Melissa Lodge Osteopathy

10/07/2024

This little one is all ready to cheer England on later this evening! ⚽️🥰

28/12/2023

My sister-in-laws dog Loki has just gone missing in Altrincham. Please message me if you see him. Spanish water dog red tartan bow in his collar. Please share. Thanks x

18/07/2023

This smiley little one came to me suffering with infant gastro-oesophageal reflux. This is a common condition that affects 4 out of 10 babies where they regurgitate some of the stomach contents with most feeds usually settling around 1 year of age. Some babies are perfectly content with reflux, however others are very unsettled and sometimes incredibly distressed. It can interfere with feeding and sleeping and can be a very hard time for exhausted parents to manage.

Osteopaths often find mechanical strain patterns in the spine, pelvis, neck and head in babies suffering with infant reflux. These can occur due to sub-optimal positioning during pregnancy (eg. breech, transverse, long engagement in maternal pelvis, maternal stress) or a tricky birth (eg. instrumental delivery with forceps or ventouse). This can contribute to a disruption of the delicate balance that is required in the nervous system for optimum digestive functioning.

Also, the sphincter that closes off the top of the stomach once the milk has entered is anatomically a part of the abdominal diaphragm, the large breathing muscle in the chest. If the diaphragm is tight and imbalanced, this can directly affect the strength and function of the oesophageal sphincter, therefore releasing this area of the body can also help with digestion.

Alongside NHS support, this little one began to feel much better once these physical strain patterns has been released 😊

24/02/2023

It’s always rewarding to receive this kind of feedback when working with women during pregnancy.

Osteopathy has so much to offer during this precious time of motherhood, which is not always plain sailing.

Aches and pains can be common with the mechanical changes that occur throughout the 3 trimesters. Gentle osteopathic techniques, especially adapted for pregnancy, can be very effective in spine or joint pain management; in activating the parasympathetic ‘rest & digest’ part of the nervous system (which can have wide reaching benefits in a world of overstimutaltion) and can often aid restorative sleep 😊

16/01/2023

Some time ago I did a talk for the wonderful The Key Clinic on cranial osteopathy, specifically in children. I offered my time after they had recommended me to one of their Northern based clients. I supported the Key Clinic's Neurodevelopmental Team, using osteopathy to aid their home prescribed exercises for their client. This involved inhibiting a specific primitive reflex which is important in childhood development, behaviour and learning. It was fantastic to connect with such a pioneering team, whose work is fascinating and ground breaking. They have had much press coverage, particularly after the Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans took his son for treatment with resounding success. I have recommended them to several patients and look forward to more collaborative work with them in the future, alongside others in my profession.

😊😊😊

31/10/2022

Happy Halloween everyone 👻😈 💀

I couldn't help but admire these beautiful pumpkins whilst on a recent country walk!

My kids & I also love getting my skeleton, Fred, out of the basement for his annual halloween appearance😂

15/09/2022

This beautiful teen has taught me so much in the last year or so of working with her. She has a genetic syndrome and needs a lot of support. I am very lucky to be part of her specialist care team. As she is non-verbal, it has been super important that I ‘listen’ to her bodies signals when working through her various body systems. She always lets me know what she likes & dislikes! 😊

Osteopathy seeks to remove unnecessary tension from the body, aid spinal alignment, to aid lymphatic drainage & improve blood flow.

08/05/2022

It was such a treat to have a rare night out last week to hear Dr Rangan Chatterjee speak at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays 😄

Born, educated and practicing here in Manchester after his Indian parents immigrated here in the 1960s, this inspirational GP is on a mission to educate and empower people to make lifestyle changes as ‘medicine’ for improved health and happiness.

I am a regular listener of his insightful podcasts, interviewing many world leading experts in health & happiness. I often hand pick specific episodes for my patients to listen to as part of their recovery.

Old and modern osteopathic philosophy and practice is aligned with much of his work, and alongside many other high profile people in the health & wellbeing arena, he is helping to open people’s minds to new ways of thinking about health and happiness.

Grab yourself a copy of his new book… I am so looking forward to reading mine! 😊

15/03/2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om5ma_s0ddE

Osteopaths believe everyone can benefit from a tailored and personalised approach to health. They take time to understand your individual history, circumstan...

08/03/2022

Yes they are! 👍

👉Osteopathy is a regulated health profession that's distinct from nursing, medicine and pharmacy.

👉Regulation works in much the same way as regulation for medical doctors.

👉By law, osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).

👉The GOsC only accepts registration from practitioners who have a qualification in osteopathy that's recognised by the GOsC and who comply with their standards of practice.

👉Osteopaths are required to renew their registration each year. As part of this process, the GOsC checks they have the correct insurance, are meeting professional development requirements, and remain in good health.

👉You can use the GOsC register of osteopaths to find one in your local area

☺️☺️☺️

28/02/2022

This smiley little two year old has been with me since she was 5 months old, after being referred by her paediatrician for osteopathic support alongside her NHS treatment of her right hip (Developmental Dysplasia of the hip/DDH) & neck (Torticollis).

Developmentally, she is coming along so well and it is fantastic to see her progression! She still favours playing in the 'W' position, which is very natural when there has been an instability in one or both hips. Part of her rehabilitation is to encourage & teach her to sit & play in different positions for example legs out in front, or cross legged or on a little stool. This is often easier said than done! Over time this will help to promote healthy development of the joint of the spine and legs ☺️

27/01/2022

I couldn’t help but be impressed by this fine “6-pack” specimen, so much so I had to take a photo 😄

Would you believe this patient is just 12 years old? He works very hard at all his sport and enjoys it too 🤩

I see lots of very active & sporty pre-teens & teenagers for varying reasons, including

👉A direct impact injury such as a fall, collide with a team player or stick or a ball. This can result in sprains but also dislocations & bone fractures

👉Discomfort or pain relating to postural challenges in a growing spine. Our kids spend a lot more time using technology these days which can be a contributory factor, therefore establishing good habits early can be very useful in prevention

👉Symptoms related to musculoskeletal (joint, muscle & bone) conditions of childhood

Not only are the joints, tendons, ligaments & muscles under huge change during these formative years, neurological remodelling of the brain & nervous system happens intensively and continues until the mid-twenties! It’s a tiring business! 😅

Osteopathic treatment and lifestyle education can help support growth and rehabilitate injury ☺