Bill was a 56 year old businessman who suffered periodically from severe pain in his chest. Bill had been fully investigated by his doctors who were unable to find any definate cause for his pain. This went on for more than 5 years and Bill became very neurotic about his health. In desperation he had an angiogram but it failed to reveal any problem with his arteries. However his pain persisted. Bill came to see me, I examined him and like his cardiologist was unable to find a problem with his heart. I found that he had 3 displaced ribs and a spasm in the diaphragm as well as a hiatus hernia. I treated Bill with osteopathy to relax the diaphragm and replaced the ribs in their correct position. I treated the hiatus hernia by gently massaging it back into the abdomen. Bill's pain instantly disappeared and has not recurred over the last six years.

This is an example of some of the problems which can be treated effectively by techniques like osteopathy which are very effective but not yet a part of mainstream medicine. However many people do suffer from problems for which conventional medicine has yet to offer effective answers.

Our body consists of a bony skeleton, made from 206 bones. This skeleton made up from so many different bones gives our body its great manoeuvrability and flexibility. Each bone is connected to at least one other bone and usually to 2 or 3 other bones at a joint. A joint is flexible coupling between 2 or more bones which allows a definate range of movement. Joints are flexible but not strong while long bones like the femur (Thigh Bone) are strong but not flexible. Nature has allocated us different areas of strength & flexibility according to the function of each part of the body. The bones are covered with muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia which hold it together and allow it, its large and delicate range of complex movements.

When we have a fall, our joints bend to absorb the impact of the fall, but if the force of the fall is too great then the bones forming that joint may dislocate from their normal position in an attempt to absorb the impact. If the impact of the fall is more than what the body can absorb then a bone may break or fracture. The commonest joint which dislocates in the body is the ankle. When our foot twists, the ankle dislocates and we say our ankle is sprained. Usually the body is able to correct the dislocation over a few days and the pain resolves. However if the body is unable to correct the dislocation the pain persists and the knee tries to adjust for the pain. In this process the knee can become unstable resulting in knee pain. The body may also try to adjust from the hip, pelvis or lower back leading to pain and problems in these areas.

Similiarly when we trip and fall forward, we try and break the impact of the fall with our hands. When we do, this there is first a displacement of the bones at the wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck in that order depending on the intensity of the fall and only if the body is unable to dissipate the intensity of the fall does a bone or several bones break.

The body is usually able to correct these displacement without treatment and it recovers within a few days. In many cases unfortunately this does not happen and pain and discomfort persist in the joint. Since conventional medical treatment does not address these issues, these problems persist and you learn to live with the pain and discomfort. A common complaint I hear with these problems is "Dr., I have a weak wrist." The after effects of a fall may manifest as tennis or golfers elbow, frozen shoulder or a wry neck which may persist for years. Anyone who has a fall, especially with fractures should consult an osteopath whenever the opportunity arises. The osteopath can align the misaligned joint and allow a return to better and pain free function.

Sudden unexpected jerks are very liable to cause injuries. A common injury of this type is when your car is hit from the back without you anticipating it, your neck is jerked forward causing what is known as a whiplash injury. At this time the neck vertebrae can move from their normal alignment, which causes neck pain and headaches which gradually spreads to the arms. This can be treated effectively by realigning the neck. If this is neglected and not treated it develops into cervical Spondylosis or arthritis of the cervical spine.

The skull consists of 29 individual bones which form a cage to protect and support the brain, eyes, ears and other sensory organs. Each bone is connected to the adjoining bones at a joint called a cranial suture. Any unexpected jerk or impact can disturb the alignment of the skull bones setting off a chain of events which can lead to many problems later in life. Displacement at these joints can cause pressure on the brain and on cranial nerves which supply the eyes, ears, face, nose and mouth. These nerves emerge through tiny holes between and in these bones and any misalignment exerts pressure on them which may cause problems in the organs supplied by that nerve.

