Osteomyology

Our hectic lifestyles ask a lot of our bodies so it should come as no surprise when, our bodies protest!

An Osteomyologist may well be able to help you. Increasingly, they are becoming an indispensable part of an integrated medical service that complements, supports and augments traditional health care practice.

Although treatment is not yet available on the NHS, it is widely available throughout the U.K., with home visits and 24 hour emergency cover sometimes available. However, most treatments take place within the privacy of a clinic or private treatment room.

Osteomyology, breaks down to Osteo (bone) myo (muscle) ology (study of) so, taken literally, it is the study (and specialisation) of bones and muscles.

The application of this knowledge of the body gives rise to a wide range of physical therapy techniques which are utilised and refined constantly by the Osteomyologist.

Osteomyologists are often already qualified experts in their own field which may be Osteopathy, Chiropractics, Manipulative Science, Kinesiology, Physiotherapy or indeed any one of a number of manually based medical disciplines.

When the practitioner feels restricted by the constraints of his/her chosen field, and find they are lacking the tools to achieve a satisfactory improvement in their client, the natural progression is to widen their knowledge beyond the limitations of their society and training – This is the most common reason for joining the ever expanding ranks of Osteomyologists.

What can an Osteomyologist treat?
1. Joint pain and neurological symptoms.
2. Back and neck pain including whiplash.
3. Pregnancy related symptoms including sciatic pain.
4. Sports injuries.
5. Chronic conditions such as arthritis.
6. Repetitive strain injury.
7. Posture problems.
8. Musculoskeletal dysfunction including reduced flexibility of the joints and spine.

Treatment has also been shown to be effective for the following conditions:
1. Migraine and headaches.
2. Period pains.
3. Behaviour problems in children.
4. Diabetes.
5. Stress.
6. Asthma.
7. Glue ear.
8. Colic in babies.
9. Sleep disturbance.
10. Strokes and other neurological problems.

Recent legislation has made it imperative that ALL employers have a duty of care towards their employees. Osteomyologists are often consulted by Health and Safety managers and Occupational Health Nurses to advise on the suitability of furniture and equipment etc. Many practitioners have experience of legal work, advising and preparing relevant documents to support accident and injury claims.

The Association of Osteomyologists

The Association of Osteomyologists foresaw this requirement for the advancement of experienced professional manual practitioners and sustains this progress through a training program of C.P.D. (Continuing Professional Development). Their logo shows the coming together of different bodies, meeting as one in the centre, and this is the whole concept of an Osteomyologist. He or she has decided that in order to treat their patients successfully, they have joined a group that believes in sharing each others expertise to the benefit of the patient.

Back Trouble UK

Back Supports Are Not Always The Answer!

Spinal Lumbar or Lower Back Supports cannot really do anything to prevent pain in the lower back, a new review has reported.
The review, published in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, found that the large belts which can be worn around the waist when picking up or carrying heavy objects are as effective in reducing pain as education about lifting.
The researchers looked at 15 studies which involved over 15,000 people and looked at both the prevention and treatment of low back pain. They found that patients who did not use such supports reported the same levels of pain or reduced disability as those who had.

Lead author Ingrid van Duijvenbode said that the findings of the review indicate that lumbar supports should not be recommended for patients looking to treat or manage their low back pain.
She said: "There is moderate evidence that lumbar supports do not prevent low back pain or sick leave more effectively than no intervention or education on lifting techniques in preventing long-term low back pain. There is conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of lumbar supports as treatment compared to no intervention or other interventions."

A spokesman for the Arthritis Research Campaign, which funds a great deal of research into alleviating low back pain, said that in most cases, patients benefited from maintaining everyday activities and keeping as mobile as possible, rather than resting.
Unfortunately back pain tends to deter exercise, but medical opinion is now firmly in favour of movement and exercise as part of back care.

Top Tips:
DO & DON'T
Select a form of exercise suitable for your fitness level - if you are a beginner, work up gradually. Don't do much in your first few days. Your tolerance will be very low at first, and if you do too much you won't be able to do anything the next day. Also, you will be put off.


Find an exercise that you enjoy. You will be more likely to continue. Don't do impact sports like running, at least to start with.


Learn to stretch. Stretches should be done slowly and gently, without jerks or excessive force. Don't just copy others, especially athletes! To get it really right, book a session with a physiotherapist. Don't do sports which make you bend your back, or move suddenly, like cycling or squash, until your back is fully recovered.



Stop if an activity creates increasing pain in your back. Find a different sport until you are fitter. Don't waste money on a home workout machine. Most people quickly stop using them because they are so boring.


Wear good quality trainers. These are excellent for reducing impact forces with the ground, which otherwise generate a shockwave up the back. Don't avoid lifting altogether. Moderate loads on your back are needed to build up fitness in the back muscles. But lift correctly.


Don't play competitive team games to start with - you may be tempted to overdo it, or you might hurt your back in a collision.


The best type and intensity of exercise is different according to your condition, your fitness and the state of your back. You need some exercise, but not too much. That's why you may be given conflicting advice by different experts. If that happens, learn the broad principles and then go your own way - it's your body and only you can feel it.


The key is to start gently, choose your sports carefully, and gradually develop into a more strenuous regime. Getting fit is a stress/recovery process, while most bad backs result from too much or too prolonged stress, with incomplete recovery. Your exercise "sweet spot" will be unique to you, and will change as you get fitter and your back heals.


Find something that you enjoy and that can be easily incorporated into your daily life. This can be easy to achieve, for instance: if you normally get the bus to work, try getting an earlier one and getting off a few stops earlier. Park your car further away from your destination and walk.



When going out to lunch, try to find a restaurant that is within walking distance. Walk up or down stairs instead of taking the lift.


Why exercise is good for your back:
When abdominal and back muscles are toned, they work together like a natural corset for your back, providing support and improving posture.
Fit muscles have better fine control and more power in reserve, giving smoother motion during lifting and moving.
Fitness postpones fatigue, helping you avoid tired habits like not lifting correctly.
Exercise makes bones denser and stronger.
With stretching, exercise increases flexibility, helps you use good postures for lifting and sitting.
Helps you lose weight and stop smoking! Excess body weight and smoking are bad for backs.
Exercise improves blood circulation, and so enhances nutrition and recovery processes in your back.

Terry O’Brien
BackTrouble.co.uk