Osteopathy Today - December 2013 - Volume 19.10

The Article below was kindly selected by the British Osteopathic Association and publish this December 2013.

Dear Editor

As a Principal I never expected to consider Fishes! I knew to expect from associate change of life, partner situation, maternity, relocation but I never thought a recently qualified colleague would say that he is not interested in the time I could offer him (after his maternity cover contract had expired) because the Saturday mornings are the days he goes fishing!

To many times I have heard Principle saying things about the new generation of osteopath. And also many times read the new generation’s point of view about the principle! And I remember being a newly qualified, and I can see both side of the fence…. I try to be a fair principle at the clinic and I am pleased to see that I have respect and good relationship from all my associates. This newly qualified osteopath was actually in his 40s so we can’t even blame his youth! But I am not writing today about that really.

I am more concern with recent article which all promote apprentice and mentoring. As I had in 2007, a long waiting list of client who only wanted me to see them I knew in order to transfer that patient list to any associate I needed to also transfer some of my ways, views, techniques, skills. We are now 6 osteopaths working in harmony who my patients are confident in seen and although my list at the moment is over 6-7 weeks waiting, they are themselves getting a very good reputation and a very good clientele.

When I read Jean-Pierre Barral interview (OT March 2013) I was pleased to see that when he came across an osteopath he said to himself “I want to learn this!” A curious mind seem to be the start of all success in osteopathy. Unfortunately recently I was told by a colleague that the reason why he didn’t feel the need (during his quiet times) to observe me was

1-  That’s not the way he was taught at college

2-  He only practice evidence base medicine

3-  And he was not interested in Visceral, cranial, children treatment etc…

In a time of recession when a clinic nearly double its clientele in less than 2 years and when the principal has a 7 weeks waiting list it would only make sense to learn as much as possible from them even if only to take what you want from it. This is what I did in the two clinic I worked whilst developing my own for the first 9 years of my career. Even if my way of practicing were different, I worked along some amazing osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors, learnt from their experience, adapting it to my practice and grew form there.

I must admit I was shock and upset both at the same time. Is success not of any value? That revalidation and the GOsC have boxes to tick for one to be recognised as an osteopath I understand, but surely our profession or one embracing the profession sure should value a busy practice.

In France we don’t say It make sense, we translate “It has sense”. Like an intrinsic value of the logic rather than the result of a discussion and a presentation by a person defending a case. I thought it had sense but obviously I was wrong.

I have since found 2 more osteopaths for the clinic willing to learn and do some form of apprenticeship.

In OT September Vol 18:7 Fiona Hamilton research Technical Rational vs Professional Artistry she did point out that the tutors did use both and a variation of both depending the case. I would say that depending on lectures, CPD, conference and years in practice I have regularly review my practice and changed from time to time depending on case, success and flavour of the month but always for the patient benefit. I am worried that instead of progressing in a new era of compassion and care we are again trying to kill Galileo and Copernic for not being evidence base (well it depends which model we are using to assess them)

Christophe Becquereau.

Northampton.

Osteopathy is not just for backs!!

We are often seen as “back people” and it is not rare that during our consultation some patient ask: "Do you do knees?” Although when feeling cheeky we might say:

• No sorry that was a week I was off unwell during my training!
• Actually we do not treat below the waist!
• Or even Yes but only the right ones!

As a matter of fact we do treat knees and ankle, hips, shoulder etc...

Osteopathy normally means the pain of bones. It really means that we treat the musculo-skeletal system. It is made up of the bones, joints and their support (ligaments, capsule, bursae,) and the whole muscular support of balance and motion.

We are in a way the human mechanics. Maintenance Osteopathic Treatment = MOT. Even though you have a bad back or a bad knee we will assess your whole body to see

• How you body compensate?
• Where it originated?
• If there was predisposing factors (normal for you or previous injuries not yet causing pain)
• What tissues are involved?

This allows us to predict you recovery, plan an action of rehabilitation if necessary, what technique to use and if referral to someone else is necessary.

So during your treatment we will perform an assessment of your quantity and quality of movement both in joints and muscle (ligaments and tendon) around the area of pain, to search for the site of origin of that pain (no always the same area!), your posture, your medical history and all sort of question which are relevant to your case.

Of course a marathon runner doesn’t need the same mechanic as new mum after caesarean section, or a hockey player, a retired bus driver or a roofer. But we all hate to wake up feeling 100 year old, unable to do our shoe laces, run down the stairs, lift our children, and do the one thing we like the most.... (Whatever that is!).

Don’t worry if it’s not broken we won’t try to fix it!

In fact, we try to keep you, pain free and flexible (younger) for longer.