These problems include allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, migraine, sinusitis, snoring, loss of smell, vertigo, tinnitis, facial palsy, Meniere's disease, Autism, cerebral palsy, Dyslexia, poor coordination, crowding of the teeth, facial asymmetry, nystagmus, eyestrain, diminished vision and headaches.

As these problems result from the displacement and misalignment of the skull bones, the rational treatment is to realign and replace them in their normal position. An effective technique for doing this is called cranio sacral therapy or craniosacral osteopathy. This refers to techniques used to align the bones of the skull and lower spine. This is a very specialized technique which requires very high levels of learning and skills and has very few effective practitioners worldwide. Many Neurological conditions show improvement with craniosacral therapy.

The idea of manipulating the bones of the skull seems strange to many people, yet it is a potent, safe and highly effective form of treatment. It is useful in treating headaches due to many causes including migraine, whiplash injuries, the after effects of concussion and some types of convulsions. Cranial (Skull) abnormalities are often associated with problems in the spine so the therapist normally treats them simultaneously. An example is sinusitis which is often associated with back or neck pain. All of these can be treated with cranio sacral therapy resulting in an improvement in the patient's health. Cranio sacral therapy is the treatment of choice in many neurological ailments.

Cranio sacral therapy is a very precise scientific method for realigning bones which have been misplaced. This process works with the body to relax muscles which are tight and then works with the body to correct the problem. In cranio sacral therapy gentle pressure is applied over misaligned bones and tight muscle or fascia, which relax and glide into place as the person breathes. The patient lies on a bed while the therapist gently exerts pressure on various parts of the body as required. This is a very sophisticated process which acts by allowing your body restore the normal alignment of the different bones and body structures rather than attempting to force them back to place as in some techniques of manipulation.

Cranio sacral therapy is a gentle and painless procedure which yields excellent results in expert hands. The treatment takes between fifteen to thirty minutes and is usually repeated at intervals of 3-10 days till the skull and spine are perfectly aligned. The whole spine and skull are treated at each session as the spine and skull act functionally as one integral whole in spite of the fact that they are anatomically made up from many different bones. No force is used in the process of alignment and no jerking or "clicking" of the spine takes place. The patient's spine is positioned in different ways to allow the misaligned segments of the spine to realign themselves into their normal position as the patient breathes. These techniques known as position and hold techniques as the process of alignment proceeds through the physiological movements which occur as we breathe. This makes it suitable for use even in patient's with a severe neurological deficit as the entire process can be carefully and exactly controlled.

Problems in the neck are often associated with problems in the lower back and those in the upper back with the sacrum. Dislocation of the coccyx (tailbone) can cause many problems including headaches, cold feet, loss of sensation in the feet, impotence, incontinence & painful intercourse in ladies. Injuries to the sacrum (lower end of the spine) and coccyx (tailbone) can cause pelvic disturbances like uterine and prostatic malfunction, pain or numbness in the soles of the feet, bowel disturbances, obstruction to evacuation, dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), incontinence, allergies, asthma, poor eyesight, headaches and nausea.

Cranio sacral techniques are the treatment of choice for backaches, neck and shoulder pain and sciatica. Many people suffering from loss of strength in their arms, legs or tingling or numbness in these areas can be safely and quickly treated with good results.

This is also the treatment of choice in many sports related injuries like dislocated knee cartilages, tennis elbow, ankle sprains and frozen or painful shoulders. These can easily be persuaded to return to their normal position with osteopathic techniques within minutes. Muscle spasms often accompany spine and joint injuries and the therapist relaxes these using integrated techniques like acupuncture, ultrasound and massage wherever necessary to allow a smooth return to normal function.

The Series of photographs below show the treatment of a lady with painful Osteo-arthritis with a Misalignment of the left Knee. Her knee was aligned over 5 sessions spread over 12 days. The first picture on day 1 shows an angle of 30 degrees between the thigh & calf. The first photo shows the leg dark & congested which has improved as the knee has been aligned and blood circulation restored.

The second picture on day 3 shows an angle of 20 degrees between the thigh & calf.