopath help with baby reflux?

Birth can be a traumatic event, even if the birth goes smoothly. The baby may have compression at the base of the skull and osteopathic treatment can relieve tension. Tension in the diaphragm can be compressing the oesophagus, trapping wind. Strain through the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck may also cause strains to the abdomen.

6. Does my baby need cranial osteopathy?

In the first few days after birth (vaginal or C-section), extreme moulding of the babies head will start to shift with suckling, crying and yawning. Sometimes that moulding can be incomplete, especially if the birth had force exerted with forceps or ventouse, and osteopathy can help to relieve those strains.

7. How many cranial osteopathy sessions do babies need?

The benefits are often long lasting as the body adapts to the changes from the treatment.

8. What happens during cranial osteopathy?

Cranial osteopathy is one of the many techniques used by osteopaths during hands on treatment that encourages the release of stresses and strains in the body, including the head. Be assured that there will be no ‘cracks or pops’ when treating babies and children. During the treatment, the osteopath will cradle the baby’s head, or any other area of the body, in order to release any imbalances or strains in the system. Osteopathic treatment is gentle and may have big overall changes, even after one treatment!

The post 8 Common “Baby Osteopath” Questions appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

Originally from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Allison completed her training from RMIT University, Melbourne in 2014.  

Whether a treatment is for an injury or prevention, Allison believes in inspiring the client to be an active part of their own recovery. In order to provide the best care to her patients, she continues to participate regularly in professional development.

Allison recently became a Mother and understands the demands placed on the body, mind and spirit during pregnancy and post-partum, which has spurred on a passion to support Mothers.

Allison has spent the past 6 years in Perth exploring the vast expanse of WA, and is excited to come back to Victoria and become a part of the community here on the surf coast of Victoria.

Allison is available Monday, Tuesday or Friday. You can book an appointment with Allison online here.

The post Welcoming Allison Smith To Our Team appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

Celeste began working at The Osteopaths Geelong in 2018, and over this time she has shown great care for her clients, developing her own following.  Celeste’s dedication to her clients was particularly shown during the now infamous 2020 when Celeste worked continuously to support her clientele.

Celeste has accepted a full time position working in the insurance industry, where her clinical skills and experience will be highly valued.

As Celeste moves towards her new career, she would like to say “thank you to all of my lovely patients, it’s been a pleasure looking after you and building strong relationships.”  We will miss Celeste’s positive attitude and quick witted humour in the clinic and wish her all the best for her new workplace.

The post Farewell Celeste! appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

A “dry” needle is called such, because it doesn’t have a hole/tube inside it to carry e.g. Blood or any other fluid.

It’s just that. It’s a “Dry” (not wet) needle.

What is “dry needling”?

It’s when you use a dry needle, and insert it into a muscle for a desired clinical effect. But this effect can be varied based on the practitioners skill and the reason WHY they think you may benefit from it.

Does dry needling hurt?

When done accurately, it can be a little bit “achy” but (ironically) shouldn’t be too sharp. We often tell people that the area can feel “heavy” and most people who’ve never had it done before report the feeling as “weird”.

Very few people cannot “handle” dry needling

You mentioned the different types of dry needling?

Yes – there are a couple of ways of doing this technique.

• Static, and
• Dynamic

Static dry needling is when the practitioner uses a needle and leaves that needle in one place for up to several minutes. They may move it a few times in those few minutes.

Dynamic dry needling is when the practitioner moves the needle to get the best “twitch response” from the muscle.

What’s the point?

Clinicians will tell you that they are doing things like “releasing trigger points” or “tight muscles”.

Which may be true… however, in fact, all we’re REALLY doing is injuring you.

What do you mean?

Think about it. A needle is a foreign body. It comes from the outside of you, and under the skin.

Your immune system responds to any foreign body and mounts a minor immune response to help “fix” the injury – and in doing so, MAY help the area of muscle around it.

What things respond to dry needling?

Generally, muscle tension or when people refer to as “knots” will respond favourably, but not always.

Just because something is tight, it doesn’t mean that it has to be needled.

Generally speaking, an area of muscle tension is there for a reason.

The brain doesn’t increase muscle tension without a reason to do so!!

So – your practitioner should make sure that in releasing that tight muscle doesn’t have negative flow on effects… As can happen because they might be (inadvertently) releasing the master compensator.

Generally speaking – things that respond well to dry needling are back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sciatica.

Is it safe?

Yes. As long as your practitioner knows 3D anatomy, and knows what direction/depth they are inserting that needle.

With that said, certain areas of the body are a “no go” for needles!!

Our Osteopaths practice both static and dynamic dry needling to the highest hygiene and efficacy standards.

The post The Different Types of Dry Needling appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

Our current screening SMS is turning into a bit of a novel!  We are working towards fine tuning this process to reduce the administration time, whilst keeping as up to date with the latest information.

We continue to ask clients to wait in their car prior to appointments.  This improves our ability for you to socially distance from our other clients.

You message us when you arrive, and we message you to come in. It works perfect!

All clients are provided with disposable face masks to wear during the consultation.

We are now taking clients temperatures as they enter the clinic.

This is painless and only takes about 3-5 seconds, as we scan your forehead.

We allow extra time to surface clean and air our clinic rooms between each client.

