Chronic pain, defined as pain that persists for more than 3 months, is a difficult reality for many people of all ages. It is also challenging to treat chronic pain due to the complex nature of the condition and the unique symptoms each patient experiences.
Thus, a customised and holistic approach like osteopathy is vital in helping patients relieve pain and regain their quality of life.
Here are four ways going for osteopathy treatments in Singapore can aid in alleviating chronic pain – read on to find out more.
1. Arthritis
Did you know that the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis and it affects up to 10% of adults and 20% of the elderly in Singapore? While it is fairly common in the older generation, it does not mean your only options are taking medications and undergoing surgery.
Osteo is a form of drug-free and non-invasive manual physical therapy that can help to manage arthritic joints. The treatment can mobilise the joint within its pain-free span to maintain or increase your range of motion or an adjacent joint may also be mobilised to take the strain away from the affected joint. Sometimes, arthritis is caused by being overweight and an osteopath will be able to offer advice on how you can lose weight with exercise that is suitable for your condition.
2. Back and neck pain
Poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle are some of the most common causes of back and neck pain. Not addressing postural issues or getting the right advice will only result in your condition worsening and may cause secondary issues such as tension headaches to develop too.
Thankfully, osteopathy is an effective and gentle treatment that can target back and neck pain using a variety of techniques. The ultimate goal is to reduce inflammation, restore optimum blood flow and encourage proper movement in the joints so as to relieve pain. The osteopath will also teach you some ways to improve your posture and exercises you can do at home to alleviate tension in the back and neck.
3. Sports injuries
Sports play a big part in many people’s lives but sports injuries as a result of improper warm-ups or unforeseen physical impact can rain on an athlete’s parade. Although they are common, you should never ignore symptoms and deny seeking treatments as this could affect your performance on the field.
Osteopathy can treat lingering sports injuries to improve your balance, ease your movement and increase your joint mobility so that you continue bringing your A-game. An osteopath can also look for the underlying problem that is causing pain, instead of just offering pain relief by treating the symptoms. Techniques used may also help to relieve the stress and tension in your joints, helping you to get back to playing sports as soon as possible.
4. Pregnancy discomforts
Experiencing discomforts like persistent aches and pains during pregnancy is normal since your body is carrying and growing a human. But when the discomforts become too uncomfortable such that they disrupt your quality of life, seeking treatment at an osteopathic centre in Singapore may be beneficial.
Since osteopathy does not involve medications or invasive treatments, it is entirely safe for both pregnant mothers and unborn children. However, no two treatments are the same because every pregnant woman experiences different symptoms – an osteopath will evaluate your symptoms to come up with a personalised plan that will meet your needs. The main aim of prenatal osteopathy is to guide and release tensions that have built up so you feel more comfortable and can also prepare you for a less stressful delivery!
In fact, osteopathy can be beneficial during the postnatal period too.
Book an osteopathy appointment today
Consider booking an appointment with our osteopaths at Edge Healthcare, an osteopathic centre in Singapore.
We have a team of experienced and professional osteopaths that will be able to help you relieve chronic pain and get back to enjoying life once again.