Osteopathy

If you are suffering with pain from an injury, illness, chronic problem or for some other reason, osteopathy can help.  Osteopaths use hands-on techniques such as stretching, mobilising and massage to help reduce pain and improve movement.  They also use education and advice so that you can take control of your pain, and manage it better for yourself.  From time to time, osteopaths will use adjunct treatments such as TENS, ultrasound and kinesio-taping to support and improve your ability to perform and feel comfortable.You are advised to wear loose or comfortable clothes for your appointment.  You may be asked to remove some clothing so that Laura can assess the relevant anatomy during the assessment.  It may help to bring a back fastening bra and shorts to wear, as appropriate.

Osteopaths study the human body for at least 4 years, often longer, to understand how it works.  Osteopaths work holistically, which means that we put you, rather than your aches, at the centre of the assessment.  For example, how we would treat a 33 year old plasterer with back ache would be very different to how we would treat an 88 year old swimmer with back ache.  Osteopathy is a regulated profession, which means that only people who have met the requirements of the governing body are permitted to call themselves osteopaths.  Osteopaths are required to complete on-going professional development, to keep abreast of new evidence for treating acute or chronic musculo-skeletal pain.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is a therapeutic massage treatment, useful for people with very active jobs or lifestyles.  It is also useful for people recovering from an injury or operation, who are doing well overall, but need some additional physical help with general aches or pains.  It is characterised as a firm or deep massage stereotypically, but should always be tailored to the patient’s needs, and as such, firm pressure or deep techniques are not always required or appropriate.

You are advised to wear loose or comfortable clothes for your appointment.  You may be asked to remove some clothing so that Laura can assess the relevant anatomy during the assessment.  It may help to bring a back fastening bra and shorts to wear, as appropriate.

Earwax Removal

As a registered healthcare professional, I have been able to train to perform gentle and safe earwax removal. Depending on your health, and your ears, I use microsuction or water irrigation. There are pros and cons for both. Microsuction can feel noisy and can aggravate tinnitus if you are sensitive. Irrigation carries with it a mild risk of ear infection, as water is being put into your ears – the same sort of risk as if you go swimming. Irrigation machines are much more gentle than the old-fashioned syringe techniques that used to be used, which risked damage to the eardrum if too much pressure was used pushing water into the ear canal. Your preferences, and your health and safety drive selection of the most appropriate method, and sometimes, I will use a mixture of both for very stubborn earwax.