There are many causes of headaches, from migraines to cervicogenic (coming from the neck). They can be affected by posture, hormones, diet, blood pressure, or environmental factors just to name a few. An osteopath may be able to help determine your type of headache and assist in the management of your symptoms by giving advice, providing manual therapy and giving exercises.

At Hunter Osteopathy we love sport and activity. Unfortunately injuries happen. Whether it be a weekend warrior returning to under 35’s soccer for the first time in 15 years, a growing future star, or an elite athlete. Strains and overuse injuries can be very frustrating. We assess and can help manage your injuries to get you back to activity as soon as possible. We can prescribe the appropriate exercises you need to aid your recovery.

Pregnancy can put a high demand on the body's muscles, ligaments and joints as it copes with the natural changes that occur during your term. Our osteopaths can assist in the management of pains and restrictions associated with pregnancy to allow you to best enjoy your experience and prepare you for your special day. Post labour, our osteopaths may be able to assist with musculoskeletal pains associated with feeding and caring for your new baby.

Sciatica is the term used to describe nerve pain in the lower back and leg caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. However, not all pain in the back and leg is sciatica. Our osteopaths will assess and give you the advice and treatment needed to give you the best outcome.

Muscle strain occurs when a muscle is overstretched or torn. The resulting inflammation and increased neural sensitivity can cause the muscles to spasm and can be very debilitating. Thankfully, most muscle strains are only acute for a short time and ease once the body starts to move again. Your osteopath will assess and assist with the management of your strain to get you back moving and feeling better as soon as possible. Should the strain look serious, we may refer you for further imaging or possible specialist opinion.

Our body is designed to move. We can move well due to all the various joints in our body. Our joints however, can be a common cause for pain. They rely on the surrounding ligaments and muscles to move and give support. Excessive stress on a joint can cause muscle strain and sprain to the surrounding ligaments. If this injury is acute you may have swelling, redness, heat and pain. When the stress is chronic, degenerative changes may start to occur. Examination usually includes inspection, palpation of the bone and surrounding tissue, and

appropriate testing of the joint range and muscle strength. Your osteopath will then advise you as the best course of treatment and come up with a plan to best manage your pain.

We don’t say “move well, feel great” for nothing. At Hunter Osteopathy we understand that pain and stiffness can get you down. Stiffness can be normal after periods of heavy activity and exercise. It may also be as a result of periods of inactivity or associated with a chronic condition. Our osteopaths can help manage restrictions that you may have and get you moving and as well as can be.