Ostéopathy La Colline, partner of Hirslanden Clinique La Colline

Growth constitutes a crucial phase in development, and each child's growth journey is unique, occasionally leading to discomfort or temporary imbalances.

Regular osteopathic check-ups for children and teenagers are pivotal in preventing the development of dysfunctions that could manifest as various disorders in adulthood. This monitoring is especially vital for children with scoliosis. Static irregularities (such as scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis) indicate the body's inadequate adaptation. Specific diagnoses by osteopaths can determine the causes—whether visceral, traumatic, or cranial. Employing appropriate corrective techniques can ameliorate these spinal irregularities.

Children undergoing orthodontic treatment often experience tensions in the jaw and skull bones due to wearing braces, leading to stress, headaches, neck and back pain, or concentration difficulties.

When to seek consultation for your child or teenager?

• Preventive care: annual check-ups, commencement of sports activities or intensive training, initial steps, preparation for athletic competitions, or when wearing dental appliances.
• Signs of scoliosis or an unusual posture in children.
• Aches such as back pain, muscle discomfort, or joint pains
• Growth cartilage issues (like Osgood-Schlatter, Severs, Scheuermann diseases).
• Conditions like tendonitis (Achilles tendon, elbow, shoulder...), adductor pain, and pubalgia (in football).
• Headaches, migraines, or discomfort due to dental appliance wear.
• Gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, regurgitation.
• Concentration difficulties, dyslexia, nervousness, hyperactivity, or torticollis.
• Sleep disturbances or persistent crying.
• Frequent crying, withdrawn child
• IMC (Motor and Cerebral Insufficiency) concerns.
• Conditions like hypertonia or hypotonia, psychomotor issues, or developmental delays.
• Certain functional hearing and visual disorders.
• Enuresis or 'bed-wetting.
• Use of orthopaedic insoles.

Regardless of one's profession, prolonged hours in the same posture or repetitive motions are common occurrences.

Whether seated before a computer, carrying heavy objects, performing repetitive manual tasks, assuming challenging positions, or experiencing stress, these factors often lead to various musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Mindful of these muscular and joint issues linked to occupational conditions, osteopaths utilize a method of care aimed at identifying and treating limitations in mobility that can affect the entire body.

The onset of initial discomfort or tension should prompt a visit to an osteopath, who will conduct a comprehensive assessment and restore the body's adaptability to the stresses it endures.

When should you seek consultation?

• Back pain: lumbar, thoracic, cervical, torticollis, herniated disc, or disc protrusion.
• Neuralgia: sciatica, cruralgia, cervico-brachial neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia.
• Pelvic pain: sacralgia, coccygodynia (coccyx pain).
• Functional urinary and anal incontinence.
• Post-surgical consequences.
• Headaches, certain types of dizziness
• Muscle discomfort: contractions, cramps, tightness, tendonitis.
• Conditions like osteoarthritis, arthritis, or osteoporosis.
• Joint discomfort: hips, knees, ankles, fingers, shoulders, or neck.
• Gastrointestinal issues: abdominal pain, functional colitis, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, epigastric pain, excessive belching, or gastric reflux.
• Post-traumatic concerns.
• Sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, or stress-related symptoms.

Any loss of mobility in joints, muscles, ligaments, or the visceral system can disrupt your body's balance. For athletes, this can manifest in various symptoms, ranging from simple muscle tension to chronic pain, ultimately affecting performance.

With a comprehensive approach to the body, an osteopath can identify and address the root causes of pain that hinder sports activities. Its efficacy extends to enhancing muscle potential, strength, joint flexibility, and respiratory capacity. Osteopathic treatment aids in improving pre-event concentration and optimizing post-exercise recovery.

When to seek consultation?

• Prevention: annual check-ups, competition preparation, prior to commencing an activity, or to enhance performance.
• Back pain, scoliosis, or joint discomfort.
• History of fractures, sprains, or surgeries.
• Strains, tendonitis (like tennis or golf elbow, Achilles tendon issues).
• Muscle discomfort: contractions, strains, tears, ruptures, and dislocation.
• Pubalgia and adductor pathologies (common in football).
• Use of orthopaedic insoles.
• Breathlessness during exertion, challenges in recovery (during and after exercises).
• Dislocations and periarthritis.
• Post-operative or post-trauma conditions.

Of course, pregnancy is not a pathological condition, but it is accompanied by many changes in the body in a short period of time.

While pregnancy itself isn't a pathological condition, it does introduce numerous bodily changes within a relatively short span.

However, if pregnancy coincides with existing bodily tensions, dysfunctions, or mobility limitations, these changes can disrupt adaptation, potentially causing discomfort or pain. In such cases, the osteopath's objective remains consistent: realign the body, restoring its adaptive capabilities.

For instance, rapid weight gain alters posture, often leading to spinal discomfort—commonly lumbar and back pain, acute low back pain (lumbago), sciatica, or torticollis. Here, the osteopath aims to ease spasms, alleviate compression, and reinstate mobility in the affected joints. Techniques are selected with consideration for the pregnancy term and the expectant mother's comfort.

Osteopathy effectively addresses digestive issues (like nausea, constipation, heaviness) and venous concerns related to pregnancy, providing relief without oral medications contraindicated for pregnant women.

Consulting an osteopath towards the end of pregnancy can prepare the pelvis for childbirth, potentially reducing stress during delivery.

When to seek consultation?

DURING PREGNANCY:

• Preventive care: Trimester-wise pregnancy monitoring, delivery preparation.
• Back pain: lumbago, sciatica, cruralgia, dorsalgia, and neck pain.
• Pelvic discomfort, tension, sacralgia, coccygodynia.
• Abdominal issues, constipation, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diaphragm contractures.
• Thoracic and intercostal discomfort
• Fatigue, breathlessness, sleep disturbances, depression or baby blues.
• Headaches and certain types of dizziness.
• Circulatory concerns (phlebitis, leg heaviness, edema).

AFTER CHILDBIRTH:

• Preventive care: Postpartum check-ups, preparation for perineal rehabilitation.
• Lumbar and pelvic (sacrum, coccyx, perineum), dorsal, and cervical pain.
• Functional urinary and anal incontinence.
• Pain during sexual intercourse.
• Cesarean and epidural considerations (scar treatment).
• Emotional well-being: baby blues, anxiety, depression, fatigue, stress.