Headaches and migraines

Headaches and migraines can be very debilitating and affect most people at some stage of their lives. There are more than 200 types of headaches ranging from simple strains to more complex ones.

Headaches often arise from tension, muscle stiffness or joint strain in the neck and upper back. Other causes can include eyestrain, sinus problems, whiplash injury, stress, poor posture, teeth grinding, infection or allergies. If the presentation appears to be a more serious problem, we will refer as necessary. When not serious, we can help diagnose the cause and assist in alleviating the headache through improving mobility and reducing muscular tension in the back, ribcage, head and jaw as well as advising you on posture, diet and exercises.

A migraine is different from other headaches because it may cause symptoms including: Nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Migraine attacks are experienced as a headache of at least moderate severity usually on one side of the head and occurring with the symptoms above. The headache is usually made worse by physical activity. Migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours and in most cases there is complete freedom from symptoms between attacks. Certain factors are involved in triggering an attack in those predisposed to migraine. These are usually called trigger factors and can include lifestyle, and hormonal changes.

We will take a thorough case history as well as performing an osteopathic examination and endeavour to identify the cause of the pain (i.e. muscle, joint, ligament), we will also aim to understand why that area of your body is under strain. Osteopathy and massage are a safe alternative to medication for headache. By reducing muscle tension, restoring healthy blood supply to nerves and promoting good movement through the joints, we are able to significantly reduce the presence of nerve irritation and muscle tension helping to alleviate the cause of your headaches.

We will further support your journey back to health by advising on posture, ergonomics, exercises and stretching. If required, we will also communicate with your GP.

IMPORTANT: If the headache you are having is accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, bleeding/fluid from ears or nose, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, numbness, tingling or paralysis. This is especially important if this is the first time you are experiencing this headache.
Seek urgent medical advice from your GP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL US 01270 629933 OR EMAIL INFO@WEAVERHOUSE.COM

Small changes can bring big results

The average mobile ‘phone user spends 90 minutes on average on their ‘phones each day. This doesn’t sound like a lot, maybe the same time you spend watching TV, however this adds up to 10.5 hours each week that you look at your phone! 

This means less time to exercise, more stress on your body, not to mention the time it takes away from the people around you. You are disengaged from all of those. 

The (tongue-in-cheek) term ‘iposture’ is quickly gaining recognition as the ideal description for the way we hunch over our mobile phones, but it’s no laughing matter as this is one of the main causes of poor posture and lower back pain.

Try scheduling designated time to handle your emails and social media from your computer where you can set up your ergonomics to support good body positioning as you type.

If your phone has a voice dictation feature, learn how to use it and talk your text messages, social media posts, and emails. This may take a little time to get accustomed to, but your neck, shoulders, and back will thank you.

Avoiding the mobile phone slump is simple and anyone can do it. It just requires a little self-discipline and awareness. But it’s worth doing for the difference it will make in your neck, back, and the rest of your body, too!

If you feel that you are suffering from the effects of poor posture give us a call and schedule a free 15-minute osteopathic back and health assessment check 

01270 629933 or email info@weaverhouse.com

School's out for the Summer

Now that the Summer holidays have officially started you'll be out and about more with the children.
It's important for you to encourage your children to be physically active. They should try to do at least 40–60 minutes of exercise each day. 

If any of your family experience pain when exercising please contact your Osteopath. 
When an adult or child has been living a more sedentary lifestyle the muscles, tendons and other soft tissues are not conditioned to sudden bouts of exercise and can be easily torn or damaged. 
Having a health check can make sure there are no underlying issues that could be preventing you or your child from exercising and we can offer you a FREE 15 minute Osteopathic back and health assessment check. 
Give us a call today 01270 629933 or email info@weaverhouse.com 

On your bike - for all the right reasons

To be fit and healthy you need to be physically active. Regular physical activity can help protect you from serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, mental illness, diabetes and arthritis. Riding your bike regularly is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Cycling is a healthy, low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults. It's also fun, cheap and good for the environment.

Riding to work or the shops is one of the most time-efficient ways to combine regular exercise with your everyday routine. An estimated one billion people ride bicycles every day – for transport, recreation and sport. 

Cycling for health and fitness

It only takes two to four hours a week to achieve a general improvement to your health. Cycling is:

• Low impact – it causes less strain and injuries than most other forms of exercise.
• A good muscle workout – cycling uses all of the major muscle groups as you pedal.
• Easy – unlike some other sports, cycling does not require high levels of physical skill. Most people know how to ride a bike and, once you learn, you don’t forget.
• Good for strength and stamina – cycling increases stamina, strength and aerobic fitness.
• As intense as you want – cycling can be done at very low intensity to begin with, if recovering from injury or illness, but can be built up to a demanding physical workout.
• A fun way to get fit – the adventure and buzz you get from coasting down hills and being outdoors means you are more likely to continue to cycle regularly, compared to other physical activities that keep you indoors or require special times or places.
• Time-efficient – as a mode of transport, cycling replaces sedentary (sitting) time spent driving motor vehicles or using trams, trains or buses with healthy exercise.

