Leek Osteopathic Health Centre

13/10/2025

Here's a video of me explaining why Discs are similar to Jam Doughnuts and what we do as Osteopaths to help treat them if you were to book a consultation with us?

13/10/2025

At Leek Osteopathic Health Centre we use different types of massage techniques to ease tight muscles, reduce tension, reduce inflammation and improve circulation – depending on the injury you have depends on which technique we might use – or a combination, below is just a couple of what we use on a daily basis.

Effleurage – a type of soft tissue massage technique.

This is a soothing, stroking movement used as light soft tissue massage
Effleurage may be firm or light without dragging the skin, and is performed using either the padded parts of the finger tips or the palmar surface of the hands. Lotion may or may not be used,. The process works as a mechanical pump on the body to encourage venous and lymphatic return by starting at the bottom of the limb and pushing back towards the heart.

Deep tissue massage – a type of soft tissue massage technique.

Deep tissue massage is a therapeutic technique designed to target the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It’s especially effective with patients dealing with chronic pain, athletes, and those recovering from injuries.

Deep tissue massage involves:
• Slow, firm strokes and sustained pressure using fingers, thumbs, elbows, or forearms.
• Focused manipulation of deep muscle layers and fascia (connective tissue).
• Techniques like trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and cross-fibre friction to break up adhesions (knots or scar tissue) and restore mobility.
This method improves blood flow, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing by releasing tension and improving circulation.

11/10/2025

We have a treatment room available to rent — all day on Saturdays, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from mid-afternoon into the evening. You’re welcome to take all or just some of these slots.

This is a great opportunity if you’re starting out with a talking or physical therapy practice and aren’t yet ready to commit to a full-time room.

Whilst you would be fully independent we would be looking for someone who compliments what we already do here as Osteopaths such as manual/sports therapy, counselling, nutrition, podiatry etc..

For more details, please DM me or email helen@leekosteopaths.com

11/10/2025

🕳️🍩 How Are Jam Doughnuts and Your Discs Similar? 🍩🕳️

One of the most common questions I get asked as an osteopath is:
👉 “Can I put a disc back in?”

Let’s clear that up — and yes, jam doughnuts are the perfect way to explain it!

Your spinal discs sit between your vertebrae, acting as shock absorbers for your spine.
Each disc has:

A tough outer layer called the annular fibrosus (like the doughnut dough)

And a softer, jelly-like centre called the nucleus pulposus (that’s the jam!)

When things go wrong, it’s often because of wear and tear, posture, or injury — and just like a doughnut, sometimes that “jam” can start to push out.

Here’s how a disc herniation usually progresses:
1️⃣ Degeneration – The disc weakens over time but stays intact.
2️⃣ Prolapse – The centre pushes out slightly, creating a bulge.
3️⃣ Extrusion – The inner material starts to leak through a small tear.
4️⃣ Sequestration – The “jam” fully spills out, which can irritate nerves and cause pain.

💥 Common symptoms depend on where the disc problem occurs:

Lumbar (lower back):

Back pain that worsens when sitting or standing

Pain radiating down the leg (sciatica)

Muscle weakness, tingling, or numbness

Cervical (neck):

Pain between the shoulder blades or down the arms

Numbness or weakness in the hands/fingers

Clumsiness or balance issues

Thoracic (mid-back):

Pain around the ribs or chest

Stiffness or weakness in the legs

So when you ask if we can put a disc back or you've been told that, it's NOT TRUE, ever tried putting the jam back in the doughnut??

But the good news? 🙌
Discs can heal and settle with the right care — through movement, strengthening, and gentle osteopathic treatment. Surgery is rarely needed.

So next time you’re enjoying a jam doughnut, remember — your discs are a bit like that too… just don’t let them get squished! 😉

And just to clarify, if you've ever had your back 'clicked' and told they were putting a disc back, it was probably a restricted joint that was released and gives you almost instant relief .....we do that too but it's not a disc it's a different issue!

07/10/2025

06/10/2025

How do Osteopaths treat you?

At Leek Osteopathic Health Centre we use a wide variety of techniques. each time choosing what we believe is the best for you.

From HVT's better known by patients as 'popping' or 'clicking'.......

myth buster 1), it isn't your bones clicking but gas in the joint space releasing, in the same way your ears 'pop' when the air pressure changes to quickly!

Myth buster 2) we don't always HVT and we always discuss with you first - some people love it, some people really dislike it and so we work with you and if you don't want us to we won't - there are other techniques we can use instead.......

such as -
joint articulation where we move the joints in a smooth articulation, encouraging it to move freely as it should.

Massage - soft tissue massage, light or deep depending on the issue to relieve tension and improve muscle tone.

Cranial - sacral - a very light pressure is used to ease tension, often used in acute patients when you can't tolerate much pressure and also in chronic, long term issues......

Everyone is different, we discuss with you our treatment choices and why so you understand more.....

We are here to help, contact us on 01538 388333, book online or info@leekosteopaths.com

30/09/2025

Whether you have acute back pain because 'it went at the weekend' or a problem that's been going on for a couple of weeks or even longer......we can help, at Leek Osteopathic Health Centre we create a bespoke treatment plan for YOU...not a 'programme' to fit you in but a treatment plan for you, because everyone is different!

28/09/2025

We have a couple of new patient consultation appointments available this Monday!

We like to be busy so we are offering these at half price....If you've being following our page but still wondering if we can help or not this is a great opportunity to see what Osteopathy can offer....

Whether you have a chronic back, knee or shoulder issue or you've done something this weekend and you're in agony...... DM here, call 01538 388333 or info@leekosteopaths.com and lets get you on the road to recovery tomorrow.

28/09/2025

Book With Us Online at Your Convenience

If you’ve been struggling with pain and you want to feel better and you don’t want to wait until the clinic is open tomorrow…..then use our online booking service at Leek Osteopathic Health Centre and choose an appointment convenient to yourself…….

Don’t wait, start today by getting those achy joints and muscles resolved so you can get back to being active and enjoying life.

23/09/2025

Hi, I’m curious if this would be of interest to teenagers and parents of teenagers heading into their exam year?

I wear two hats, as a Mum and an osteopath, as a Mum my eldest son is just starting his GCSE exam year. I’m aware that (hopefully, in a good way) he will probably be spending more time sitting at a desk or lying on his bed staring at a book or a device of some sort studying.

I’m also aware that there is a certain amount of pressure on this age group to ‘do well’ and that isn’t always great for some for their mental health…….but as an Osteopath I’m also aware of the muscular tension they carry in their bodies either through lack of exercise, increased studying time, carrying heavy bags and the mental load… when we see them with tension across their shoulder or headaches or even back pain etc..

My question is would a course of treatment, designed especially for this age group be something you would invest in, as a teenager or as a parent of a teenager, so they move through this year with less aches, pains and tension allowing them to focus on their studies not on their discomfort?

Whilst still designing the detail, I’d like to know if a course of treatment would be of interest. Treatment would be approximately once a month from now until exams, initially to improve the muscle tone, where the tension is carried and the improve the spinal mobility, then moving towards some simple exercises, showing you how to look after yourself and what to do when the tension builds to minimise the effect alongside some advice on how to get a great study station etc.. or just simply what that individual needs help with with their aches & tension.

Let me know if this is something that could be helpful and if there’s enough interest I’ll put together a treatment programme at Leek Osteopathic Health Centre to see teenagers through to their exams, helping them achieve their goals!

DM below or info@leekosteopaths.com