Live in Mount Gravatt, Brisbane? Need an Osteopath?

You need an Osteopath Mount Gravatt, right?  Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane is a very convenient and safe option. According to Google Maps our clinic in Stones Corner is 5.5km or 8 minutes drive away! A straight-forward drive down Logan Rd to Old Cleveland Rd and we are right on the corner of Old Cleveland Rd and Laura St. We cater for no hassle parking, it’s Free and Off-Street. When you’re in pain it’s nice to have a no-hassle option.

We have a number of very experienced osteopaths with international experience both in private practice and with National Sports Teams.  We also have a range of other complimentary medicine options to suit your needs such as acupuncture, massage, podiatry and chiropractic. Your body is very important- so feel assured you are in very safe, experienced and well-trained hands.

Our osteopaths see many patients from Mount Gravatt, mainly due to the fact that Stones  Corner is a stone’s throw (excuse the pun) away and the very popular feature of our free off-street, no-hassle parking.

What are you suffering with? Low back pain is our most common complaint, closely followed by neck pain, pinched nerves, sciatica and shoulder pain. The list of what Government Registered Osteopaths treat is long so if you’re in any doubt about our ability to help treat your pain, just buzz us on 1300 321 300, and our clinic manager, Michaela will be happy to answer any questions. Or drop us an email info@bodywiseosteo.com.au we always do our best to get back to you on the same day.

If you’ve got time it’d be great if you could peruse other services of what we offer. Your main request was Osteopaths Mount Gravatt, but we can also offer you Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, Podiatry, Massage and Chiropractic services.

Over the last 16 years, Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane has become a one of the most popular integrative alternative medicine clinics in Brisbane. When a difficult patient presents with a tough condition to treat, we often chat to one another to determine the best course of action. Two heads are often better than one when it comes to difficult cases and with the expertise on hand at Bodywise, it’d be rude not to! No more requesting notes be sent or calls be made to another clinic either, we have it all under the one roof!

Pain is often optional- why are you living with yours?

Call 1300 321 300 today

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We are only as strong as our weakest link! This investigative process into your body by the osteopath is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the spine, skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together, much the same as a finely tuned engine.

Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane practitioners have many years of experience that has allowed them to develop a highly tuned sense of touch (palaption), physical manipulation/adjustment, stretching and soft-tissue release techniques to increase the mobility of joints, relieve muscle tension, enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms.  Your osteopath may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring, so you can make the most of the sunshine in this lovely city of Brisbane! Osteopathy Works!

Osteopathic Professional Standards and Regulation

All Osteopathic Doctors at Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane have undergone Undergraduate and Post-Graduate University Training for 5 Full-Time years. They are regulated by the National Board of Osteopathy and are Members of the Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA). As members of the AOA our practitioners are required to meet an annual standard of continuing education, as set out in the AOA statutes; so you can rest assured you are literally in very safe hands.

Who and what do osteopaths treat?

Practically anyone and everyone is suitable for osteopathy.  Your osteopath’s appraoch is suited to teh patient rpesenting- extremely gentle for babies and for physical when the need calls for it. An Osteopath treats people from all walks of life for a wide variety of aches, injuries and pains. Please visit our Pain Treatment link to see if your pain is something we treat at Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane.

What to expect when you visit an Osteopath

During your first consultation, your Osteopath will ask questions about your medical history and conduct a full osteopathic and orthopaedic physical examination. Nothing too scary! You may be asked to remove some of your clothing, depending on the area of your body requiring treatment. Following osteopathic treatment, your Osteopath may need additional investigations such as x-ray, scans or blood tests. This will allow a full diagnosis and suitable treatment plan to be developed for you. If needed, your Osteopath may refer you on to another health professional. Two heads are often better than one!

Is osteopathic treatment painful?

Most osteopathic treatment is gentle and should not cause undue discomfort. Some injuries however, may require the handling of painful and inflamed areas but your osteopath will take all due care to make you as comfortable as possible. Some people experience mild soreness for a day or two after treatment similar to that felt after a gym session that you haven’t tried in months.

How long will your treatment take?

Your initial consultation may last up to one hour because it includes a thorough history and examination as well as treatment. Follow-up treatments are usually a little shorter. Depending on your condition, it is wise to leave 30 mintues aside. Your osteopath doesn’t treat to the clock- some conditons require very intervention to bring your body back to balance, however others require longer more progressive sessions.

Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane: Professional – Safe – Effective – Cause Focused Treatment.

For all bookings: Ph 1300 321 300

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You need an Osteopath Camp Hill, right?  Bodywise Osteopathy Brisbane is a brilliant option. According to Google Maps our clinic in Stones Corner is 3.6km or 12 minutes drive away! A straight-forward jaunt down Boundary Rd, onto Weller Rd – and you’re there! With free Off-Street no hassle parking it’s an attractive drama-free option.

Did you know Bodywise Osteopaths Brisbane offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee if you are not satisfied with the quality of your treatment, giving you peace-of-mind.

We have a number of very experienced osteopaths with international experience both in private practice and with National Sports Teams  We also have a range of other alternative medicine options to suit your needs such as acupuncture, massage, podiatry and chiropractic. Your body is very important- so feel assured you are in very safe, experienced and well-trained hands.

Our osteopaths see many patients from Camp Hill, mainly due to its to the fact that Tarragindi is a stone’s throw away and the very popular feature of our free off-street, no-hassle parking. We are located within Clark’s Lifestyle Centre, at 195 Fingal st. CLC used to be the old Tarragindi Squash Courts, now a hive of activity focused on health and well-being.

What are you suffering with? Low back pain is our most common complaint, closely followed by neck pain, pinched nerves, sciatica and shoulder pain. The list of what Government Registered Osteopaths treat is long so if you’re in any doubt about our ability to help treat your pain, just buzz us on 1300 321 300, and our clinic manager, Michaela will be happy to field any questions. Or drop us an email info@bodywiseosteo.com.au we promise to return all emails the same day.

If you’ve got time it’d be great if you could peruse other services of what we offer. Your main request was Osteopaths Camp Hill, but we can also offer you Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, Podiatry, Massage and Chiropractic services.

This clinic has built its name over the last 16 years to become a very popular integrative alternative medicine clinic. We often chat to one another about more difficult cases, which takes the hassle out things for you if you need to be referred. Two heads are often better than one when it comes to difficult cases and with the expertise on hand at Bodywise, it’d be rude not to! No more requesting notes be sent or calls be made to another clinic either, we have it all under the one roof!

Get your life back!  Be Pain-Free!

Call 1300 321 300 today

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To effectively treat sciatica- its root cause must first be determined. This is the diagnostic process. A full medical history will be taken including physical tests. The results of these tests may illuminate the source of your sciatica.

Other diagnostic tests may be performed or requested by the osteopath depending on what he or she finds in the physical examination. Such tests may include:

X-ray to look for fractures in your spine

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) scan. These machines give much more clarity of detail of your spine, not only of te bones but soft tissues as well. They’re great for confirming the presence of a slipped disc.

Nerve Conduction Studies can tell us how well your sciatic nerve is conducting impulses. If you’ve got a kink in the garden hose the water doesn’t travel through, right? Well same is true if you have an obstruction on your sciatic nerve. No impulses can travel, therefore you can potentially expect numbness, tingling, and weakness of the muscles and skin that the pinched nerve supplies.

A Myelogram involves the process of injecting dye between the vertebrae to determine if a vertebrae or disc is causing the pain. Not used mush due to the favor of MRI and CT.

You may or may not be requested to have these tests- and you can still have sciatica treatment without them. Such tests are of no therapeutic value, only diagnostic.

How is sciatica treated?

The type of treatment required will be dictated by the actual cause of your sciatica; as I discussed in my previous post “What is Sciatica?”, there are many causes for the symptom of sciatica.

With osteopath treatment of sciatica, the general goal is to decrease pain and increase mobility. This may be achieved using a combination of trigger point release, spine manipulation and adjustment and specific stretching. Core function is also very important to assess in treatment of sciatica. Massage and acupuncture have also shown some good results in the treatment of sciatica. All of which we offer at Bodywise Osteopathy.

General advice would include: avoiding sitting for long periods and keeping generally active within the limits of your pain.

Medicines such as Neurofen and Voltaren are helpful to decrease inflammation and are over-the-counter meds. But for stronger anti-inflams, pain killers and muscle relaxants for treatment of sciatica, you will need to see your local GP.

