Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic

21/11/2025

🤕 When Christmas Prep Comes With a Side of Headaches

The festive season is supposed to be enjoyable but the run-up to Christmas can be relentless.

Shopping lists that never end, social obligations piling up, work deadlines before the holidays. There’s often family dynamics to navigate and financial pressure.

Is it any wonder that tension headaches spike during this time of year?

If you’re experiencing that familiar tightness creeping up the back of your neck, pressure building behind your eyes or jaw clenching you don't even notice until your face aches then we can help.

At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we regularly treat headaches by addressing what's really causing them – and it's often not in your head at all.

Common sources include:
✅ Tension in your neck and upper back.
✅ Jaw clenching from stress (TMJ issues).
✅ Poor posture from hunching over computers or phones.
✅ Restricted movement in your upper spine.

Through gentle, hands-on treatment, we work to release the physical tension that’s triggering your headaches.

You’ve got enough to manage this festive season without adding persistent headaches to the list.

📞 Ready to tackle those headaches properly? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

20/11/2025

✂️ Scars: The Unfinished Business Your Body Might Still Be Holding

Scars can do more than just mark where something happened – they can create ongoing issues that affect how you move and feel. That C-section scar from years ago, a surgical scar that’s healed on the surface but still feels tight, even old scars from accidents or injuries that you barely think about anymore.

You might notice:
🩹 Tightness or pulling sensations around the scar.
🩹 Restricted movement in that area.
🩹 Discomfort in seemingly unrelated parts of your body.
🩹 Numbness or heightened sensitivity around the scar tissue.

Many people don’t realise scar tissue can be treated, even years after it’s formed. At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we offer specialised scar therapy using the RESTORE method, a technique developed by leading UK scar specialist Emma Holly and used in both the NHS and private healthcare.

It’s a gentle and hands-on approach that works to soften and mobilise scar tissue, reduce tightness in surrounding areas, improve circulation for continued healing and restore more natural movement patterns.

Whether your scar is recent or decades old, treatment can help improve both how it feels and how it functions.

📞 Interested in scar therapy? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

18/11/2025

Autumn’s a beautiful time to be in the garden – but it’s also when we see the most sore backs, stiff shoulders and aching knees walk through our clinic doors.

Cooler weather, heavier soil and long hours spent bending or lifting can all take their toll.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

With a few simple habits – and a little osteopathic care if you need it – you can keep gardening comfortably right through the season.

In our blog, we’re talking about:
🌿 Why gardening feels tougher in autumn
💪 Practical tips to protect your body
🧘♀️ Gentle stretches to ease stiffness
🩺 How osteopathy can help you recover and prevent pain from returning

Read the full blog here 👉https://lordswoodosteo.co.uk/avoid-the-autumn-aches-how-to-protect-your-back-while-gardening-this-season/

If you’ve been feeling the effects of your latest gardening session, we’re here to help you move comfortably again. 🌼

Why does gardening seem to cause more aches and pains in autumn than any other time of year?  It’s a good question and one we get asked a lot

14/11/2025

🍫 Reaching for comfort food when you're stressed is completely normal – food can genuinely provide emotional comfort during difficult times.

But there’s a physical side to stress eating that often goes unnoticed. The way we eat when we’re stressed can create tension patterns in our bodies.

Eating quickly while hunched over a desk. Rushing meals between stressful tasks. Eating while scrolling through phones or watching distressing news. Jaw clenching while chewing during anxious periods.

These eating patterns can contribute to:
😤 Tension in your jaw and neck muscles.
😤 Poor digestion from eating too quickly.
😤 Shoulder and upper back tightness from hunched postures.
😤 Breathing patterns that increase rather than reduce stress.

The goal isn’t to eliminate comfort eating entirely – that’s unrealistic and potentially harmful. Instead, try bringing a bit more awareness to how you eat during stressful periods.

Taking a few deep breaths before eating, sitting properly, chewing slowly and putting devices away can help break the cycle of stress creating more physical tension.

📞 Struggling with stress-related physical tension? We can help. Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

13/11/2025

🏠 Tips on staying active when the weather doesn’t cooperate…

As the days get shorter and the weather becomes less inviting, it’s tempting to hibernate until spring returns.

