Take Care of Your Health with Southside Osteopathy.
SERVICES
Southside Osteopathy aims to provide you with the best, safest and most effective treatment possible. We are passionate about our occupation and our responsibilities to you and we are proud of our ability to get you quick and effective results.
It is important to us that you understand your condition, therefore we aim to educate and empower you with home exercise programs and advice on dietary needs and injury prevention.
We are experts on advising you on correct pillows, nutritional supplements, exercise equipment, stretching and stabilisation therapy, and back care. We have a wide referral network of sports doctors, other complementary therapies and exercise experts.
Most private health insurance funds give refunds on osteopathic treatment. If your health fund is a member of HICAPS we can swipe your card and you can be reimbursed for your refund there and then on the spot.
You do not need a referral from your GP to see an osteopath as a private patient. However Medicare rebate for part of the cost of osteopathic treatment is available for patients on Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Programs as referred from your GP. Our osteopaths are also recognized to treat Workers Compensation referrals.
Reception Hours
Monday -Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 12.30pm
Consultation Hours
Monday -Friday 9.45am – 6.30pm
Saturday 9.00am – 12.30pm
Member of The Australian Osteopathic Association
If you would like more information on osteopathy or would like to talk to an osteopath for advice, please contact us on 08 8172 1817 or log on to www.southsideosteopathy.com.au
Dr Andrea Robertson
Osteopath
B.Sci.(Clin.Sci.),M.H.Sci.(Osteo.), AOA, IADMS
Andrea completed her osteopathic qualifications at Victoria University in Melbourne in 2000. Her approach is patient-centered where she uses a variety of hands on techniques such as soft-tissue release, joint mobilization, joint manipulation and Trigger Point Dry Needling along with advice on exercise and diet. Andrea believes that patient education is very important to aid in a speedy recovery after pain or injury.
Andrea was a professional dancer for 12 years, working overseas at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, Son Amar in Spain and Carnival Cruises in the USA. Because of this, Andrea treats many dancers and conducts pre-pointe and dance fitness assessments for dancers of all ages. Through this she advises dancers on Pilates based exercise programs to improve technique and strength. Andrea also has an interest in treating pregnant patients.
Dr Sarah Crosby
Osteopath
B.Sc,B.App.Sc.(Comp.Med.),M.Osteo,AOA
Sarah completed her Osteopathic training in 2007 at RMIT University in Melbourne which comprised of a five year full time Bachelor of Applied Science in Complementary Medicine and a Masters of Osteopathy. Her research investigating the way in which Osteopathic Medicine can be used as part of prenatal care and its effect on labour is of particular interest to Sarah as is women’s and children’s health.
During her studies, Sarah worked as a Sports Trainer for a team in the Ballarat Football League which involved injury prevention and management, assisting player’s health and rehabilitation. Sarah has also worked as a Remedial Massage Therapist treating a variety of conditions and also provided voluntary Osteopathic treatment for riders on the Great New Zealand Trail Ride in 2007.
Sarah treats using a wide variety of hands on osteopathic techniques and uses these according to the needs of each individual person. Sarah is also a member of the Australian Osteopathic Association.
Dr Jamie Green
Osteopath
B.Sc.(Hons.)Osteo,B.Tec.N.Dip.Health,AOA
Jamie Green completed his osteopathic qualifications at the world renowned European School of Osteopathy, England, in 1998. Jamie’s previous qualification and experience in Mechanical Engineering lead him to conduct research into the mechanical dysfunction of the low back and pelvis, as well as helped increase his general knowledge and understanding of the mechanical functioning of the human body. Jamie has a special interest in treating patients with neck pain brought about by traumas such as whiplash, as he himself has also been a sufferer.
Jamie has previously owned and run practices in the UK, NZ and Australia and utilises a variety of manual therapy techniques such as trigger point release, stretching, joint mobilisation and manipulation. He promotes exercise and 'condition education' in order to rehabilitate patients and prevent re-injury. Jamie is a member of the Australian Osteopathic Association.
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a ‘whole body’ system of manual therapy which uses hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. Osteopathy is safe, gentle and effective. It aims to relieve your pain, discomfort and immobility.
The osteopathic philosophy is to treat you as a ‘whole’, not just treat your specific symptoms. By improving the function of your body, osteopathy helps to stimulate your body’s own self-healing / self-regulating processes, aiding a return to health.
The emphasis of Osteopathy is on the interrelationship of your body’s structure – such as muscles, bones, joints, nerves etc – and its function – such as breathing, circulation, digestion, metabolism etc. Osteopaths work on the philosophy that structure governs function, so if your body’s structure is correct, it can then function at optimum health and wellness.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is used for the treatment of muscle pain and dysfunction. At Southside Osteopathy, Dry Needling is utilized as part of the Osteopathic treatment session. It will not necessarily be used every time you see your osteopath, and likewise, if you prefer not to be Dry Needled, then just let your practitioner know.
