Bramhall Osteopathic Practice

Our new website has lots of information for you about what we offer and how we can help

With over 30 years experience and different modalities ranging from Osteopathy, remedial massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy, pilates, to aromatherapy and reflexology to help with pain and life’s journey

Do get in touch, you can book online or by calling on ☎️ 0161 440 0298

https://bramhallosteopaths.co.uk/

Our new website has lots of information for you about what we offer and how we can help

With over 30 years experience and different modalities ranging from Osteopathy, remedial massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy, pilates, to aromatherapy and reflexology to help with pain and life’s journey

Do get in touch, you can book online or by calling on ☎️ 0161 440 0298

We are

Bramhall Osteopathic Practice - Expert Osteopaths Our Osteopaths help people in Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire & Manchester overcome aches, pains & injuries. Get in touch today to see how we can help you.

Our resident Clinical Aromatherapist - Justine Jackson’s latest article in our local Bramhall and Woodford SK Magazine

Happy Mother’s Day from the team at 💚🤍💚

Wishing all our lovely patients a wonderful and happy Christmas 🎄 thank you for trusting us with your health and allowing us to support you through this year

we are open between Christmas and New year for a few days if you need it

Take care and enjoy the festivities

All the team at Bramhall Osteopaths 🎄🎅🏼

Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain & other conditions in pregnancy.
We have a digital form of this lovely booklet for patients recently updated and written by physiotherapists.
It clearly explains and reassures anyone struggling with aches and pains in pregnancy. Many women I speak to just want some guidance on how to manage during their pregnancy. They don't always know what is 'norrmal' Aches and pains are to be expected. But distressing and disabling pain is not.

This booklet explains what might contribute to pain and some self help tips. Often, this is all that is needed.
But if not, do ask your midwife to refer to physio. Or, consider an appointment with our pelvic health physio Dee Woodcock.

https://thepogp.co.uk/patient_information/womens_health/pregnancy_pgp_lbp.

If you would like a digital copy of the full booklet just drop us a message as we can send it over to you 😊

Pregnancy and Acupuncture

Being pregnant can be one of the most wonderful and joyful times for a woman. But if painful conditions such as lower back, hip or pelvic girdle pain kick in, it can be more a case of limping through those last few weeks. And with pain medication options reduced, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help.

The good news, however, is that acupuncture is usually a very successful intervention for these pregnancy-related pain conditions. We offer simple and safe acupuncture treatments to women throughout pregnancy and see lots of success stories in the clinic. Sometimes one or two treatments can be enough to make a difference and sometimes weekly sessions over a longer period might be needed.

If you’d like to know more, please contact Fiona Bullock at the clinic for a free discussion.

☎️ 0161 440 0298

The 'Meno–PAUSE' Massage

Take time to Pause and find the ‘Me’ in your Menopause.
Fluctuating hormone levels, broken sleep and the physical changes that accompany the menopause can make it a challenging time mentally for many women. Incorporating regular massages can give you that much-needed ‘me time’ to decompress and relax.

Are you struggling with symptoms of the Perimenopause/Menopause?

• Fatigue
• Hot Flushes
• Poor Sleep
• Mood Swings
• Muscle/soft tissue aches/pains
• Anxiety
• Low Mood
• Brain Fog
• Joint pain
• Forgetfulness
• Headaches
• Dry Skin
• Lack of concentration
• Not feeling like ‘Me’…and the list goes on….

Meno-PAUSE Massage ‘Presses the Pause’ Button, turning down the dial on symptoms with an hour of relaxation.
Individually tailored therapy just for you, with a combination of Massage to ease those aches and pains, Acupressure techniques to help manage specific issues such as Anxiety, Hot Flushes, Insomnia, Breath Work to calm body and mind, Gentle Unwinding to balance - all with essential oils chosen to support your menopausal journey.

If you would like to find out more or book your very own 'meno-PAUSE', please get in touch.

Sally Triner MFHT
Holistic Massage Practitioner
Menopause Wellness, Oncology and Scar Therapy Specialist
@ Bramhall Osteopathic Practice

☎️ 016 440 0298

Have you tried Padel yet ?