But reducing your activity levels dramatically can leave you feeling stiffer, less energetic and more prone to aches and pains when you do get moving again.

The solution doesn’t have to be joining an expensive gym! Simple indoor activities can keep your body moving:

🚶Walk up and down stairs extra times during the day.
🧘Follow along with online yoga or stretching videos.
💃 Put on music and have a dance while doing housework.
🏋️ Use household items as weights – tins of beans work perfectly.
📺 Do gentle exercises while watching television.

The key is consistency rather than intensity. Twenty minutes of gentle movement every day is far better for your body than sporadic bursts of intense activity.

Your joints need regular movement to stay healthy, your muscles need to maintain their strength and your mood benefits from the endorphins that come with being active.

Don't let the season dictate how well your body functions.

📞 Need help staying comfortable and active? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

11/11/2025

😴 The right sleep position tonight can change how you feel tomorrow.

Waking up in more pain than when you went to bed is frustrating, especially when sleep is supposed to be restorative.

The position you sleep in can either support your recovery or work against it. Here’s what might help different types of pain:

🛏️ For lower back pain: Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees, or on your side with a pillow between your knees.

🛏️ For neck pain: Use a pillow that keeps your neck aligned with your spine and avoid sleeping on your stomach if possible.

🛏️ For shoulder pain: Sleep on your back or on the unaffected side. Hug a pillow to prevent the painful shoulder rolling forward.

🛏️ For hip pain: Side sleepers should place a pillow between their knees. A small pillow under the waist can provide extra support.

Remember, the “best” sleep position is the one that works for your specific situation. It might take a few nights to adjust to a new position, so be patient with the process.

If pain is consistently disrupting your sleep, it’s worth addressing the underlying cause rather than just managing symptoms.

📞 Sleep being disrupted by pain? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

07/11/2025

📦We all know we should ‘lift with our legs, not our back’ but what does that actually look like in practice?

Whether you’re moving house, lifting shopping bags, picking up children or simply getting something heavy out of a cupboard, poor lifting techniques is one of the quickest ways to injure your back.

Here’s how to lift safely:
🔄 Get close to what you’re lifting – don’t reach out for it.
🔄 Bend your knees and keep your back straight.
🔄 Tighten your core muscles before you lift.
🔄 Keep the object close to your body as you stand up.
🔄 Turn with your feet, not by twisting your spine.

The key is planning ahead. Before you lift anything, take a moment to think about your technique. Is the path clear? Do you need help? Can you break the load into smaller, more manageable pieces?

Your back has to last you a lifetime. Those few extra seconds of preparation can save you weeks of pain and discomfort.

And if you’re already dealing with back pain that makes lifting difficult or scary, that’s something we can help address.

📞 Struggling with back pain? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

06/11/2025

⭐ “We thought back, foot and leg pain would bring our lifelong love of walking to an end.”

This testimonial comes from a couple who had been passionate walkers for decades but were facing the possibility that pain might force them to give up something they’d always enjoyed together.

They told us: “After a few sessions at Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic we were back walking mountain routes in the Swiss Alps, just as we had done 20 years earlier.”

Pain can threaten not just physical activity but the things that bring joy and meaning to our lives. Walking wasn’t just exercise for this couple, it was their shared passion, their way of exploring the world together.

At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we understand getting out of pain isn’t just about physical relief. It’s about getting back to the activities that matter to you, whether that’s conquering Alpine peaks, playing with grandchildren, or simply walking to the shops without discomfort.

Through careful assessment and targeted treatment, we work to understand what’s limiting your movement and address the underlying causes, not just mask the symptoms.

If pain is stopping you from doing something you love, you don’t have to accept that as permanent.

📞 Ready to reclaim the activities that matter to you? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

04/11/2025

📹 Your Personal Osteopath’s Library, Available 24/7

Ever wished you could remember exactly how to do that stretch your osteopath showed you? Or wanted to check your technique for an exercise without waiting until your next appointment?

At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we’ve created a comprehensive library of exercise and stretch videos that you can access anytime from our website.

Sue has developed easy-to-follow guides covering:
🎬 Stability ball exercises for core strengthening and balance.
🎬 Neck stretches to ease tension after long days.
🎬 Lower back and hip mobility routines.
🎬 Hand and wrist exercises for keyboard workers.
🎬 Core stability exercises to support your spine.

