Woosehill Surgery

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Muscle And Joint Pain

Pain in muscles and joints are common and seldom need to be treated by a doctor.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Stiffness and pain especially with movement

CAUSES

Strain due to overexertion
Injury
Inflammation
Wear and tear

TREATMENT AT HOME FOR MUSCLE PAIN

Massage affected part and keep it warm
Rest
Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen

TREATMENT AT HOME FOR JOINT PAIN

Rest the sore joint
Take painkillers as for muscle pain

STRAINS AND SPRAINS

RICE -	Rest the injured part
	Ice wrapped in a cloth - or a bag of frozen peas - can be used to reduce the swelling. But do not apply for longer than 15 minutes at a time. Compress the injury gently with a bandage Elevate the injured part

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

If the pain in the joint or muscle does not improve after three days
If the joint looks deformed
If there is swelling
If mobility is badly affected

WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

Osteopathy is a gentle form of manual treatment that aims to reduce or eliminate pain by working on the musculoskeletal system - if the body functions efficiently it is capable of maintaining its own health.

Osteopaths work with their hands employing a finely tuned sense of touch (palpation) and encompass many different approaches from soft tissue massage and stretching, very gentle functional, visceral or cranial techniques to more robust joint and muscle articulation or manipulation as appropriate to increase skeletal compensation and therefore reduce discomfort. Ultimately the Osteopath will try to locate the predisposing and maintaining factors of any symptoms and see that these are addressed, thereby encouraging long-term health.

As a part of any treatment offered, the Osteopath will ask about and deal with other lifestyle issues that may have an influence on any pain felt and can give advice on diet or exercise, postural issues, work or driving ergonomics.

All Osteopaths complete an intensive 4 or 5 year honours degree course at an approved institution, must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and hold current insurance to be able to practise.

Osteopathy was the first of the complementary therapies to be recognised by Law in 1993 with the Osteopaths Act, and has been statutorily regulated by the GOsC since 1998 in the same way as Doctors and Dentists.