Padel (Spanish: pádel), is a racket sport of Mexican origin, typically played in doubles on an enclosed court slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court, it is great fun 🤩

According to the International Padel Federation (FIP) there are more than 25 million active players in more than 90 countries in 2023

It’s a great way to get and keep fit, make new friends and enjoy your competitive streak 🎾

If like some of us at Bramhall Osteopaths, you are playing a lot, regular treatments and massage can help keep you in tip top condition 💪🏼 so you can keep enjoying the game 🎾

Call ☎️ 0161 440 0298

for any enquiries or bookings

Take care of yourselves
🎾

A gorgeous photo sent in by a happy client of one of the absolutely beautiful essential oil bespoke Reed Diffusers made by our Clinical Aromatherapist Justine Jackson

If only you could smell 👃🏼 it through your phone 📱

This one is a gorgeous balancing blend of Geranium Bourbon with Sweet Orange and Lavender 💚🧡💜

Reed Diffusers
Skin Balms and Creams
Roller Balls
Massage Blends
Roller Balls
Aromasticks
Epsom Bath Salts
Neat Blends for Sonic Diffusers
Room Sprays / Sleep Sprays / Cooling Sprays
All made just for you 🩷🩵

🍊

It's world Menopause month and there's still so much for us all to learn.
We know about hot flushes, mind fog, mood changes. But losing our oestrogen also affects our muscle size and this includes our pelvic floor muscles.
PF muscles support our pelvic organs - bladder, bowels, uterus, Va**na. Some women of (peri) menopause age (40+) may notice increased bladder urgency or urinary leakage. Some notice a bulge in the Va**na and may be told they have a prolapse. Many will feel itchy and self treat for thrush, when it's probably simple dryness in the ge***al area.
Intimacy can also become uncomfortable and libido reduced.

All these are distressing, embarrassing and very personal. Not so widely talked about. But don't dispair!
There's lots of help available with or without HRT. So don't put up with these symptoms.

See your GP.

They may recommend seeing a Pelvic Health Physio. Many women feel so relieved to talk it though and learn some useful, simple self treatments as well as how to strengthen those PF muscles to support those amazing pelvic organs.

Dee Woodcock offers confidential consultations. No embarrassment required 😁

☎️ 0161 440 0298

if you need any advice or support

Moxibustion

When people think of acupuncture, they normally just think of needles. What most people don’t know is that acupuncture has been used alongside something called moxibustion throughout it's history. In fact, the Chinese character for acupuncture means a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion

Moxibustion is a method of heating specific acupuncture points on the body by burning a dried herb called moxa close to the skin. It can be used to promote the flow of what we call ‘Qi and Blood’ in the acupuncture channels and thereby bring balance back to the body and promote good health. One of it’s many wonderful applications is to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position before childbirth!

My patients find the sensation of receiving moxibustion and the smell of the burning moxa incredibly relaxing and often ask for it especially.

If you’d like to know more, please contact Fiona on 07969 624605.

What is moxa made of?

The herb material used is mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris, Ai Ye) an invasive w**d, which grows in many climates, including Western North Carolina. Mugwort has a long history of use in folk medicine. It is believed that the Romans planted mugwort by roadsides to make it available to travelers to put in their shoes to relieve aching feet and protect them from exhaustion. Maybe this is because of its ability to enhance the movement of qi and blood.


Mugwort gets its botanical name from the Greek moon goddess Artemis, a patron of women, and is a wonderful herb for gynecological conditions. In Chinese Herbal Medicine it is used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding and uterine bleeding and to increase blood circulation to the pelvic area to treat menstrual pain.

Any type of heat applied to the body can increase the flow of qi and blood. Heat lamps, heating pads, or warming liniments can give a similar effect to moxibustion. But the heat combined with the powerful healing properties of mugwort gives moxibustion a proven advantage.

Mugwort is used because of its acrid, spicy odor which makes it able to travel through all of the meridians, regulate qi and blood, and expel cold. One of mugwort’s active components, borneol, is commonly used in topical therapies for its analgesic effects. Other explanations for the use of mugwort, as opposed to some other herb material, is that it grows easily in many places, is inexpensive, and burns slowly.

What is moxibustion used for?