I must last add something one tutor during my training wrote in big:

All patients who forget to mention something which is relevant and all practitioners who forget to ask for that both run the risk of the wrong diagnosis and the wrong treatment.

Christophe Becquereau

(B.Sc Hons – Registered Osteopath – Principal at the Maple Tree Clinic)

Constant International Training

At the clinic often when booked in with an osteopath you will be asked if you do mind if a colleague sits in during your consultation. At the clinic, we believe that knowledge and experience is key to a successful outcome for all patients. By observing one another we keep on top of our skills, exchange knowledge and reflect on our own practice. We also believe that communication and exchanging with other professional (Chiropractor, Massage Therapist, Acupuncturist etc) enhance the chances for all patient to get the best treatment for their condition and better communication between their therapist (from the clinic or not).

This is giving everyone a chance to further their training, learn from interesting cases which results in saving our patients money as the treatment more accurate, effective. Practitioners not working at the clinic are also invited (your massage therapist, your midwife, health visitor, any health practitioners) as it allows them for free to learn more about your condition or what can be done and help in return more of their costumer to find the right treatment straight away for their conditions.

We also feel the need to call in a colleague for a second opinion during your treatment. Do not feel alarmed it is for your benefit and it is to make sure that nothing is neglected.

We hope to always offer you the best treatment and the fastest recovery.

Christophe Becquereau

(B.Sc Hons – Registered Osteopath – Principal at the Maple Tree Clinic)

Osteopathy & Concentration

In the last 14 years I have seen many children with various levels of concentration problems, as part of a diagnosis (ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism...) but also without any other diagnosis. There are so many reasons for theses and so many of them can be helped/improved by osteopathic treatment at the clinic (we are not talking about cures here!).

• Imagine yourself with a head cold! Yes congestion in the sinuses and tension in the bones of the face after birth strain or regular infections can slow down the circulation and therefore the way the brain works.
• Now after a couple of sleepless night, how do you feel? Breathing restrictions due to mechanical restriction or injury, or even more as side effect of asthma (muscle shortening, spinal restriction, ribs mechanic restriction, posture) can also slow the general functioning. As much as an adult not sleeping, a child will also affect his/her growth and healing (capacity to adapt to strain and aggression in a sufficient way). The brain requires a lot of energy to function properly, think, memorise so deprivation can be the cause of lack of concentration.
• Otis Media/Glue ear: Blocked ears of course delay your understanding and over time make you tired and therefore unable to learn as much or as fast as the others in the class.
• How do you feel after you banged yours head? Yes concussion (not the one that you would need to go to the hospital) can affect the way the circulation around the brain works!!!!!

The previously mentioned diagnosis (Asperger’s, Autism) and various classified illnesses which also affect the smooth functioning of the growing body .In a growing child (and leaning child) the most minute alteration of their mechanisms could play havoc and worsen the symptoms already recognised and classified in their diagnosis, which mean very often it is taken for granted when it could be improved.

What can osteopathy do? Our aim is to improve functioning and restore it to its original. How does it work? We have various techniques we can use in order to

• Improve respiration mechanic (ribs, spine, head position, partial or total posture),
• Balance muscular tension around the chest, neck and jaw which in turn improve a mechanical drainage of lymph and blood,
• Reduce tension in part or all facial bone (sometime we may have to treat directly in the mouth to release the pallet and the sinuses). It can also the child’s teething process and in turn improve circulation around the jaw and the rest of the face,
• Improve general blood circulation around the neck and the brain and sometime all the way down the spine.

I remember the case of a 17 year old young man who had left school early and had major concentration problems. When he came to me in 2004 (I think) he was getting frustrated and almost violent with only the computer. On observation, he presented some reminisces of a major birth trauma which was affected natural breathing, blood circulation around the frontal lobe (behaviour and social interaction) and at the back of the head, drainage of the sinuses.

At the end of the first treatment I advise both him and his parents on what to expect as changes over the next 4 weeks. He returned very happy to claim that all I had predicted had improved and that he could now work out the computer and I seem to remember he was trying a jigsaw or a model plane. After another 3 treatments the change was so great that he decided to return to evening classes and try to catch up his education. Although it is so invigorating to be able to affect and improve one’s life like that one can only wander in frustration what would his education be if only I had seen him before 6 year of age.

 

Of course all treatments are on a case basis! Some of my past case noticed major improvement straight away with school teachers and other noticing changes too, other case more complex have improved less but also relapse or required maintenance.

But if you are interested to see if I could help you then why not booked an appointment and in the day we can discuss and assess if we can help. If I consider than you are not a case we can assist you will not be charged

Christophe Becquereau

(B.Sc Hons – Registered Osteopath – Principal at the Maple Tree Clinic)