• Back & Neck Pain
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Sports injuries
• Asthma/Allergies
• Digestive problems/IBS
• Women & Men’s Health
• Weight loss
• Smoking cessation
• Enhancing Well-being & Vitality
• Stress
• Migraines/Headaches

When we are healthy, an abundant supply of Qi or “life energy” flows through the body’s meridians. If the flow of qi in the meridians becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of qi, then the body fails to maintain harmony and balance and disease or illness follows. This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, external pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors.

If you are interested in the benefits of either Osteopathy or Acupuncture or would like more information, feel free to schedule an appointment with Dr Marshall at Back in Health Osteopathy& Acupuncture, in the Rialto towers Melbourne CBD 9629-4950 or in Balwyn at 55 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn 9947-1975 or feel free to call or send a text directly to him on 0422-455-659

Our City clinic will be open next week on Wednesday 28th and Thursday the 29th and will reopen on Jan 4th.

Our new website is scheduled to be launched mid- January and it’s going to be a bit special!
Thank you to all our patients, wonderful staff and all our supporters that have made 2011 a fantastic year!
Have a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2012!

We are extremely proud and lucky to announce the arrival of our newest Osteopath, Dr Drew Blatchford to our Rialto towers clinic in the heart of Melbourne CBD.
Dr. Drew Blatchford is a fully qualified and registered Osteopath and member of the Australian Osteopathic Association.
Drew has a particular interest in treating sports injuries. However he treats a wide range of conditions including foot and ankle pain, low back pain, neck, shoulder pain and headaches.

If you would like to make an appointment to see Dr. Drew Blatchford, please call on his mobile or text him for his next available appointment 0416 881 767
Available Tuesdays and Fridays at the Rialto Tower. Thursday am upon 24hr prior notice

The function of these discs is to act as a shock absorber. The most common level for a herniated disc to occur is at the level between the forth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. This is the level where the weight of the entire trunk is being constantly absorbed and where the majority of movement in our spine occurs.

As the architectural centre of the body it also is strongly affected by lower limb biomechanics. This means that any dysfunction or injury of the lower limbs may in time predispose the spine to possible injury, dysfunction and weakness.

Herniation? Bulge? Slipped disc?The terms used to describe disc problems in the lumbar spine are numerous and can be confusing. The terms herniation, slipped disc, ruptured disc or prolapsed disc are generally used interchangeably by different specialities in the medical professions to describe the disc protruding backwards and compressing the spinal nerves or spinal cord .

For the sake of simplicity I will use the term disc herniation in this article to include all the above. The term disc bulge refers to the general enlargement of the disc beyond its natural boundary and does not include any impingement or compression of the spinal nerves or spinal cord.

There are numerous causes of disc herniations. Obesity, incorrect lifting technique, a long history of lifting, bending and twisting and many kinds of trauma can weaken the intervertebral disc. Age plays an important part. As we get older, the discs lose flexibility and water content, which may make the disc more susceptible to a herniation.
As mentioned in the last article, it is often NOT one incident but an accumulation of repetitive trauma and weakening over a long period. On questioning, most patients are unable to recall a specific episode.

Interestingly the size of the herniation doesn’t necessarily equate to more pain. A disc bulge in most cases, is discovered by accident, that is, while imaging for an unrelated complaint. These can be quite large and may not cause any signs or symptoms. Other smaller bulges can cause overwhelming pain and be very debilitating.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of lumbar herniations vary greatly on the location of the protrusion and which spinal nerve root is being compressed. Initially pain may be experienced in the lower back or buttock region with a sensation of the pain radiating down the back of the thigh and sometimes even to the outside of the calf. Sensations may include numbness, tingling, electric shocks, cramping or muscle spasms in the back or foot.
This pain is usually aggravated by bending, twisting, lifting and sitting and often relieved by lying down with the knees bent. This relief is caused by a release of pressure on the disc exerted by gravity.

There may be decreased knee and ankle reflexes and muscular weakness. In more severe cases the foot doesn’t lift properly when walking and is known as ‘foot drop”.
A rare complication is called “Cauda equina syndrome” and is a surgical emergency. It is caused by a very large herniation that affects many levels and may results in incontinence and other urinary complications. A telltale sign is pain or numbness that is known as ‘para-saddle anaesthesia” or pain on the areas that would be touching if you were sitting in a saddle.

Piriformis Syndrome is a condition that mimics disc pain but is actually caused by a compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle which is located deep to the Gluteal muscle of the posterior hip. Pain, numbness and tingling in the buttocks may be felt along the distribution of the Sciatic nerve. This will be discussed in the next article in this series.

