Patient Bookings Acupuncture & Manual Therapies Back Pain Clinic

At Integrated Manual Medicine Marylebone Brockley we use palpation and operator directed techniques to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Manual medicine is based, in part, on the belief that man is a self-regulating being and that the body, when in normal structural relationship, is capable of self-healing and defense against disease. The goal of manual medicine is to restore maximal pain free movement of the musculoskeletal system in postural balance.

A manual medicine diagnosis is made using a comprehensive history, detailed and specific physical examination including, orthopaedic, neurologic and rheumatologic exams, appropriate radiologic studies and the specific laying on of hands to palpate musculoskeletal parameters including but not limited to asymmetry of related musculoskeletal components, range of motion abnormalities of mobility, tissue texture changes, circulation of fluids and energy.

Our Acupuncture & Manual Therapies Back Pain Clinic  integrates the use of, acupuncture, soft tissue and joint mobilisation, myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy and therapeutic ultrasound to resolve your condition. This is followed up with specific exercises tailored to you.

Manual medicine is as old as medicine itself. It was practiced in China 4,000 years ago and used in ancient Egypt. Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine, used traction and leverage techniques to treat spinal disorders. In the 19th century 'bone setters' were popular in Europe and the United States, Dr. Edward Harrison in 1784, Andrew Taylor Still in 1874, and D.D. Palmer in 1896, began what is known today as manual medicine, Osteopathic medicine and Chiropractic respectively.

Osteopathy, chiropractic and physiotherapy can all be categorized as manual therapy disciplines. There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty regarding the difference between these professions predominantly because many of the conditions they treat appear to be the same e.g. back pain, neck pain, sports injuries, arthritic pain etc. Whilst the professions heavily revolve around ensuring the health of the musculoskeletal system (comprising of bones, muscles, joints, and nerves) and resolving pain in a drug-free, non-invasive manner using manual therapy (soft tissue massage, stretching muscle groups, joint manipulation, and spinal adjustments), there are differences in governing principles, focus, and treatment techniques. A combination of the above is used at Integrated Manual Medicine Marylebone Brockley the main Acupuncture & Manual Therapies Back Pain Clinic

Osteopathy takes a holistic, whole-body approach to healthcare, focusing on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as a holistic unit. An osteopath does not concentrate only on the problem area but uses manual techniques to remove the obstacles/pain, balance all the body systems, and allow the body to restore itself to a natural state of health with the aim of overall good health and wellbeing. An osteopathic treatment is likely to involve focus on the problem area as well as dedicating some time to treating the rest of the body. Osteopaths work on the premise that bad posture, injury, and/or negative lifestyle patterns compromise anatomical structure and lead to poor health; they will often provide advice on corrective exercise, postural changes, and lifestyle modifications.

The theory behind chiropractic is that proper alignment of the body's musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. This means that a chiropractor’s focus is more likely to be on the position of the spine and joints, locating misalignments through palpation, x-rays and imaging. Subsequently, chiropractors will correct these misalignments with the aim of improving the body’s nerve function and healing ability. Spinal manipulation, which chiropractors call "spinal adjustment" or "chiropractic adjustment", is the most common treatment used in chiropractic care, but a chiropractic treatment often combines hands-on care, physical therapy modalities (e.g. ultrasounds) and exercise. Many chiropractors also incorporate nutritional counselling and exercise into their treatment plan.

The aim of physiotherapy is to rehabilitate and improve a person's ability to move and function, using their expertise in anatomy and physiology to treat movement disorders and health conditions. While physios are well-known for their treatment of sporting injuries, they also develop treatment plans and work with premature babies, stroke recovery patients, brain or spinal cord injury victims, and people with conditions such as Parkinson's disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and cystic fibrosis. They are well-known for re-training patients to walk, cope with crutches, walking frames, or wheelchairs, and more generally, helping lessen recovery time after trauma or surgery. On top of manual therapies and exercise programs, physios are more likely to employ electrotherapy techniques like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), laser therapy, diathermy, and ultrasound. Physios tend to work in a wider variety of environments including hospitals, sports clubs, and rehabilitation centres for example.

