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Pillows, pillows, pillows...how do I choose a pillow?

2/6/2015

 
Woman Resting on Pillow with Good Neck Support_Kew Osteopathic Clinic
The type of pillow that you need will generally depend on what position you sleep in. 

Generally there are only two positions that are recommend for sleep.

The most recommended position is side sleeping
The way to measure the right height pillow is to lie on your side and to make sure the spine is in perfect alignment. The pillow must not cause the neck to tilt too much upwards or downwards and should allow for minimal pressure being exerted on the spine, neck and shoulder muscles.  

The two primary factors to look at when choosing a pillow are:

1) The broadness of the shoulders (i.e. frame size of person)

2) The softness of the bed. If bed is very soft then shoulders will sink in and a lower pillow will be required. If bed is very firm then shoulders will not press into the bed so much and a higher pillow may be required to support the neck.   

The second accepted position for sleeping is on the back 
If purely a back sleeper then a lower pillow is the right way to go. You will just need something that supports the curvature of your neck in order to perfectly align the necks progressive curve. The softness of the mattress will play a slight part in deciding a back sleeping pillow but not as much as for side sleepers.  

Back and Side Sleepers
If you are a back and side sleeper then we recommend finding a pillow that fits for side sleeping but is of a softer density so that when they roll onto their back the pillow will not cause undue pressure to the neck. 
  
Tummy Sleepers
Many people do sleep on their tummy but the consensus is that this should be avoided as it will place unnecessary pressure on the lower back during rest. There will also be undue strain on the neck which may cause damage over the medium to longer term.  

Some other hints
Other important factors to consider are if there are any other conditions either pre existing or preventative that need to be factored in. Also the length of time the user is in bed should be factored in when choosing a pillow as other supports may be required. 

Most importantly whichever pillow you choose it must hold its shape during the night so as to give you the support that you are after for the whole night. For this it is recommended that pillows should have a good density (weight) to them to make sure they last the distance required. 

[This information was supplied by our friends at Therapeutic Pillow Australia - we stock their products, and our Osteopaths can match you with the right pillow]

Banner Logo of Therapeutic Pillow Australia

Osteopathic treatments might be beneficial for women suffering from period pain

9/5/2015

 
Osteopath Helping Woman Overcome Body Aches and Pains
Recent German studies showed that osteopathic treatment can be beneficial for women suffering from primary dysmenorrhoea. 

The studies involved 60 women aged between 14 and 33. Only those who were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhoea by their GP participated in the study. 

Six osteopathic treatments over a period of three menstrual cycles were conducted on a group of women. At each treatment session, researchers tested dysfunctional structures and treated based on osteopathic principles. The average pain intensity (API) during menstruation decreased in the osteopathic group by 50%. 

During the research the most frequent dysfunctions and pains were observed in the area of the pelvic floor, respiratory diaphragm and lumbar spine. 

Pain is considered to be a normal symptom during periods, however excessive period pain is called dysmenorrhoea and is considered to be abnormal. 

Primary dysmenorrhoea refers to painful periods in the absence of any underlying pathology, while secondary dysmenorrhoea is painful menstruation associated with a pelvic pathology, such as endometriosis . Dysmenorrhoea is a very common problem and can occur in up to 50% of women. Several studies suggest that severe period pain is associated with absence from school or work and restricts other activities of daily life. 

A study of 1000 girls aged 16-18 years in Canberra found that 21% of the girls had severe pain with periods and 26% had missed school because of period symptoms . 

Primary dysmenorrhoea is commonly treated by simple analgesic, however pain relief may be inadequate for some women, or side effects may not be well tolerated. 

Studies suggest that between 30-50 percent of the adult population use some form of complementary medicine including osteopathic treatments – a combination of traditional methods and modern scientific philosophies. 

An osteopath will make sure that there are no restrictions in the movement within the joints of the spine and pelvis, which can lead to period pain, release any tension from the muscles of the spine, pelvic floor and pelvis, which in turn will improve the blood and nerve supply to the organs. They can also treat any muscular restriction of the uterine walls so as to help reduce cramping. 

Osteopaths can also help to prepare exercise and stretching programs, and provide advice on posture and stress management for improved general health and wellbeing


[originally posted on CNN iReports: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1235595]

Meet our Wonderful Osteopaths

5/5/2015

 
We are lucky to have some very experienced and caring Osteopaths at our clinic. 
With a long list of credentials, you can find out more about them here.