Diagnosis

It is imperative that you see an Osteopath as soon as possible. A thorough case history is the first step on making an accurate diagnosis. The next step is a comprehensive physical examination that comprises muscle strength, reflex and sensation testing

An MRI is most commonly used to aid in the diagnosis but is only useful when used in conjunction with the physical examination findings. Most patients including those in the mid-twenties that have an MRI may show signs of degeneration of their discs and as we get older the disc height between the vertebrae will decrease. This is due to the actual disc losing elasticity and decreased water content. In the absence of any abnormalities, this is considered normal and part of the ageing process.
An x-ray will not be able to show whether there is prolapse of the disc but can show if there is any narrowing of the disc heights which is a sign of degeneration and any other bony abnormalities
The treatment plan of a patient suffering from a disc herniation depends on numerous factors. Age, severity of the symptoms, the physical examination findings and the results of the MRI and X-ray all need to be considered before an effective treatment that is specifically tailored to the patient be implemented.
Treatment options may be divided into conservative or surgical.

Conservative Options.
Most disc herniations will resolve over time, with 6 weeks being the average time and up to 4 months after the initial onset. It is very important that you allow your body to rest and modify daily activities and avoid any aggravating factors. Initially bed rest with the knees bent to relieve pressure on the disc may be beneficial but prolonged bed rest for more than 48 hours may be detrimental. Daily activities should be attempted after this period but listen to your body! An attempt to commence training or other exercise at this point may cause further pain and damage and a delay in healing time.

A combination of ice to reduce the inflammation and heat to reduce the muscle spasm or ‘guarding” can be very effective.

At Back In Health Osteopathy, we focus on decreasing the load placed on the disc by initially focussing on the primary problem by readdressing muscular imbalances, restoring mobility and strengthening the affected structures. Strong spinal stability is your best defence against preventing or managing disc problems. Correct posture, ergonomic considerations, weight loss and a suitable exercise programs all need to be considered

Pharmlaogical intervention is also useful in the controlling of the pain symptoms. Both NSAIDS(Non-sterodial Anti-inflammatory Drugs) and Steroid based medications are useful in the reduction of inflammation around the affected nerves resulting in reduced pain but due to their possible side effects
Stronger narcotic pain medications may be necessary in more severe cases but should be taken with extreme caution as the side effects may include drowsiness and dependence.
It is extremely important to remember that all medication is only to be used under correct medical advice and is only a short-term solution.

Surgical Intervention
As in most cases, surgery should only be considered when all other methods have failed or there is simply no other choice.
The most common procedure is a “discetomy” and basically requires a partial or complete removal of the nucleous pulposous or the central part of the disc. The success rate is reported at being around 85%. The numbness may take longer to go away and depending of the severity of the compression, may never completely resolve.

The Best defence
Pain is an important warning sign and should never be ignored. Whilst we should always endeavour to push ourselves, do so within your own limits. Continually set realistic and attainable goal and do your utmost to reach them. Train hard but also ensure that you have the chance to rest and recover.

Pain and injury to one part of the body over time will affect both surrounding and distal parts. Think of a stone thrown in a pond, the ripples spread far from the site of the initial splash. Dysfunction of the spine is the same!

The best defence we have is to develop and strengthen our spinal stability, avoid repetitive bending and twisting and if engaged in strength and conditioning training, always lift properly and under expert supervision. The weapons against lower back pain include stretching ,exercising regularly ,eating well, drinking adequate water throughout the day and get regular treatments such as Osteopathy, Massage and Acupuncture.

If you have any questions about the health of your back or would like to try Osteopathy or Acupuncture, feel free to book in and let us get you back in health! Doncaster, Melbourne CBD, Clifton Hill and new clinic in Balwyn opening September 2011.

The majority of people that consult an Osteopath present with neck pain that is usually caused by a strain. The cardinal sign of a strain is typically pain. Similarly to lower back pain, it is often a result of many factors as opposed to one traumatic event. To understand the development of a musculoskeletal dysfunction, picture a large pane of glass. Think of bad posture or repetitive activities as a pebble being thrown against this pane. One pebble thrown will not cause much damage, the more pebbles that are thrown however, the weaker the pane becomes till finally after many pebbles have been thrown, it will crack and break. Although our bodies are extremely resilient, over time the combination of factors will prove too much and dysfunction and pain are likely to occur. So what factors can predispose the neck to considerable strain and pain?

• Abnormal postures. Some people are prone to bouts of neck strain due to sleeping in an awkward position. These can be quite severe and disabling but luckily resolve relatively quickly

• Repetitive strain. Occupations that require repetitive movements or prolonged sitting. This repetitive motion causes micro-trauma. Think of a painter who constantly has his head in an extended position. Over the last 30 years, a new kind of repetitive strain has been found in office workers, known as “desk disease”. Sitting for prolonged periods staring at a computer screen that is unlikely positioned at the correct height coupled with a phone that’s being cradled in the person’s shoulder for the majority of the day and you can see how easy this could develop and manifest into pain. The stretches presented at the end of this article are extremely beneficial for those whose occupations demand that they must spend the majority of their day in this position.

