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Research
Guideline set out by NICE, the Arthritis Research Council the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society which was updated to it's current form in 2007. We have worked hard to ensure we are Evidenced Based in what we deliver which is one of the reasons Ian under-took the internationally recognised Masters Degree (MSc) in Evidence Based Health Care at the University of Oxford. American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society "For patients who do not improve with self-care options, clinicians should consider the addition of non- pharmacologic therapy with proven benefits. For acute low back pain, spinal manipulation; For chronic or sub-acute low back pain, intensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation, exercise therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal manipulation, yoga, cognitive-behavioural therapy, or progressive relaxation" National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Consider offering a course of manual therapy including spinal manipulation, comprising up to a maximum of nine sessions over a period of up to 12 weeks. Mobilisation and massage are performed by a wide variety of practitioners. Manipulation can be performed by chiropractors or osteopaths, and by doctors or physiotherapists who have undergone specialist post-graduate training in manipulation. Consider offering a course of acupuncture needling comprising up to a maximum of 10 sessions over a period of up to 12 weeks. Arthritis Research Council If the pain is severe or not getting better after a week or so, you should see a doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath who will examine you to make sure your back problem is straightforward. They may advise specific treatments. These may involve manipulation or exercises and education about back pain. They may also recommend some form of pain relief such as the use of hot packs, acupuncture or TENS Current, thorough and useful research into treatment is being undertaken on an increasing basis, although the published literature is very limited. The National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) www.brighton.ac.uk/ncor works to collate and direct Osteopathic and related research. Until the profession has built a more thorough evidence based foundation the more ‘traditional' medical physicians will remain cynical of the benefits of Osteopathic care. It is fair to say that no form of manual medicine (Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Remedial Massage, etc...) has yet to produce research in the accepted manner of clinical trials to demonstrate a clear therapeutic benefit. Ultimately the true picture is that of the 23,000+ satisfied patients treated every day in the UK by Osteopaths. What we do know is that early treatment and advice: -Reduces the intensity and duration or acute pain -Reduces medication and therefore some of the dangerous drug reactions and interaction seen (particularly from the family of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories NSAIDs) -Reduces incapacity and time off work -Reduces anxiety giving treatment and advice which reduces pain and improves mobility -Reduces costs to industry and society by reducing chronic disability and extended periods of absenteeism from work.
Below are various abstracts that are currently available:
1. Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) 1998 from guidelines of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG) 1993
"Manipulation within 6 weeks of onset can provide short term improvement in pain and activity level"
"Risks of manipulation are very low in skilled hands"
"Radiology not indicated in simple back pain (RCR)"
"Bed rest for 2-7 days less effective than alternative methods"
2. Van Tulder M, Koes BW, Bouter LM. Conservative treatment of acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of the most common interventions. Spine 1997; 22(18): 2181-2156.
"There is strong evidence that manipulation is more effective than a placebo treatment...."
"There is moderate evidence that manipulation is more effective for chronic Low Back Pain than usual care by the general practitioner, bed-rest, analgesia, and massage."
3. Roth S. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Gastropathy, deaths and medical practice. Annals of Internal Medicine 1988; 109: 353-354.
"The use of medications was sharply lower [sometimes less than half] by the Osteopathic patients. The results of this trial suggest that it is possible to obtain similar therapeutic relief from back pain with substantially less medication, a highly significant finding in light of the well-known and sometimes fatal side-effects obtained with (anti-inflammatory drug) NSAIDs."
4. Gabriel S, Jaakimainen L, Bombardier C. Risk for serious gastrointestinal complications related to use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine 1991; 115: 787-796.
"Being able to reduce the use of medications may also significantly lower treatment costs especially when the costs of side-effects and iatrogenesis are factored in. These considerations would bode well for the practice of spinal manipulation for the management of back pain."
About our Patients
Most patients attend the practice because something ‘hurts'. Usually the site of the problem is easily identified and the treatment commenced on the first visit. Other examination may also be needed occasionally. X-rays for most conditions are unnecessary, waste time, money and expose you to unnecessary radiation. However, occasionally these are necessary and easily arranged. The aim is to diagnose, explain, treat and advise patients all on the first visit. This way patients get better quicker!!
About Treatment
Osteopaths treat a great variety of conditions and regions of chronic and acute pain. Listed are only a few of the most common conditions treated:
Joint pain Tendonitis Rotator cuff (shoulder) Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) Plantar fasciitis (sole of feet) Sports injuries & rehabilitation Muscle, ligament and tendon injuries Work related injuries (Ergonomic assessments Postural advice) Treatment is directed at symptom relief. It also involves making the individual aware of the probable causes of their injuries or pain and once the symptoms have settled, how they might avoid recurrence of their pain or condition in the future. All initial appointments are 30 minutes at our clinics. We believe people should be wary of a Practitioner who tries to rush patients in and out in 10 minutes. We feel this is not sufficient time to listen to patient, make and explain the probable diagnosis and treat the problem comfortably and effectively. He also believes that seeing someone repeatedly without any significant improvement in their symptoms is a waste of a patient's time and money. Generally if a condition is not improved 50% by 3 visits it is probable that treatment is unlikely to help in the long term. Over treating with manipulation is dangerous as it may also lead to ‘instability' of the joints being treated making the patients symptoms worse in the future.
About Fees Unfortunately there is very little NHS funded Osteopathy available in the UK. This means patients generally need to pay for treatment themselves. This is either by paying at the time is the visit (generally between £25-65 depending on which area you live in!!) or via a Private Health Insurance (PHI) policy. Consultation costs are now reimbursed by most serious insurance companies (i.e. BUPA, PPP, WPA, Norwich Union, Cigna, Sun Alliance, plus many more). HSA for example has a very competitive monthly premium whose policy is to reimburse 50% of the fee as well as many other benefits. As a rule you need to be referred by your GP or a Consultant with most policies. Not all Osteopaths are eligible for reimbursement - so check first. Still, self-funding remains the most common method to date.
Basingstoke Osteoapth,
Basingstoke Osteopath, Hampshire Osteopath, Basingstoke Osteopaths,
Hampshire Osteopathy, Basingstoke Osteopathy, Basingstoke Osteopathic
Medicine, Basingstoke Therapy, Basingstoke Sports Therapy, Basingstoke
Sport Therapy, Basingstoke Massage, Basingstoke Sport Massage,
Basingstoke Sports Massage, Basingstoke Holistic Massage, Basingstoke
Reflexology, Hampshire Reflexology, Basingstoke Reflexologist,
Basingstoke Back Pain, Basingstoke Neck Pain, Basingstoke Headaches,
Hampshire Headaches, Basingstoke Sciatica, Basingstoke Cranial,
Basingstoke Baby Cranial Osteapathy, Basingstoke Paediatrics,
Basingstoke Sports Injuries
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