Sciatic pain usually decreases over time and many people (50%) recover from an episode within six weeks.

Can sciatica be prevented?

Some sources of sciatica are not preventable, such as degeneration of discs, back strain due to pregnancy and accidental falls.

It may bot be possible to prevent all cases of sciatica, however you can take steps to protect you back and reduce your risk.

If you lift weight with good technique, keeping your back stiaghjt and bringing yourself up using your hips and legs, while holding the object close to your chest.

Use correct lifting technique no matter how light the object your lifting. Most people who seek treatment often can’t remember what they did to cause sciatica so don’t be fooled thinking you have to be lifting something heavy to get sciatica. You can get it lifting anything with poor technique. T’s the action and not the object that is often the problem.

As you needed another reason to stop smoking! Add to the list- disc degeneration. Another cause of sciatica.

Exercise regularly to maintain good muscle strength in you abdomen and and back. These muscles work to support your spine.

Good posture when sitting or standing are also helpful in reducing pressure in the low back. Have a read of my Tips for Good Posture post.

If you have a desk job- give yourself regular breaks as this causes increased pressure in the spine

If you think you need sciatica treatment call 1300 321 300.

Improve your quality of life today.

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Osteoporosis & Osteopathy: a homonym of sorts. The short answer is the former is a disease of bone and the latter is a hands-on treatment for muscle, skeletal and spinal problems! I know most of you know this and I’m only really joking. But as my wonderful Gran used to say; “many a true word was spoken in jest!”

Further differentiation…

Osteoporosis is a disease of bone mineral density and has haunted women since the dawn of history. Egyptian mummies from 4,000 years ago have been found with the telltale dowager’s hump. Most young women today can expect to spend their old age standing as straight and tall as they ever were, thanks to recent dramatic improvements in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis.

Osteopathy, on the other hand is a system of manual medicine and was founded in 1874, by Andrew Taylor Still MD DO (1828-1917), a medical doctor living on the Missouri frontier. He discovered the significance of living anatomy in health and disease and realised that optimal health is possible only when all of the tissues and cells of the body function together in harmonious motion.

He reasoned that disease could have its origins in slight anatomical deviation from normal. He then proved he could restore health by treating the body with his hands, naming his innovative approach to restoring health: Osteopathy. From Greek; “osteo” meaning bone, and “pathos” disease. While we’re on the subject of Greek etymology; “chiros” means hand- hence chiropractor.

Andrew Still understood that the human body is composed of many parts, all intimately related as a functional whole. More than a hundred years ago, Dr. Still realized that the human being is more than just a physical body. He envisioned a totally new medical system that acknowledges the relationships of the body, mind, emotions and spirit. What a revolutionary!

How to PREVENT getting it in the first place!

And most important to remember: Osteoporosis and Osteopathy are very different!!!

Enjoy the journey!

Anthony Collins

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Over time, poor posture may be caused by habits from everyday activities such as sitting in office chairs and looking at the computer, driving, standing for long periods of time, or even sleeping.

Poor posture can easily become second nature, causing or aggravating episodes of back pain and damaging spinal structures. Lucky for you, the main factors affecting posture and ergonomics are completely within your ability to control and are not difficult to change.

The following guidelines suggest several ways to improve posture and ergonomics (good posture/body mechanics in the work-place), especially for people who work sitting in an office chair for most of the day.

• Back pain caused by poor ergonomics and posture: know the warning signs.

If your back pain is worse at certain times of the day or week (but not during weekends) it may be the result of poor ergonomics and posture which occurs after a long day of sitting in an office chair in front of a computer.

Some of the typical warning signs of pain caused by poor ergonomics and posture include pain that starts in the neck and moves downwards into the upper back, lower back and extremities; or pain that goes away after switching positions while sitting or standing; sudden back pain that is experienced with a new job, a new office chair, or a new car; and/or back pain that comes and goes for months.

• Get up and move around and stretch out.

Picture yourself at the end of a long day; I would hazard a guess and say you’re hardly standing straight in this vision. As muscles tire, slouching, slumping, and other poor postures become more likely; this in turn puts extra pressure on the neck and back. In order to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture, change positions frequently. One way is to take a break from sitting in an office chair every half hour for two minutes in order to stretch, stand, or walk.

• Try to keep the body in alignment while sitting in an office chair and while standing.