The approach is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles and is not to be confused with Chinese Acupuncture. Dry Needling involves introducing fine, sterile acupuncture needles into “trigger points” of muscles. A Trigger point is defined as a tight, irritable and painful spot within a muscle. Trigger points can cause referred pain or headaches, referred tenderness, poor muscle and nerve function and “autonomic” responses such as temperature and skin changes over the site of the problem. Trigger points are commonly seen in both acute and long term pain conditions. Dry Needling alleviates the symptoms of trigger points quickly and effectively by eliciting a twitch response. You may feel the twitch response as an odd cramp like sensation which then re-sets the chemical imbalance between the muscles and nerves to cause an instant decrease in muscle tension.
Osteopaths can help with a wide variety of problems including:
Neck and back pain
Sciatica
Headaches and Migraines
Sports Injuries
Work and Repetitive strain injuries (RSI)
Arthritis
Jaw pain.
Pain associated with pregnancy
Pain associated with menstruation
Pain in peripheral joints such as shoulders, knees and ankles, tendonitis and muscle strains
In addition, Osteopaths can utilize a wide variety of gentle non-manipulative techniques for use on infants and small children.
Osteopathy and Pregnancy
Being pregnant is a unique and powerful life experience. It is a time which can, and should be enjoyed. During pregnancy your body undergoes immense physical, hormonal and emotional changes which can put increased pressure on your joints and muscles of your spine and pelvis.
Many pregnant women find osteopathic treatment very helpful throughout their pregnancy for pain reduction and preparation for labour. As well as helping to reduce back, hip or leg pain, osteopathy can also assist your body in preparation for labour and delivery.
Osteopathy and Children
Osteopathy has been shown to be especially suitable for treating a wide range of health conditions in children and infants. Your osteopaths at Southside Osteopathy are highly trained in gentle, non-manipulative techniques that are very beneficial in optimising the health of children and babies.
Babies
Birth is a wonderful part of the cycle of life. However labour can sometimes be a very physical, and sometimes stressful, process on a baby’s body. The birthing process is even capable of becoming a baby’s very first ‘trauma’. At birth, much of a baby’s skeleton is more like cartilage, especially the plate-like bones that make up the skull. These bones are quite soft and malleable, and are designed to overlap and glide over each other, enabling them to sustain the forces of labour and allow the head to pass through the birth canal. However, this pliability may mean that they are susceptible to strain and ‘moulding’, which is often evident after birth in babies that have asymmetrical, flattened, or markedly pointed head shapes.
A degree of moulding is normal, and usually resolves within the first few days after birth along with the normal processes of adapting to breathing in air, crying and sucking. However, in some cases the moulding can be retained and will need attention. Left untreated, the bony plates may remain overlapped, pulled apart, or under excessive strain. This is turn can cause tension or pinching in the delicate membranes that cover the brain and nervous system. Overstrain of tissues and compression of joints in the head, neck and upper back may also occur as a result. This may affect the nerves which come from the base of the skull and help in body functions such as feeding, digestion and breathing, and may cause other imbalances in the rest of the body.
Such problems may be accentuated if the labour has been too long, too short, caesarean, breech, or traumatic such as births when instruments/forceps are used.
Signs to look out for that may indicate a need for an osteopathic check-up for your baby include:
Irritability & difficulty sleeping
Excessive crying or colic
Reflux, wind or digestive issues
Feeding difficulties such as attaching or sucking
Difficult birth such as assisted delivery or caesarean.
Obvious asymmetries in head shape, or bruising
Osteopaths are trained to detect strain patterns throughout the whole body. They use their highly developed sense of touch to assess the subtle movements of the baby’s skull and body, and use equally gentle techniques to release restrictions and to stimulate the babies own inherent healing mechanisms, aiding a return to health.
Children
Some of the conditions that occur in babies may persist or become apparent in the young child.
Some common problems in young children that osteopaths can help with include:
Headaches
Postural problems
Sinus problems
Recurrent chest infections and asthma
Recurrent ear infections that may lead to some hearing problems
Learning and behavioural difficulties
‘Growing Pains’
Bedwetting
It can be beneficial for your child to have an osteopathic assessment if they have a fall, especially if they hit their head, or land on their spine or bottom. Children have an amazing ability to ‘bounce back’, however some trauma can be retained in the tissues and joints of the body that may not be immediately apparent, but which can go on to cause problems later on in life. Your osteopath will be able to find any restrictions that may be present, and then through treatment, they can prevent further problems from occurring.
Sporting injuries are also common in children, as are other adolescent conditions such as Osgood Schlatter’s and Scheuermann’s disease. Osteopathy can be of great benefit in such conditions as well as with recurrent problems such as ankle sprains.