So, which one is best for me? I hear you ask. Well, the answer is that there is no short and definitive answer to that question. I would suggest that you find the manual therapy, whether it be manual medicine, chiropractic or physiotherapy, that best aligns with your personal philosophy. Speaking broadly, manual medicine has a whole-body health focus, chiropractic has a spinal adjustment focus, and physiotherapy has a rehabilitation focus. All the disciplines aim to improve their patients’ musculoskeletal health in a drug-free, non-invasive manner.

Further to finding the discipline that best aligns with you, each practitioner within your preferred discipline is different. The nature of manual therapy is that practitioners apply treatments with their own hands. Inevitably, practitioners have different treatment styles, different specialities, and may also choose to offer extra services to support their primary service.

The first consultation  at either Integrated Manual Medicine Marylebone Brockley you have will typically be up to 45 minutes long to allow for taking a case history, including presenting condition(s) and relevant medical history. A comprehensive examination focusing on your presenting complaint and other areas of your body will be performed to diagnose your condition. David and Emily are trained to perform basic medical examinations, such as neurological and orthopaedic testing. Time will then be allocated to treat any dysfunctions found. After your first appointment, subsequent appointments are usually around 30 minutes in length.

A typical treatment will involve a variety of techniques that include stretching targeted muscular areas, soft tissue massage, gentle mobilisation, cranio-sacral techniques, the use of acupuncture if necessary and safe joint manipulation. Each treatment is tailored to the needs of the patient.

David and Emily will also provide post-treatment advice and develop an in-depth management plan that consists of home-based corrective exercises like stretching, myofascial release, postural changes, and addressing other lifestyle factors such as workplace health, ergonomics, and exercise prescription. If applicable, advice will also be given on whether to apply ice or heat to an area of the body, as many people mistakenly apply heat to an area where ice is the preferred option.

Always feel free to ask as many questions as you like during the consultation.

The aim of manual medicine treatment is to remove the root causes of pain and allow the body to restore itself to a natural state of health. A famous maxim is “find it, fix it and leave it alone!”. With that in mind, the number of treatments required will depend on the nature of the patient’s condition, overall health and fitness, and their willingness to do the prescribed rehabilitation.

Although each patient’s body and circumstance are unique, as a realistic guideline, most acute cases will generally require 3-5 treatments for the full effects of treatment to be gained. Once a favourable treatment outcome is reached, the patient is encouraged to maintain their health by exercise and stretching. For long standing conditions, more regular treatments may be required. Many patients also choose to have regular treatments simply to maintain their state of health.

Patients will generally attend for a presenting complaint every 10-12 days for 3-5 treatments to reap the benefits of manual medicine. Treatment frequency will vary depending on the severity of the presenting complaint and the patient’s lifestyle demands.

Other patients without specific complaints choose to come in on an ongoing basis for treatment and maintenance, usually every 21-28 days. David and Emily do not believe in over-treating patients; treatments are uniquely tailored to each patient and will incorporate advice on lifestyle modifications to allow your body to stay in an optimal state of health for longer.

At Integrated Manual Medicine Marylebone Brockley David and Emily are primary health care professionals which means you do not need a referral from your doctor. You can simply contact us directly via phone, email, SMS, WhatsApp or book online to make an appointment. Where applicable, we will work in conjunction with your doctor or other healthcare professional in order to provide the best possible care and treatment outcome for you.

Post treatment discomfort is a common occurrence following many forms of manual therapy. It may develop as soon as a few hours following your treatment and typically resolves within 24-72 hours after your treatment as the body adjusts to changes. The risk of major adverse effects following manual therapy is low. Some of the mild to moderate symptoms you may experience include:

• Tenderness, soreness and/or achiness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Light-headedness
• Generalised discomfort
• Mild bruising
• Clicking joints

These post-treatment symptoms are not bad and in fact, after these symptoms subside, you are likely to find the presenting complaint your osteopath has treated has also subsided.

You can support the healing process from home following your treatment by:

• Trying to remain mobile; avoid sitting or lying in one position for too long
• Performing gentle mobilising activity (e.g. rolling your shoulders)
• Doing gentle stretches
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Avoiding processed and high sugar foods
• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
• Waiting to engage in any strenuous physical activity for a day or two after the treatment, or as advised by your practitioner
• Refraining from having another type of treatment or bodywork immediately after the treatment