Geetha Soosay joins the team at KOC :)

3/5/2015

 
Geetha Soosay_Kew Osteopathic Clinic
Geetha graduated from RMIT University in 2000 and has treated within her practice in Melbourne since 2004.  She initiated the provision of osteopathic 
treatment at Camberwell Medical Centre.  Prior to this, Geetha treated patients in Sydney CBD for almost 2 years, gaining experience in various reputable clinics.  

Geetha then travelled to Europe spending some time in the French alpine region and then in Cork, Ireland where she busily treated loyal patients in osteopathy over the 3 years.

During this period, Geetha worked in various aspects of osteopathy including the treatment of Gaelic football  and Cork City football players. She also furthered her experience with paediatric osteopathy, which she finds particularly rewarding.

In 2011 Geetha completed her Graduate Certificate in Neonatal and Infant Paediatric Manual Therapy (in addition to having a child of her own).  She has attended a monthly Children’s Clinic with many other osteopathic colleagues where babies and children are treated with the goal of sharing experiences and building upon knowledge in the field of paediatric osteopathy. She uses a wide range of techniques depending upon the patient she treats. She is successful in aiding the body to heal itself and aims to have her patients in the best health possible.

Outside of work, Geetha is busy staying in good health herself (exercising frequently) and enjoying time with her husband and two children.


Geetha is available to book online, or give us a ring.

After-hours treatment

29/3/2015

 
Attention full time workers, or parents wanting a treatment after hours:
Appointments can be made with Sarah on Tuesdays up till 7pm.
And Yvette is available Saturday 9am-5pm.

Beware the Text Neck! 

25/11/2014

 
Increased force exerted on neck with increasing angle of curvature_Kew Osteopathic Clinic
A meagre 15 degree neck tilt can create triple the forces on your spine. 
To reduce the effect, lift up the phone/tablet to eye level - or better yet, take a break!

A new study suggests that looking down at a cell phone is the equivalent of placing a 60-pound weight on one's neck.
By Olga Khazan [original article published on SBS.com.au http://goo.gl/IfHjOV]
 
Source: The Atlantic
20 NOV 2014 - 9:00 AM 
Sixty pounds (27.2 kilograms) is roughly the weight of four adult-sized bowling balls. Or six plastic grocery bags worth of food. Or an 8-year-old.

It is also, according to a new calculation published in the journal Surgical Technology International, the amount of force exerted on the head of an adult human who is looking down at her phone.

Kenneth Hansraj, a New York back surgeon, found this figure using a computer model of a human spine. An average human head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds (4.5 to 5.4 kilograms), and tilting it down to check Facebook, send a text, or to Google the weight of an a human head increases the gravitational pull on said cranium.

"As the head tilts forward the forces seen by the neck surges to 27 pounds (12.2 kilograms) at 15 degrees, 40 pounds (18.1 kilograms) at 30 degrees, 49 pounds (22.22 kilograms) at 45 degrees and 60 pounds (27.2 kilograms) at 60 degrees," Hansraj writes in the paper.

According to Nielsen, Americans spend about an hour on their phones each day. Unless you train yourself to stare straight ahead into your iPhone screen, you could be continually stressing your spine. "These stresses," Hansraj writes, "may lead to early wear, tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries."

Of course, physical therapists have been howling about the scourge of "Text Neck" for years. But it's certainly eyebrow-raising to learn that looking at Twitter in the supermarket checkout line is the equivalent of giving an aardvark a piggy-back ride.

Time to get Google Glass? Until, that is, scientists find that the device is crushing the nose-bridges of America.

This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Click here to view the original. © All rights reserved.

Workplace ergonomics for adults and children

12/11/2014

 
Diagrams of Correct and Incorrect Wrist Posture_Kew Osteopathic Clinic
Office ergonomics are not complex, 
but we need to pay attention to how we (and our children) are working
.

• Watch the angle of your wrists - we often kink them when using mice and keyboards (see pic)

• Eyes should be level with the top of the computer screen.

• Arms relaxed, at right angles to the desk top.

• Hips and knees at right angles (90 degrees).

• Chairs are very important - we need to sit well supported in an adjustable well-fitting task chair — pay attention to height adjustment, lumbar support, back rest and seat depth. 

• Feet need support - on the floor or on a footrest.

• We need to regularly change our posture, and take regular breaks from the desk.

• Make sure lighting in the room is appropriate - not too dim, not too bright.