These aren’t generic fitness videos you’d find anywhere online. They are created specifically by Sue, drawing on years of clinical experience, to complement the treatment you receive in clinic.

The beauty of having these resources available is you can watch them as many times as you need, pause to check your positioning and practice at your own pace.

Healing doesn't just happen during your appointment - it continues through the small, consistent actions you take at home.

Check out our exercise and stretch video library on our website - your recovery routine just got a whole lot easier to follow.

📞 Ready for treatment that extends beyond the clinic walls? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

31/10/2025

Repetitive Strain Injury isn’t just a buzzword from the 1990s – it’s a very real problem affecting thousands of office workers today.

It can manifest through a persistent ache in your forearm after long typing sessions, a shooting pain down your wrist when you use your mouse and tingling fingers that won’t go away, even at weekends.

These symptoms might start as minor irritations, but RSI conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and “mouse shoulder” can become seriously debilitating if left untreated.

The modern workplace creates perfect conditions for RSI:
💻 Hours of repetitive movements with minimal variation.
💻 Poor workstation setup that forces awkward positions.
💻 Pressure to work through early warning signs.
💻 Lack of adequate breaks from screen work.

At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we don’t just treat the painful area, we look at the whole picture. How you sit, how your workstation is arranged and how your entire arm and shoulder function as a unit.

Our approach includes:
✅ Hands-on treatment to reduce inflammation and restore movement.
✅ Workplace ergonomic advice to prevent recurrence.
✅ Specific exercises to strengthen and protect vulnerable areas.
✅ Techniques you can use at work to manage symptoms.

At the end of the day, your career shouldn’t be damaging to your health.

📞 Struggling with work-related pain? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

30/10/2025

⛷️ Winter sports injuries – when the fun stops…

As the nights draw in and outdoor sports move indoors, bodies that have adapted to summer activities suddenly face new demands.

The weekend footballer transitioning to indoor five-a-side. Tennis players moving to heated courts with different surfaces. Gym-goers ramping up their workouts as beach season ends.

These changes in activity can come with their own injury risks:
🏃♂️ Achilles strains from sudden direction changes on different surfaces.
🏐 Shoulder injuries from overhead sports like badminton and volleyball.
🏋️♀️ Lower back problems from increased weight training.
⚽ Ankle sprains from artificial pitches and indoor courts.

The problem is many people don’t give their bodies time to adapt to these new movement patterns. What felt easy outdoors in summer can become challenging when you’re working different muscle groups or using different techniques.

At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we help people transition safely between seasonal activities. Whether you’re dealing with a new injury or want to prevent problems before they start, we can:
✅ Assess how your body is adapting to new activities.
✅ Address any restrictions that might increase injury risk.
✅ Provide specific advice for your chosen winter sport.
✅ Help you recover more quickly when injuries do occur.

Don’t let a preventable injury derail your winter fitness routine.

📞 Book a sports assessment today: 07809 304027 or online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings

28/10/2025

It might have started as a twinge when you bent down to pick something up. Or perhaps it crept in gradually, a dull ache that’s become your constant companion.

Lower back pain has a way of affecting everything. The way you sleep, how you sit at work, whether you can play with your children, even simple tasks like putting on shoes or getting out of bed.

You’ve probably been told to rest or take some painkillers but what happens when that’s not enough? When weeks or months have passed and you’re still dealing with the same discomfort?

At Lordswood Osteopathic Clinic, we don’t just look at where it hurts, we examine why it’s hurting. Lower back pain often involves multiple factors – how you move, your posture patterns, muscle imbalances and sometimes issues in other areas that are affecting your back.

Through thorough assessment and gentle, hands-on treatment, we work to:
✅ Identify what’s really causing your back pain.
✅ Address restrictions and imbalances throughout your body.
✅ Provide techniques and exercises to support your recovery.
✅ Help prevent the problem from returning.

You don’t have to accept chronic back pain as part of your life.

📞 Ready to address your back pain properly? Call 07809 304027 or book online at: https://lordswood-osteopathic-clinic.cliniko.com/bookings