We have “touch-less” hand cleaning basins.

We have single-use towels and gowns.

We wear masks full time.

We now have a hand sanitiser station attached to the wall at our entrance, please use it when entering and leaving the clinic.

If you are over the age of 70+ or immune compromised, we ask that you call us on 5229 4420 to make your appointment.  We will make sure that your appointment is at the start of the day to minimise risk as much as possible.

If you have any concerns at all, please call us.  Often by having a discussion over the phone we are able to ascertain steps that can be taken to minimise risks further to ensure we can still provide treatment safely.

That’s about as much as we can do! We really do rely on your input as to whether you’ve possibly been exposed to potential cases in certain regions, or do “higher risk” activities, such as travel on trains etc. To that end (as of 9th July 2020):

• We are now only accepting clients who live and work in Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Golden Plains and the Colac Otway Shire.
• Unfortunately, if you live or work in Metro Melbourne we are not currently allowing you to visit our clinic.  

Hopefully we will remain able to see our clients as a result of taking all of these precautions.

If you are unable to visit our clinic due to these restrictions, we can offer you a video consultation or can refer you to a recommended practitioner who is in your locality.

(Updated 11th July 2020)

The post Coronavirus Precautions appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

Cailin will be returning to work as of Monday 6^th of July and will be available for appointments on Monday’s and Friday’s. 

Cailin will continue to teach Anatomy for Deakin University’s school of Medicine on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays.

If you would like to make an appointment with Cailin, you can book online by clicking here or phone 5229 4420.

The post Cailin Returns as a Dad! appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

Most people present to an Osteopath with some form of pain that they’d like assistance with.

Most people don’t realise that pain is such a varied experience between people and there are a whole host of things that can make pain better or worse.

Not all pain is caused by a “tight muscle” or a “stiff joint”.

Not all pain is fixed by manipulation or strength exercises.

Here’s a short video explaining why. It’s 7 years old – but the content is still accurate!

The post A Short Video About Pain appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.

It’s been an unusual time not seeing clients face to face, and we’ve missed you all!

It’s been a tough time for everyone in many different ways.

We truly hope that you and your family are safe and coping with this unique situation.

As a clinic, we closed for the community’s safety.   

We’re re-opening because we have…

• More understanding of how the virus is transmitted
• Personal Protective Equipment available if required (masks)
• A thorough procedure in place to maximise safety, and 
• Confidence in the clinical statistics thanks to rigorous community testing in Victoria.

Things have changed since lockdown.

You will need to remember this number – 34.

Our biggest change is all appointments will now be from our Geelong West Clinic at 34 Shannon Ave, Geelong West.

For over 3 years, we have provided some of our services from the rooms at Claridge Naturopathics in Newtown. 

We would like to thank the team at Claridge Naturopathics and acknowledge all of the support they have given us over this time, we really appreciate it.  

We’ve consolidated to our Geelong West clinic.

This change has happened quickly.  

We are sure you will notice improvements to our clinic each time you visit.

Our aim is to make visiting our Osteopaths as risk free and efficient as possible, while continuing to deliver a quality service.

Consolidating comes with benefits as we move toward ‘COVID normal’.  

Working from one location gives us focus.

It allows us to strictly control the cleanliness our clinic environment, our hygiene procedures and who enters our premises.

• You can now contact us directly on 52294420
• We have 2 consultation rooms
• It makes communication easier and collaboration with other health care practitioners streamlined.
• It allows us to have more flexibility in our open hours.

Our new set up is extremely hygienic

Everyone who has seen us so far has commented on just how clean, and efficient our consultation process is.

• We are safety screening all clients prior to appointments
• We don’t have a waiting room, instead we ask that you wait in your car until we invite you in via SMS
• The practitioner greets you at the door and guides you into the room, reducing the number of surfaces you touch
• Treatment room surfaces are disinfected between clients
• We can open our windows to ventilate the room between clients
• All linen (towels and gowns) are single use
• Quality medical grade face covers are used on our treatment table
• Disposable face masks are available should you require one
• Return bookings and payment are efficiently completed in the room, no need to wait for reception 
• All of our practitioners have taken additional training in Hand Hygiene and the Australian Government COVID-19 training
• Our practitioners have access to a medical grade hands free wash basin in the treatment room
• Our practitioners have access to all of the hygiene equipment that they may require (gloves, disposable face masks, antiseptic wipes, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitiser) 

It’s the least we can do for you.

A few final updates:

The booking schedule for the next month will look slightly different as we transition.

Cailin is waiting until after the birth of his first child before he returns to hands on treatment – he wants to make sure he is in 110% health so that he can be there for the special birthday!

Cailin will still be available through Telehealth video consultations.  If you need a hands on treatment in the meantime, Dave, Celeste and Jackie are available to help out.  

Alternatively, you can choose to go on a waiting list for when Cailin returns (late June) – call us on 52294420

Jackie is currently limiting her travel from Melbourne in the next few weeks to one day per week, on Thursdays.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Hopefully we’ll see you again real soon

We look forward to it!

The Osteopaths Geelong West

David Birley, Jackie Kovacev, Cailin Mellberg and Celeste Blake

The post We’re Back! appeared first on Geelong Osteopaths.