Located on the North Shore, Peace and Performance Osteopaths treat a wide range of conditions for the whole family, from shoulder and back pain to more general ailments
There are many varied reasons why people visit an osteopath. Mostly, osteopathy is associated with musculoskeletal issues such as back pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, neck pain, knee pain, sports injuries or other types of injuries or muscle/joint disorders. Osteopathy is also a holistic treatment, so some people find great relief for a range of other health issues like headaches, sleeping problems, colic for babies, breathing disorders, or digestive problems - to name just a few. The best way to find out if osteopathy is for you is to book an appointment and discuss how we can help.
Shoulder pain
Shoulders can be difficult to diagnose, troublesome to rehabilitate and frequently disturb sleep. If this sounds like you, then we share your need for a result. Shoulder pain can lead to further compensations around the neck and thorax that may need some professional help to resolve. Graeme has a special interest in shoulder problems and can offer a wealth of experience in the recovery of this region. There are a range of exercises and knowing which ones to utilise will depend on the condition of your shoulder as well as the position of your shoulder blade on your back. Understanding where you can invest your effort towards recovery depends on the stage of the injury as well as the tissue damage aspects.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is a regular complaint seen during an osteopath's working week. After lumbar pain it is the most common complaint. The good news is that it is often quicker to resolve than lumbar pain and responds to many of the osteopath's techniques.
Accurate diagnosis and constructive exercise, alongside some awareness of posture is often the key to unlocking the troublesome neck. Your comfort is our priority and neck treatments are carefully developed to make sure there are no surprises.
Lower back pain
Lower back pain is so common in Western society that people have come to think of it as normal. Poor posture, decreased physical activity and extremes of sport have all contributed to low back pain presentations.
The osteopaths at the Peace and Performance clinic have made a lifetime goal of understanding the way in which the musculoskeletal system is designed for efficiency. We are best equipped to offer holistic back pain treatment through customised rehabilitation, exercise and therapy programmes that identify the unique aspects of your presentation.
The osteopaths at the Peace and Performance clinic have made a lifetime goal of understanding the way in which the musculoskeletal system is designed for efficiency. We are best equipped to offer holistic back pain treatment through customised rehabilitation, exercise and therapy programmes that identify the unique aspects of your presentation.
Medics have a tendency to call low back pain that does not have MRI findings “simple” low back pain. In our experience, simple low back pain can rapidly become complex and intractable if left to chance. We offer sensible advice and goals agreed with you so that you progress through your recovery without setbacks. The old self-help advice of “Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation” (RICE) is being progressively replaced by a medical model that advocates “Mobilisation, Exercise, Analgesia and Treatment” (MEAT). We believe that natural human chemistry, sensible management and postural work are the best treatments for low back pain, for a speedy and long-lasting result, without side effects or dependency. For 150 years, osteopaths have been utilising movement modification, exercise and judicious use of external aids to healing (like ice).
Understanding the stage of an injury (or ongoing issues like sciatica) and the points at which to intervene with these treatments is the skill that separates the best from the rest. Use the bespoke osteopathic approach to make a difference to your recovery profile - don’t leave it to chance or rely on a generalised approach.
Performance improvement for sportspeople and professionals
Ever wondered how you could improve your sporting performance or felt limited by a frustrating old injury? Whether you are a weekend warrior or professional athlete, we have some valuable input.
Osteopaths specialise in finding and dealing with annoying limitations. Utilising a comprehensive case history, medical testing processes, the art of palpation, and testing techniques like the Y function and FMS screening tests, osteopaths can find and treat a range of problems, from knee pain to repetitive strain injury. With agreed parameters to measure your improvement, we can make tangible gains to your sporting performance whatever the discipline.
Osteopaths specialise in finding and dealing with annoying limitations. Utilising a comprehensive case history, medical testing processes, the art of palpation, and testing techniques like the Y function and FMS screening tests, osteopaths can find and treat a range of problems, from knee pain to repetitive strain injury. With agreed parameters to measure your improvement, we can make tangible gains to your sporting performance whatever the discipline.
Particular experience has been gained in water sports where Graeme has worked on the professional windsurfing circuit. Cycling, martial arts, running and competitive swimming are also areas where the practitioners have specialist knowledge.
Complex motor functions are not just the preserve of athletes. We have experience working with concert violinists and other musicians to ease the burden of the intense nature of professional performance, while maintaining the necessary dexterity to perform well.
Children and osteopathy
Children struggle with aches and discomforts and are learning what to ignore and what to take seriously in terms of pain. Our role is to identify those situations that include a greater risk to long-term health and development than others. We use advice and lifestyle options as a first recourse, but where there are significant dysfunctions we have a range of techniques that can assist recovery. These may include aspects of cranio-sacral rhythm, and soft tissue stretching with mobilisation, all the way through to exercise programmes.
Our children's osteopaths work with their hands, not gadgets, so instant feedback to tissue states is available, and customised solutions can be found. Parents are encouraged to be a part of the therapeutic process where possible.
Our children's osteopaths work with their hands, not gadgets, so instant feedback to tissue states is available, and customised solutions can be found. Parents are encouraged to be a part of the therapeutic process where possible.
Cranial osteopathy - especially effective for babies and the elderly
Cranial osteopathy has been used as a standalone treatment and as an adjunct to 'structural' osteopathy for many years. The techniques were elucidated through careful study of the orientation of the sutures of the skull in particular, and the observation of a pulsatile force within the nervous system. The combination of free movement principles and release from restriction apply to this area as much as the rest of the body. Very subtle pressures applied at the apex and fall of this rhythm are thought to aid health and adaptation. The very young seem to respond to this form of technique which has a reputation for settling babies and reducing the discomfort of colic, for example. Clive is our specialist in this area.
Pregnancy and osteopathy
The adaptation of the spine and pelvis during the 40 weeks of pregnancy produces some special challenges for the osteopath and the prospective Mum. Maintaining strength and mobility whilst avoiding overload at the sacroiliac, pubis and low lumbar vertebrae requires a plan of action that marries previous fitness levels with size and shape of Mum. Water based activities are almost universally useful.
The subtle adaptation of the tissues around the neck and shoulders as well as the pelvis helps ensure pregnancy is a pleasure rather than a painful chore.
Peace and Performance Osteopaths on the North Shore are here to help
Find out more information on "What is osteopathy?", or get to know our team of Albany clinic osteopaths.