Moxibustion can be used to prevent diseases and maintain health as part of tonification treatments to help strengthen the organs and immune system. It warms the meridians and expels cold. It can be used to promote circulation over areas of chronic pain or muscle tension. It is especially used for pain that is worse with exposure to cold or damp weather, as with some types of arthritis pain. When applied to acupuncture points that strengthen and lift the qi, moxibustion can boost the immune system and help with fatigue, digestive issues, and much more.

Sally Triner - as a Certified Oncology Massage Therapist and Scar Therapy Practitioner I want to support my clients and love to be able to say ‘Yes’ you can have touch therapy.
There are so many benefits from massage - complementing your ongoing Medical care, enhancing the healing processes without interfering with it.

My focus is YOU - offering a holistic approach to address your physical and emotional needs, listening to you as well as manually helping to reduce cancer related symptoms such as fatigue, pain, anxiety.

Every Body deserves a massage.

Massage for Every Body by Sally Triner - Holistic Massage Practitioner at Bramhall Osteopathic Practice

://www.co-kinetic.com/leaflet/share/12654/26cb8e4e55e26ef16484a3ee4017a3d5

How to keep a healthy bladder 💦

1. Keep hydrated. Aim to drink 1.5-2Litres of (good) fluid per day. Check in the toilet, urine should be a pale straw colour. If it’s darker, you could be dehydrated.
2. Limit your intake of caffeine, fizzy drinks, alcohol and acidic drinks. These can all irritate the bladder and make you want to wee more often and more urgently.
3. Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight can increase incontinence risk
4. Practice your pelvic floor strengthening exercises daily. Pelvic floor muscles support your pelvic contents, including your bladder and bowel.
5. Stop smoking. Smoking can increase risk of incontinence.
6. Eat well and avoid constipation. Regular straining to open bowels can lead to weak pelvic floor muscles and therefore, incontinence.
7. Go to the toilet every 2-3 hours in the day. Your bladder should fill gradually so if you’re getting a sudden strong urge to urinate, this could be Overactive bladder (OAB).
8. Women, wipe from front to back after urinating. This reduces the risk of spreading bacteria from the bowel to the urethra (water pipe from the bladder)
9. Avoid soaps, wipes or deodorants in the ge***al area. These can destroy ‘good’ bacteria which help to prevent infections. Use fragrance free emollients to wash and then moisturise the ge***al skin. The va**na is like a self-cleaning oven – so don’t ‘douche’ or wash it out.
10. If you’re under 50, you shouldn’t need to wee at night. If you do, consider not drinking for 2 hours before bedtime.

These are simple tips from Dee Woodcock our Specialist Physio - If you have any pelvic pain or notice any blood in your urine or on the tissue, or have any other bladder concerns, don’t be embarrassed or afraid to seek urgent advice from your GP.

