Matt Blackburn Osteopath Hobart

17/03/2020

I have recently moved to a HealthMatters Osteopathy and Wellness Centre. I am working together with an Osteopathic colleague on Mondays, Tuesday mornings and Wednesdays.
HealthMatters is located in Sandy Bay at Suite 6/17 Magnet Court, above Me Wah’s restaurant, between Wildheart Yoga & Pilates, and Anytime Fitness.
Two hour Parking is available at Woolworths or in Magnet Court car park for one hour.

14/11/2019

Can osteopathy help with neck pain and stiffness.

Neck pain, stiffness and discomfort can be annoying, uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable. With our modern lifestyle and stresses of living it is all to common these days.
Some common causes of neck problems include.
• Sustained neck postures such as looking down at mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
• Slouching and poor sitting posture
• Poor work ergonomics particularly to do with using computers.
• Excessive overhead lifting of weights.
Osteopathy uses hands on techniques to give relief from musculoskeletal pain and problems of muscles joints and nerves.
In management of neck pain and stiffness Osteopathy has a holistic approach. An osteopath will examine the body for other areas that may be contributing to neck pain such as the upper back, rib cage and pelvis. They then use their hands to release tension and improve mobility and alignment in these related areas as well as releasing the muscles and freeing up the joints and ligaments of the neck.

Osteopaths also offer advice to help maintain good neck function and comfort such as:
• Advice on posture whilst standing and sitting to help keep head neck and shoulders in line.
• Simple exercises to relieve neck and shoulder tension such as shoulder rolls and upper back stretches.

14/11/2019

Migraine headaches can be a very severe, debilitating and ongoing with different symptoms to other headaches and are mostly considered a neurological disorder.
Many people often report that something brings on a migraine such as certain foods, bright lights or loud noise, weather changes, stress, hormonal changes and poor or disturbed sleep.
Migraines are traditionally considered to be due to changes in blood flow within the head and neck. At the onset of a migraine blood flow is reduced due to narrowing of the blood vessels and then later increases with opening of the vessels. There is also a slow wave of neural activity, starting in the brain stem and spreading forwards.
Sensory nerve fibres from the Trigeminal nerve, the largest cranial nerve provide sensation to the blood vessels and surrounding layers of the brain as Other cranial nerves and nerves from the upper cervical spine also assist and together these nerves convey migraine pain to the brain.
French osteopaths Jean-Pierre Barral and Alain Croibier the founders of Neural Manipulation consider that the trigeminal nerve plays a huge role in migraines. Through their research they found that the trigeminal ganglion or cluster of nerve bodies can be overactive in many people causing the sensory nerves to the blood vessels and linings of the brain to be more sensitive to pain.
Gentle precise neural manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and its small branches and the upper cervical nerves have been found to have an immediate effect on blood vessels and may help settle down the nerves carrying pain messages to the brain. This can offer a new approach to treating migraines. The authors of this approach have found better affects in treating migraines that begin in the occipital upper cervical area and radiating forward. There are some self-help techniques that can be taught to clients that may reduce the intensity of an attack.
Other ways that osteopathy may help include
• Resolving muscle pain and spasm
• Improving tension in the upper back and ribs and neck.
• Helping with preventative exercises and stretches and posture.

Written by Matt Blackburn

26/08/2019

Do you have neck pain and discomfort? Osteopathic treatment l involves attending to other areas that may be contributing to the problem such as the upper back and rib tension and uses gentle techniques to work on soft tissues, joints, nerves and ligaments.

Neck pain can have a huge effect on people’s lives, restricting them in their work, sport and sleep. There are many factors that can contribute to neck pain, particularly your line of work, type of sport, the way you sleep or the pillow you use.

Your local may be able to help! They treat neck pain by considering all of the potential causes and may look further afield than just your neck, including in their assessment the mobility and health of your upper back, jaw and shoulders.

Book in your appointment now 👉 www.osteopathy.org.au/find-an-osteo

20/02/2019

Body Stillness photos.

21/01/2019

27/10/2018