Guest Author Tom, the Body Mechanic, shares with us today how Osteopathy can help your mental health, as well as your body.
Why We Feel Stress in Our Bodies
When you are stressed, muscles tighten and tense up. The body naturally does this, due to the fight
or flight response which gets the muscles ready to be used. However, when this stress response
becomes chronic it leads to the muscles being in a constant state of guarding. This can cause a plethora of
other conditions, including tension related headaches and migraines.
The tight, tense muscles, with their attachments to the spinal joints, can lead to restriction of movement in certain spinal segments. This in turn can lead to a build up of inflammation. The swelling is due to the reduced movement and fluid drainage which can cause chronic joint pain.
Nerves can become aggravated by inflammation and compression at spinal joints which can cause sharp shooting pain and pins and needles or numbness. The pain can become so intense that strong medication specifically for nerve pain is regularly prescribed and used for prolonged periods of time, sometimes months or even years.
What is Osteopathy & How Can It Help?
Back and neck pain is extremely common with 80% of adults experiencing it at some stage in their
life. It can lead to weeks of absenteeism from work and can cause negative mental health concerns, opening the door to depression and anxiety which can increase pain levels.
Depression, anxiety, catastrophizing and pain levels all act in a vicious cycle leading to chronic pain which can impact one’s life quite dramatically. This is where Osteopathy comes in.
Osteopathy is a whole-body approach to joint pain, muscle pain and dysfunction. Osteopaths
undertake a minimum of a 4 or 5 year degree in which they work in a clinical setting observing and
treating patients from all walks of life with a huge variety of symptoms. They are trained to carefully
palpate muscle tension, joint restriction and have a wide variety of treatment techniques including
soft tissue massage, joint mobilisations, stretching techniques and also offer specific exercises to
maintain the results for long term benefits.
Treatments
A mixture of hands-on treatment and exercise advice can have dramatic improvements in movement. This can therefore impact fluid and inflammation drainage, as well as a reduction in pain. Improving mental health through reduced stress levels, better sleep and a happier healthier you! It’s a natural way to help free your body from restrictions, ease your movement and let your body heal in optimal conditions.
Exercise and relaxation techniques are also regularly advised for the best possible results and the biggest changes to your life. Osteopaths regularly treat sciatica, spinal disc issues, muscle and joint pain and headaches. For drug free pain relief and to take control of your health you can book in using the social links below and see how Osteopathy can help you!
You can find out more about Osteopathy and Tom at TW Body Mechanic or connect with him on Facebook and Instagram. Have you had Osteopathy before? Did it help your mental health? Let us know on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook and Twitter.
Tom Walters
Tom graduated from the College of Osteopaths and is now based in Epping. He treats both acute and chronic conditions helping to restore normal mobility, reduce pain and empower patients towards a healthier life. He uses a wide range of osteopathic techniques followed by specific aftercare advice.