When standing try and distribute your body weight evenly to the front, back, and sides of the feet while standing; feel your connection to the ground. While sitting in an office chair, take advantage of the chair’s adjustable features. Sit up straight and align the ears, shoulders, and hips in one vertical line. Any single position, even a good one, will be tiring if held for too long.

Try alternating between leaning forward with a straight back and with sitting back, using the back support of the office chair to ease the work of back muscles.

Also be aware of and avoid unbalanced postures such as crossing legs above the knees while sitting, leaning to one side, hunching the shoulders forward or tilting the head.

When trying to achieve good seated posture, ask yourself one simple question: what muscles can I relax or support with the chair or props (pillows foot stools) that will make me feel more comfortable.  Good posture is not necessarily sitting or standing as straight as possible, it is minimal muscle activation.

• Use posture-friendly props and ergonomic office chairs when sitting.

Supportive ergonomic “props” can help to take the strain and load off the spine. Ergonomic office chairs or chairs with an adjustable back support should be used at work. Footrests, portable lumbar back supports, or even a towel or small pillow can be used while sitting in an office chair and while driving.

The use of purses, bags, and backpacks that are designed to minimize back strain can also help you achieve good posture. Proper corrective eyewear, positioning computer screens to your natural, resting eye position can also help to avoid leaning or straining the neck with the head tilted forward.

• Increase self-awareness of posture and ergonomics in everyday settings.

Being aware of your posture and ergonomics at work, at home, and at play is a vital step towards instilling good posture and ergonomic techniques. This includes making conscious connections between episodes of back pain and specific situations where poor posture or ergonomics may be the root cause of the pain.

The posture related neck and back strains I see regularly are usually caused by what you do most of.  Try and give some objective thought to what that is and you’ll go a long way to being aware of the postures that cause you daily discomfort.  Better still get someone to take a few photos of you in a typical work posture.  You’ll be surprised how you look, and they may help you gain better postural objective analysis.

• Use exercise to help prevent injury and promote good posture.

Regular exercise such as walking, swimming, or bicycling will help the body stay aerobically conditioned, while specific strengthening exercises will help the muscles surrounding the back to stay strong. These benefits of exercise promote good posture, which will, in turn, further help to condition muscles and prevent injury.

There are also specific exercises that will help maintain good posture. In particular, a balance of trunk strength with back muscles about 30% stronger than abdominal muscles is essential to help support the upper body and maintain good posture.

• Wear supportive footwear when standing.

Avoid regularly wearing high-heeled shoes, which can affect the body’s center of gravity and change the alignment of the entire body, negatively affecting back support and posture. This is especially important as you age.  High-heeled shoes require good spinal and pelvic mobility and as you age there is a natural decline in this capability and you will be more at risk of injuring you back and muscles if used for long periods.

• Always remember good posture and ergonomics when in motion.

Walking, lifting heavy materials, holding a telephone, and typing are all moving activities that require attention to ergonomics and posture. It is important to maintain good posture even while moving to avoid injury.

Back injuries are especially common while twisting and/or lifting and often occur because of awkward movement and control of the upper body weight alone. Tennis elbow is on the rise in my clinic due to excessive mouse use and poor ergonomic positioning of the arm.

• Create ergonomic physical environments and workspaces, such as for sitting in an office chair at a computer.

It does require a small investment of time to personalize the workspace, home, and car, but the payoff will be well worth it. Undue strain will be placed on the structures of the spine unless the office chair, desk, keyboard, and computer screen, etc. are correctly positioned. If you work in a company that has access to Human Resources, then ask for an ergonomic work-station assessment.

• Avoid overprotecting posture.

Remember that it is important to maintain an overall relaxed posture to avoid restricting movements by clenching muscles and adopting an unnatural, stiff posture. Remember; good posture involves minimal muscle activation, that is, it must be a relaxed body-alignment.

For individuals who already have some back pain, it is a natural tendency to try to limit movements to avoid the potential pain associated with movement. However, unless there is a fracture or other serious problem, the structures in the spine are designed for movement and any limitation in motion over a long period of time creates more pain and a downward cycle of less motion and more pain, etc. So don’t try to sit up straight like a statue for hours and remember; we were made with round joints in the skeleton- not square ones so keep moving throughout your day and your body will thank you for it.

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