SHOES SHOES SHOES

Having recently been taken to see the ‘Barbie’ movie by my daughter (I did secretly find it fun and thought provoking), it led me to think about shoes and their impact, especially on women’s bodies although footwear can also affect men too.
There are many challenges to our bodies from footwear, especially if we spend long periods in high heels or badly fitting shoes.
High heels always look amazing in their design and how they change the contour of our legs and posture.
Wearing high heels for short periods of time is never usually an issue however if worn all day, every day problems may ensue.
There are postural and mechanical changes that happen, the calves shorten as do the hamstrings and antenar hip muscles. The curves of the spine become exaggerated.
This can create aches and pains as the muscles tire and the joints become inflamed as they have to function differently.
Alternatively, if you go from wearing high heels a lot to suddenly changing to flat shoes or bare feet the shortened areas have to try to open out and other aches and pains can develop!
If you put your foot into a tight or ill-fitting shoe – it creates local mechanical issues within the foot.
The discomfort may then make you alter how you hold you foot and walk. This again can give local pain or pains in other areas of the foot and spine as function changes.
People can experience a wide range of symptoms from footwear.
• Big toe joints can become stiff and painful from getting squashed or taking too much weight from being in high heels.
• The balls of the feet can similarly be affected.
• The arches of the feet can have ‘plantar fasciitis’ – pain down the arch of the feet.
• The achilles tendon can become painful from being over-stretched after if has been in a shortened state with high heels and then asked to lengthen in flat shoes.
• Calves/hamstrings and fronts of the pelvis can become very tight and painful if in high shoes consistently or particularly if people suddenly go into flat shoes.
• The lower back, mid back or neck can become very painful adapting to postural changes.
• You can even become prone to headaches!
It would be a huge shame to take glamour out of our shoe collection so as with most things in life, a variety of footwear is probably ideal.
Make sure you have great sport footwear suited to whatever sport you play.
Get your foot size checked and ask advice on styles to suit your feet.
Wear high heels for special occasions but keep a flatter pair handy to swap into – always great for parties avoiding dancing for long periods in heels. As the night goes on no-one notices what is on our feet!
The recent trend for glamorous trainers are a great alternative to heels. They can now be worn with lovely dresses as well as trousers.
It actually isn’t good to wear totally flat shoes all the time, either a wedge or small heel is also a good alternative.
The main thing is continue enjoying your shoes – they add individual character and glamour to our outfits!
In Bramhall we are lucky enough to have three brilliant shoe shops with owners and staff that are more than happy to give advice and check the fit, so you end up with the perfect pair.
Arnouts for some fabulous shoes that provide style, glamour, and comfort. www.arnouts.co.uk
Footcare for those with needs for extra comfort but still style
www.footcarestockport.co.uk
Jim Hall Sports for fantastic and well-fitting sports footwear
www.jimhallsports.co.uk
Bramhall is exceedingly lucky to have three such great shops.
Here at Bramhall Osteopathic Practice, we are always happy to offer advice and treatment if you develop any aches and pains!
Happy Shoes
Jo Cheaney

The link between values and mood 😄🙁

One of the things that we know helps people to feel good is doing a range of daily activities that are in line with their values.

Values are really personal and taking time to ask yourself what's important to you and what your long term goals are can be a really useful guide to how to boost your mood.

It can help to think about these key value areas:
self-care,
daily responsibilities,
relationships,
work and education,
leisure interests and identity.

For example if you value physical fitness, you might want to spend some time at the gym.
If you value being a good friend, you might want to send that text message to ask how they are.
All these small things that we do add up and make life more rewarding.

Why not give it a go...

Take Care of yourselves x

Lauren Coombes
CBT Practitioner and Lecturer

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops in response to traumatic events and can result in re-experiencing, avoidance, anger, sleep disturbance and substance misuse (NICE 2018)

This is a very distressing condition that I am seeing more of in clinic, especially in its milder manifestations.
In my experience, it often responds very well to acupuncture treatment and I have seen a lot of success with this in clinic.

The evidence for the benefits of acupuncture in the management of the symptoms of PTSD is growing. Currently the evidence suggests acupuncture:

• Improves PTSD and depressive symptoms (Grant 2018; Kim 2013; Feng 2019)
• Can improve sleep quality (Huang 2018; King 2015)
• Helps with pain and physical functioning (Engel 2014; Moiraghi 2019)
• Reduces the symptoms of PTSD to the same extent as cognitive behavioural therapy (Metcalf 2016)

If you would like to know more about how acupuncture could help you,
please contact Fiona Bullock on 07969 624605

Look after yourselves BOP x

Mood and physical activity!

Ho Lauren Coombes here, last time I posted, I shared my new passion for strength training but I understand that this isn't for everyone. Updated national guidelines for depression (NICE) now include group physical activity as a specific treatment for people who are depressed. While this is something that should be delivered by a specialist, it might be worth seeing whether an exercise class helps to boost your mood as well as your physical health!

Photo - Justine our Clinical Aromatherpist at a group Yoga class

Supporting People Through Their Fertility Journey

Whether you’re trying for a baby naturally or taking an assisted conception route, acupuncture is a really helpful option for many women (and men).

Acupuncture can help to regulate cycles, increase blood blow to the uterus and help you to relax, which in turn helps your body work better.

And for people going through IVF, there are some specific treatments that we do to help you in the process in addition to all the work we do for general fertility.

During your consultation, I assess where the issues might be with your cycle and devise a treatment plan to help correct the underlying imbalances that are causing the problems.

After that, I ask people to come for weekly treatments for a while so that I can work with their menstrual cycle and start to make a difference.

