Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy

Over the weekend of the 13th and 14^th of October Christophe, Pierre and myself (Claire) attended the first conference held by the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy. It was a very stimulating weekend which we all felt we got lots from and as a result all felt quite exhausted by the end.

One of the themes that ran through the various lectures was the concept of us, as Osteopaths, always looking for our patient’s health, no matter the age. This might sound strange but in essence no matter the illness/condition that our patients present to us with we are looking to promote their health and through strengthening this aspect we help our patients heal.

One of the founding principles of Osteopathy is “the rule of the artery is supreme”. If the body has a good blood supply then it can heal. This can be disrupted by increased muscle tone or by an area of the body functioning poorly. Also disease is a process which displays a body’s health. If we didn’t show signs of illness then our bodies wouldn’t be trying to get better!

The developing human. X week old embryo.

For the younger patients unfortunately things can go wrong at a very early stage, before they are even born. The conference gave us some very good reminders of how we develop in the uterus and how delicate this process actually is. If anything disrupts the development of the foetus during the first few months a change can be seen in their physical development. This is the reason that we question parents about the pregnancy of the infants they bring to us. We need to know what happened during those nine months, including any mental or emotional strains (ie: the death of a close friend or relative). All the cells that will form the foetus are dividing and migrating at an incredible rate to form the child. The heart is the first functioning organ and it begins beating at day 21. That is at three weeks, before most women know they are pregnant! The formation of the foetus is controlled by the cells migrating to where they should be and then changing into what is needed. This can be disrupted by any change in chemical levels within the mother’s blood, artificial or natural.

http://virtualhumanembryo.lsuhsc.edu/videos/morph1.html

The complexity of how a human is formed is amazing to watch and the opportunity to be reminded of that is always a good thing; seeing how the heart and face form next to each other and then move apart with the concept being the heart stays in its position and the face moves away creating the great blood vessels that start to move blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. It is amazing things don’t go wrong far more often. However to listen to my peers reminding me and my fellow colleagues what an important role we have in allowing the body to navigate past any of these growth phases that have gone wrong, appreciating that from the beginning the body is finding its own way past any road blocks, renews my enjoyment of the job and the challenges that wait for me in my treatment room.

Each human being is a unique set of building blocks and with our patients as our partners we Osteopaths want to improve that human quality of life by finding their health, their ability to function, despite the structural challenges that lie in their way.

Claire Cousins

(BSc (Hons) Ost. - Registered Osteopath)

A little exercise for a better health

It is believed that Mark Twain said "Golf is a good walk spoilt" but at least you are walking. On Breakfast television last week there was a discussion that not enough people are attaining 150 minutes of exercise a week and this is increasing people’s risk of chronic disease. It doesn't sound like much over the course of a week but how many of us drive to work, sit all day and then collapse on the couch in the evening. It's not all about going to the gym. Take the stairs instead of the lift, walk up the escalator, anything that gets the heart pumping. A brisk walk is as good as a bicycle ride as long as you increase your heart rate. Whatever you do remember to include a few simple stretches before and after to reduce the chance of injury and if you do play golf walk between your swings, remember to do some simple stretches for your back and just spending 30 minutes at the driving range doesn't count! If you would like more advice about stretching please ask at your next appointment

Claire Cousins

(BSc (Hons) Ost. - Registered Osteopath)

What is the difference between Chiropractic & Osteoapthy ?

Christophe Becquereau

Often we are asked the same question and everyone will give you a different answer but over the years I have worked on my answer a little.

I usually start by saying "Same God - Different Religion!" Yes we are both Manipulative therapies and like my collegue say we use very similar techniques in general as there is only so much a hand can do!
They both came for the USA in 1870.
Although there may be a copyright story about one being a student in the class of the other before he went back home to do his own little receipe... but that's not so relevant.

The main difference could be summed up as one is an electrician and the other a plumber human with the human mechanic. Andrew Taylor Still created osteopathy in 1870 (Kirksville, Missouri). In short he dissected animal and indian cadavers and noticed many things but he thought that if the blood flow around an area is good the health is good. So we are the plumbers using manipulation to restore function, soft tissue for fuid-dynamic and various other techniques to restort the inherent health equilibrium. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Taylor_Still

D.D. Palmer in turn, founded chiropractic in the 1890s he was working with X-ray and notice a correlation between a good health and a straight spine hence the health of the nerve flow. (Electrician). There is difference between McTimoney Chiropractic and Chiropractic, one using more or less force and the duration of the treatments.

I worked in various multi-disciplinary Clinics since my qualification in 1998 and I can tell you: we are all different! Some stick to one technique (HVT - cracking, Cranial, etc) others combine all the tools necessary as and when required. It depends of our background (previous job, work, sport, interest, influence of some teachers, etc) so each practitioner kind of practice his interpretation of the discipline. And when I was going on holiday I decided who I would send my patient to depending on the treatment I was giving them.

The next question is often no asked: Who should I see?

In that case I always say that people tend to go to the person they have heard about via two different referring groups (two different groups of friends not link to one another). Word of mouth is the best recommendation even for that. At the clinic we have 7 osteopaths and although we are all different, as I started the business and I have over the year seen many of you I made sure my team work in a similar way as I would hate my patient to see them and feel that they didn't have the treatment they were hoping for.