Health benefits of regular cycling

Cycling is mainly an aerobic activity, which means that your heart, blood vessels and lungs all get a workout. You will breathe deeper, perspire and experience increased body temperature, which will improve your overall fitness level. 

The health benefits of regular cycling include:

• increased cardiovascular fitness
• increased muscle strength and flexibility
• improved joint mobility
• decreased stress levels
• improved posture and coordination
• strengthened bones
• decreased body fat levels
• prevention or management of disease
• reduced anxiety and depression.

Always remember to stay road safe when riding your bike and if there are cycle paths use them whenever you can and always wear a protective cycle helmet.

To discuss with us further about whether or not cycling is an appropriate exercise for you, give us a call to schedule your first or next appointment 01270 629933 

or email info@weaverhouse.com 

Not all who wander are lost....

Some are just looking for Osteopathy.

Have you considered whether Osteopathy could help you but not known how to find out more? 

There are so many different treatments out there for different complaints and ailments so why should you choose Osteopathy? 

Osteopathy believes in “treating the patient, not the disease”, looking at your body as a whole and as an individual. The principle is that all body parts are interconnected and the function of one part of the body is dependant on another.

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is an effective form of manual medicine that aims to restore the body’s musculoskeletal system to a state of balance. Osteopathy uses a unique system of diagnosis and treatment that emphasises the structural integrity of the body to treat many disorders that result in pain and dysfunction.

What are the benefits? 

You can expect the following benefits:

• Alleviate pain and tightness in the muscles, and joints
• Assess the underlying cause of pain and discomfort
• Increase the range of motion in the joints
• Reduce problems in the spine due to poor posture or injury
• Offer a non-invasive treatment for persistent pain and discomfort
• Helps pregnant women adapt to physical and hormonal changes in their body
• Reduces tension in the body that causes a headache or a migraine

Osteopathy also offers advantages that most people tend to overlook such as providing comfort for people suffering from chronic diseases such as arthritis and Asthma. Moreover, the treatment can help prevent recurrence of an injury or acute health problems by improving lifestyle factors through a series of relaxation techniques, exercise and dietary advice as well as education about risk factors. 

If you're still unsure if Osteopathy is right for you we are more than happy to give you a FREE 15 minute Osteopathic back and health assessment check.

Call or email us to make your appointment 01270 629933 or email 

Our Summer Newsletter is now available!

Containing news and valuable information from our practitioners for the Summer season.

If you have any suggestions for topics you would like covered in future newsletters or to ensure you receive the latest copy emailed to you 'fresh off the press' please do let us know, either by email at:info@weaverhouse.com or call us on 01270 629933 or even come and talk to our friendly Reception team in person!

Have a read of our Summer 2018 newsletter here Summer Newsletter

25th Anniversary of the Osteopaths Act

The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) was established by the Osteopaths Act 1993 to ‘provide for the regulation of the profession of osteopathy’.

Maintaining standards

The Osteopathic Practice Standards sets out the standards that practising osteopaths must meet. These include knowledge of the safe and competent practice of osteopathy, professional ethics and after-care evaluation.

The practice of osteopathy has a long history in the United Kingdom. The first school of osteopathy was established in London in 1917 by John Martin Littlejohn a pupil of A.T. Still, who had been Dean of The Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. After many years of existing outside the mainstream of health care provision, the osteopathic profession in the UK was accorded formal recognition by Parliament in 1993 by the Osteopaths Act.This legislation now provides the profession of osteopathy the same legal framework of statutory self-regulation as other healthcare professions such as medicine and dentistry.

This Act provides for "protection of title" A person who, whether expressly or implicitly describes him - or her- self as an osteopath, osteopathic practitioner, osteopathic physician, osteopathist, osteotherapist, or any kind of osteopath is guilty of an offence unless they are registered as an osteopath. There are currently more than five thousand osteopaths registered in the UK.

Osteopathic medicine is regulated by the General Osteopathic Council, (GOsC) under the terms of the Osteopaths Act 1993 and statement from the GMC. Practising osteopaths will usually have a B.S. or M.Sc. in osteopathy. 

Osteopathy is a way of detecting, treating and preventing health problems by moving, stretching and massaging a person's muscles and joints.
Osteopathy is based on the principle that the wellbeing of an individual depends on their bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue functioning smoothly together. Osteopaths use physical manipulation, stretching and massage with the aim of: increasing the mobility of joints, relieving muscle tension, enhancing the blood supply to tissues and helping the body to heal.

If you have any questions you would like to ask about Osteopathy or would like to know if Osteopathy could help you, give us a call and we'll also give you a FREE 15 minute Osteopathic back and health assessment check 01270 629933 or email info@weaverhouse.com