Keeping an eye on your child’s posture is very important. Influences such as carrying heavy school bags and increased use of computers can cause postural problems that may become more difficult to address as your child gets older. Signs to look out for, which indicate an early problem with posture include asymmetry in the shoulders (one higher or more forward than the other), excessive slouching, curvature of the spine or turning in or out of the feet. Check your child’s shoes - do they wear out quickly on one side more than the other? This can also point towards postural imbalance.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial Osteopathy is a specialist field which encompasses and extends all the principals of osteopathic medicine. Cranial Osteopathy was originally used to treat the head (hence the name), whereas today it is used to contact and treat all parts of the body. During a cranial treatment, your osteopath uses very gentle touch to encourage your tissues to gently relax and unwind. This in turn, allows your body’s own natural healing ability to flourish. During a treatment, you may experience a sense of deep relaxation, tingling, fluid flow or relief from your pain. You may even have an emotional release. You may experience these changes immediately during treatment or later on after the treatment. On the other hand, you may not notice anything other than the fact that your previous level of pain has diminished some hours or days following your treatment. At Southside Osteopathy we may not always utilise cranial technique during your treatment, however if we do, it is utilised either as a part, or sometimes all, of your osteopathic treatment session, depending on your presenting complaint.
Cranial Osteopathy was discovered by Dr William Garner Sutherland (1873-1954) who was a student of the founder of osteopathy, Dr Andrew Taylor Still. Dr Sutherland, through observation, experiment, research and practice, has shown us that the bony cranium (skull) is capable of respiratory motion or breath. As research and practice of cranial osteopathy has developed over the past 100 years, we now know that this motion is in fact present in all body tissues. Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel this very subtle, rhythmical motion. It is called Involuntary Motion, The Cranial Rhythm or Primary Respiration. The movement is of very small amplitude, therefore it takes practitioners with a very finely developed sense of touch to feel it.
Tension in your body disrupts your cranial rhythm. By palpating this disruption in the rhythm, your osteopath can feel the stresses and strains that your body is under at present, as well as the tensions it may be carrying as a result of its past history. It also gives your osteopath an insight into the overall condition of your body, for example if it is healthy, or stressed and tired. Your osteopath works with your body to rebalance your cranial rhythm so that you body can function, through its inherent self-healing mechanism, at its optimum health and wellness.
While cranial osteopathy can be highly effective at relieving symptoms, it aims to treat the whole person not just the condition, so a very wide range of situations may benefit from treatment. These may include back and neck pain; joint pain and sports injuries; headaches, migraines and sinus problems; stress; recurrent infection; period pain and digestive difficulties. Treatment may also benefit general health and well-being.
Biodynamic Osteopathy
Biodynamic Osteopathy is a technique that also works with the body’s inherent motion. It further develops the principals and practice of Cranial Osteopathy. Developed by world renowned osteopath, Dr James Jealous DO, Biodynamics documents a shift away from a structural/anatomical perception of the body, towards that of a functional perception of health and the expression of nature and the divine within each patient.
Typical osteopathic diagnosis and treatment focuses on fragmented parts. Areas of “lesion” or reduced motion are evaluated. An interpretation of “normal” is made, and the treatment process is directed to bring about that "normal." The practical application of Biodynamic principles gives rise to a very interesting and different treatment process. Instead of focusing upon fragmented parts, we listen to the "whole." We simply sit and listen without imposing our sense of what is “right.” We observe the motion present. No barriers are engaged. Rather than focus on disease, we listen to the Health. The Health guides the treatment. Through our listening, we connect with The Health. We allow you, as the patient to re-establish your relationship to Primary Respiration, to the Whole, and to your Health. In this way, we create the possibility for healing.
Your Involvement in the Healing Process.
It is very important that you are intimately involved in your own healing process. Cranial Osteopathy is a very subtle form of treatment that is guided by therapeutic forces already present within you. During treatment, your practitioner will often appear to do very little; this absence of external intervention places greater emphasis upon your internal therapeutic environment. The contribution that you can make in the therapeutic process is to re-define what you have previously known to be the therapeutic experience: that is, your practitioner taking control and “doing, prescribing or suggesting” something to you. By bringing your awareness back to the intelligence and self-healing potential within, you are significantly increasing your own capacity to self-heal. You become the origin of an increased therapeutic and healing potential, and you become the origin of your own health and happiness.
If you would like more information on osteopathy or would like to talk to an osteopath for advice, please contact us on 08 8172 1817 or log on to www.southsideosteopathy.com.au
QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Bachelor of Science (Clinical Sciences)
Masters of Health Science (Osteopathy)
Completed APA Accredited Trigger Point Dry Needling Course
Member of AOA
Member of IADMS
Service Categories
Craniosacral Therapy, Osteopathy, Sports Injury Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy
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