To find out more about our osteopath please look our webpage www.themapletreeclinic.com

(Anand Aggarwal will be covering Suzie Burgess Maternity leave from September 2012 and will be added to the website very soon)

There is a growing issue of BUPA patients being unable to use osteopaths through their BUPA health insurance. Osteopaths are continuing to successfully treat patients privately and on the NHS but have now come up against the problem where BUPA is capping fees of £40 (without treatment)for an initial assessment and then £30 for follow up treatment, with no room for negotiation. This issue of capping is putting BUPA patients in a situation where they will be unable to continue to have osteopathic treatment in, for example, central London as no osteopath can afford to treat at these prices. BUPA itself charges considerably more than this for osteopathic treatment in its centre at Canary Wharf.

This issue is reducing the amount of choice available to patients under BUPA and needs to be addressed urgently.’

 

A lot of patients are surprised that we seem to have a clinic full of toys and often full of babies!... Surely the babies and toddlers are not in any way stressed by life and have not yet encountered injuries!... So what can we be doing with them?!!!!

I remember in 2010 a client saying to Pierre and I that animal just born were as perfect as possible without any damage and influence....

Well, to anyone that knows me, I promise I was as polite as possible....

No life isn’t that perfect! Let’s think about that for a minute. Some children do suffer a long delivery (36 hours), some pretty shocking positions (breached, cord around the neck, face presentation, rear presentation, shoulder presentation, twins...) and some are just too big.... Combine with the fact that they are turning to be engaged by week 28-29 over 40...

You can now see that they can be under stress. As they have little muscular tone (thanks god for that – mum would tell you it’s painful enough) they cannot adapt and resist they have to mould... (squish!). In an ideal world they should “pop free” with the first scream like those pop up cards, but sometime it is just not that easy.

So with very careful and soft touch we free the body and release its natural desire to unfold.

Claire, Pierre and myself take picture before and after so parents can see the differences, the remoulding of facial features and enjoy an happier baby in a few treatments.

Of course if certain muscles, organs, joints are not completely developed yet the baby will need time to grow out of his discomfort but at least we can provide some ease and some advice to make it as easy as possible on all members of the family. Yet sleep deprivation is a torture!

Sometime there are other problems and when required we recommend parents to combine our treatment with a visit to the GP, Paediatrician... or even a hospital visit.

If you have any enquiries email our team at info@themapletreeclinic.com and one of us will get back to you asap.

Christophe Becquereau

The Maple Tree Clinic History

I came to work in Northampton in 1998 and took over from Hedley Chinn (who was going to Australia). A few months later, he contacted me and asked me if I wanted to buy him out, which I did (the good will of the practice represented about 15 patients a week). I thought my name in the yellow pages was may be a deterrent so I name the practice The Maple Tree Osteopathic Practice and choose a picture of one of my Bonsai as a logo.

Until 2005 I was the sole Osteopath working from the Devon Parade Clinic. (322 Wellingborough Road)

Working to increase the reputation and knowledge of osteopathy I went from 1.5 days a week to three, slowly but surely.

In 2005, I made two big decision as I was 3 weeks waiting list.

1-      Get an assistant
2-      Stop working in the other clinic and concentrate on the horses 2 days a week

 


www.veterinary-osteopathy.co.uk

 

That’s when Anna Cadzow joined me for 2 half days a week (She left us in April 2010 and relocated to the lake district). We had met at the Equine course I joined in 2004. A few year later, Claire Cousins who qualified like me from the British School of Osteopathy in 1998 decided to return to work after her little’s man birth and joined me. She took a year out in 2010 for the birth of her second little angel.

We were joined by Claire Batty for a little more than a year and then Pierre Antoye knock on my door to observe how I worked on babies and horses. After 2 visit in the clinic and a day out with my dogs visiting horses, he decided to ask to join the team too and be taught Baby treatment and Veterinary Osteopathy. He followed a year apprentice on the horses and now assist me and constantly grows his own reputation both with people at the clinic and out on the road with the horses.

 In 2010, the Devon Parade Clinic became too small for the number of babies with push chairs we were seeing so we decided to expand and parted with regrets the team of practitioner on the Wellingborough road.




Our New Clinic - 21st September 2012

The 21^st September 2010 the East Hunsbury clinic was then opened. Thanks to Angela Evans owner of the ABC Nursery (now relocated) we moved into a great clinic, with an great calming feeling and space to work.
With a new logo as the clinic was branching out much more becoming a larger multi-disciplinary clinic.

 

The team grew and is still growing with more and more professions and practitioners at the clinic. A friendly team of like minded people, who often laugh (sorry if you can hear us during your treatment) and make it even more relaxing to everyone. Of course sometime the little one are too tired and cry during their treatments but in general the clinic is a friendly, welcoming place.



September 2011 - I year - Most of the team got together.

We have, in the reception, posters and banners to inform everyone of what we do and what is available, a website, Facebook, Twitter etc....

In order to never loose our skill and edge in the treatments we offer, we are doing regular internal continual professional development and make sure to build up a ever strong team for each patients benefits.
 
We are open Monday to Thursday from 8:30 – 20:00, Friday 8:30 - 18:00 and Saturdays 8:30 – 12:00

 
 

Great News!!!!......

We are now able to post on this blogg loads of useful information to help our patients with health, exercises and self-help.
Watch this space! Also available as a shorter version as the clinic newsletter.
The Clinic