Picture
Excerpts from original article in Medical Observer: http://www.medicalobserver.com.au

Why Osteopathy Is Becoming More Popular

27/9/2014

 
Ostepathic Pain Management Graphic_Kew Osteopathic Clinic
More and more people today are already aware of the effects of opting for artificial medicines available over the counter. Even if positive results take a much longer time to manifest using natural methods, these people believe that facilitating healing instead of using a quick solution is much better for the body.


In treating physical pains with over-the-counter medication, relief may come more quickly as pain medication blocks pain signals, but does not really treat the cause of pain. Over time, the body grows immune to the effects of the medication, thus requiring a higher dosage or more frequent intake, which then can eventually lead to kidney and liver damage. Natural healing methods, on the other hand, strengthen the body so it can manage pains much better and learn to heal itself. One of the more popular non-toxic, non-invasive healing methods that a lot of people are exploring these days is osteopathy.


Osteopathy is becoming more popular these days mainly because of the following reasons:


1. It heals the body by determining the network of pain and effectively treating it through a broad range of gentle, well-calculated hands-on techniques which include Soft Tissue Manipulation, Joint Manipulation, Muscle Contraction and Stretching, Mobilisation and Articulation, Exercise Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound, and Exercise for Rehabilitation.


2. It allows them to regain flexibility so the pains and other discomforts they feel are minimised; with improved flexibility and strength, movements are much easier and smoother to execute.


3. It adds improved mobility and structural stability. Meanwhile, some studies reveal that osteopathic treatments improve the functioning of the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems. It’s worth mentioning as well that many of the patients who turn to osteopathy to deal with sleeplessness or restlessness at night gradually sleep better and longer after receiving treatment.


4. It improves overall health. It’s important to note that osteopathy is not only for the treatment of physical pains and certain health conditions like arthritis, migraines, sciatica, etc. – it’s also a highly recommended provision for overall health maintenance.


Those who want to improve their posture and stay flexible or limber to prevent injuries or the early onset of aging woes have a lot to gain from regular osteopathic care.


Indeed, more and more people are slowly realizing the effects of opting for natural health methods.

CNN iReport Logo
Original article from CNN.

Meditation Health Benefits: What The Practice Does To Your Body

4/9/2014

 
Health Links of Meditation and Yoga_Kew Osteopathic Clinic
Stressed?? Do something about it!!!
The Benefits of meditation
We all hear about the psychological benefit that meditation offers us, but are you aware of the physical benefits that regular meditation can provide? Recent studies have now shown us exactly how meditation can make definite structural changes within our brains & our bodies. Literally rewiring our brains, boosting our immunity & lowering blood pressure. 

Paracetamol doesn't work for back pain: study

24/8/2014

 
Picture
Paracetamol has been found to be no more effective for back pain than a placebo, a study has found.

The findings contradict the first line recommendation of doctors for managing back pain and the packaging advice of paracetamol manufacturers.

They startled the University of Sydney researchers who undertook the study upon discovering that there had never been a large-scale trial comparing paracetamol to placebo for back pain.

Back-pain treatment guidelines universally recommend paracetamol as an analgesic.

Panadol sells a product that is dedicated to back and neck pain, containing 500g paracetamol.

"Patients often said, 'I've tried paracetamol and it doesn't seem to work'," said Chris Maher, a professor at the University of Sydney's George's Institute for Global Health.

[Original article: Sydney Morning Herald]

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Quality care since 1994. Visit us soon!

Osteopathic Clinic with a special interest on infant musculoskeltal health issues(including newborns), back, neck, and joint pain.
We may also help in the treatment of  symptoms associated with muscolskeletal strains and sprains, sports injuries

Address

727 High Street, Kew East 3102
Australia
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Opening Hours

Monday          8.30am - 5.30pm
Tuesday          8.30am - 6.00pm
Wednesday    8.30am - 7.00pm
Thursday        8.30am - 7.00pm
Friday              8.30am - 6.00pm
Saturday         9.00am - 6.00pm
Sunday           Closed

Telephone

03 9857 0599

Email

[email protected]

Payment Methods

Payment methods: credit card, cash, HICAPS, Medicare.
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Locations Served

Kew East, Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell, North Balwyn, Balwyn, Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Ivanhoe, East Ivanhoe, Lower Templestowe, Fairfield, Northcote, Richmond, Hawthorn East, Thornbury, Box Hill North, Canterbury, Surrey Hills, Alphington
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