• Motor vehicle accidents can cause violent jerking of the head into hyper-extension, or hyper- flexion. A common scenario is when a seat-belted person’s head continues to move forward during a frontal impact and is then often thrown backward (the converse is also true). Side impacts typically result in bending of the head to that side, and rear impact tends to throw the head backward. Any or all of these movements usually result in whiplash.

• Stress and emotional factors are a very common but an often overlooked cause of cervical pain. The physiological aspects of stress can predispose the entire body and especially the musculoskeletal system to a wide range of problems. Stress can cause the prolonged activation of muscle leading to shortening of the muscles, the formation of trigger points or tight bands within the muscle fibers. When people feel stressed they literally feel the “weight of the world” on their shoulders.

How Back In Health Osteopathy can help?

The aim of Osteopathic treatment is to reduce muscle spasm or guarding in the affected muscles. Guarding is the body’s natural response to injury and trauma. The surrounding muscles become tight in an effort to prevent any further damage to the affected joint. Once the muscles are relaxed, it is easier to then treat the underlying joint dysfunction. On initial presentation, the area may be too tender to even perform basic soft tissue massage. In this case, acupuncture or dry needling is warranted to reduce muscle spasm and to assist in returning normal range of motion in the cervical spine.

Once any local inflammation has gone down, there are numerous techniques that an Osteopaths utilizes in treatment. Gentle stretching, manipulation and resistive stretching therapy (Muscle energy technique)
If you have neck and back pain, don’t put treatment off any longer. Our aim is to get you back in health, and stay there! Melbourne CBD (Rialto), Doncaster and Clifton Hill

Our highly qualified and experienced Osteopaths, Dr Matthew Hassett, Dr Jon Marshall and Dr Angela Baklis treat a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders, and other systems of the body. All techniques are safe and effective. Multiple return visits are usually not necessary.

All of our Osteopaths have completed 5 years of study and a Masters qualification.

Call our friendly receptionist Antoinette on 9006 9039

Back In Health Osteopathy

wishes everyone a

Healthy Christmas

and a

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support throughout the year!

We hope you enjoy our first ebook edition,

please stay tune for more in the future!

The Back in Health Osteopathy clinic is located in the North Rialto Tower, Level M2, 525 Collins St, Melbourne.

We are fast becoming renown as the neck and back specialists and are in the middle of working on some exciting projects on health promotion for city workers. If you know of anyone that is in pain and wants relief, make an appointment with our experienced Osteopaths, Dr Jon Marshall and Dr Angela Baklis and let us get you back in health and stay there!

Based on three Randomised Control Trials (RCT) on Acupuncture IVF, there is evidence suggesting acupuncture treatment before and after the embryo transfer can significantly improve the success of IVF compare to non Acupuncture group with significantly higher implantation rates (14.2% vs 5.9%), clinical pregnancy rates (33.6% vs 15.6%), biochemical pregnancy rates (35.3% vs 16.5%), and ongoing pregnancy rates (28.4% vs 13.8%) (Rosenthal. L, 2007).

Furthermore, Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can assist in the success of IVF by: (Liang.L, 2003)

Improving the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs
Regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles
Increase the blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine wall
Relax the patient and decrease their stress
Prevent the uterus from contracting
Lessen the side effects of drugs used by IVF
Strengthen the immune system
Improve semen to create better quality and quantity of embryos
Decrease chances of miscarriage

Our bodies are designed to reproduce!
Acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine can greatly assist your body to be ready for the natural process of fertility.

For more inquires please contact Dr. Jenny Kwon at our Back in Health clinic in Doncaster
(03) 9006 -9039

We would also like to welcome  two Chinese Medicine practitioners, Dr Lisa Ooi and Dr Jenny Kwon to our Doncaster clinic. They have considerable experience in treating a variety of conditions such as musculo-skeletal conditions, gastro-intestinal complaints, IVF  and allergies using a combination of Acupuncture and herbal medicine. For more information about conditions they treat, FAQ’s and availability, look at Chinese Medicine on our site! Stay tuned on further updates regarding how Chinese medicine can be of benefit to maintaining health and preventing disease

For those workers in the city who are looking for an Osteopath, pop into Fitline which is located in on M2 in the North tower of the Rialto and see our beautiful space! We work out of a personal training studio and boast some fantastic facilities not to mention, quality health care with our experienced Osteopaths, Dr Jon Marshall and Dr Angela Baklis.

Lets us get you back in health and more importantly, stay there!