Many of my patients tell me that they really feel they are taking control by coming for acupuncture treatments and that they are much more able to relax and cope better with the trials of their fertility journey.

If you’d like to know more, please get in touch on [email protected]

Fiona Bullock Acupuncturist

In our Bramhall Clinic with have a multi disciplinary team including Dee Woodcock our Physio

With the NHS celebrating 75 years, I wanted to share some interesting facts about the development of Physiotherapy.

1894 - A Society of trained masseuses was established by 4 trained nurses. These nurses were working under the direction of doctors.
1900 - The Society acquires legal and public status and becomes the Incorporated Society of Trained Masseuses.
1920 - the Society had evolved and became The Chartered Society of Massage and Gymnastics. It is granted Royal Charter by King George V and men are permitted to join the membership.
1944 - with addition of new clinical interest groups, the name changes again to reflect the work being done around the country.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is formed.
1977 - The Department of Health establishes professional automony for physiotherapists.
1992 - Physiotherapy became a graduate entry profession
2001 - Health Professionals Council (HPC) replaces the Councils for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. One of its first actions is to establish legal protection of the title 'Physiotherapist' and 'physical therapist'

2004 - Denise (Dee) Woodcock graduated from the University of Salford - BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy. A proud day as a 'mature' student
The Physiotherapy profession has developed and expanded hugely and offers diverse and exciting opportunities.
I love my job and love to meet and treat my patients.
My speciality is Pelvic Health (bladder, bowel & sexual dysfunction plus pregnancy and post natal) but my background has included being a ward Physio, Respiratory Physio (surgery and intensive care), as well as musculoskeletal physio. I'm proud to work for the NHS and also to be able to offer private Physiotherapy services at Bramhall Osteopathic Practice.

If you need any support please do get in touch ☎️ 0161 440 0298

Summer Solstice happens at exactly 3.57pm today when we in the northern hemisphere are at the closest point to the sun

For those off to Glastonbury today we hope you all have a wonderful time 🎶
and enjoy the weather ☀️ (and pack a prickle ball) 😂

Midsummers Eve -
Traditionally involved gathering with family and friends, raising and dancing around a maypole, decorating houses with greenery, and enjoying delicious food and drink

We don’t have a maypole here but gathering with family and friends (with no rain ☔️) and spending time together sounds like a great plan

Blessings to you all

Justine - Clinical Aromatherpist

Are you off on holiday? Don't forget your prickle ball.!!
My favourite and most transportable piece of fitness equipment has to be the prickle ball.!
The holiday season is now approaching - we all disappear off to lovely locations and away from our normal routines. Lots of new and exciting things to do
, and hopefully, time to stop still and chill
However, these changes in routine can create a few unexpected aches and pains. The humble prickle ball can come in very handy to help manage these.
Some examples include
1. Wearing flip-flops or no shoes for longer periods can create pains in the arches of the feet.
The prickle ball can be gently rolled up and down or across the arch of the feet to help ease this. Simply stand with the ball under each foot and press into it and roll it.
You can also fill a small water bottle with water and put it in the freezer. When this has frozen, it can also be rolled under the feet. Very soothing.
2. Suddenly,doing lots of impact sports - football on the beach, tennis, golf, volleyball to name a few.! These can leave hips and lower backs a bit stiff afterwards.
You can sit on the floor and roll the prickle ball deep into your hips . Also lie on your back wth your knees bent up and place it under your sacrum/base of your spine and gently rock your pelvis to ease it.
3.As well as the mentioned activities , lying on sunbeds on your stomach reading or on your back with your head propped up can aggravate your neck and shoulders.
To help this, you can stand against a wall and place the ball at the base of your neck and roll it up and down your spine.
Similarly, you can lie on the floor with your knees bent up - place the prickle ball under your upper back and a small cushion under your head. Reach your arms up and over your head and this lovely stretch opens up your upper back and helps relax the muscles up into your neck.
There are so many uses of the prickle ball, and Conor is showing us one of his techniques.!!
Enjoy your holidays and hope the prickle ball helps.
We tend to recommend the 9/10cm option with medium prickles. You can get them from many sources, including - fitsupplies.co.uk, the physical company or amazon.
Happy Prickling.!!
Jo Cheaney😀