Posts belonging to Category 'blogs'

Much has been made of the latest NICE Guidelines for Treatment of Low Back Pain, particularly in the massage and osteopathy fields. The full guidelines can be found here but to summarise:

The 4 Principles of Management for all Patients are described as:

1. Keep diagnosis under review at all times
2. Promote self-management/advice
3. Offer drug treatments as appropriate
4. Offer a range of alternative treatments including exercise, acupuncture and manual therapy.

Manual therapy is then further identified:

The manual therapies reviewed were spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation and massage. Collectively these are all manual therapy. Mobilisation and massage are performed by a wide variety of practitioners. Manipulation can be performed by chiropractors and osteopaths, as well as by doctors and physiotherapists who have undergone specialist postgraduate training in manipulation.

So that’s pretty conclusive, patients suffering from low back pain can and should be referred for massage and osteopathy, amongst other treatments. The guidleines recommend up to 9 treatments over up to 12 weeks.

This has got to be good news for both fields of treatment, hasn’t it? The question is, how are we practitioners going to make our presence felt? Should the GPs be actively looking for us or should we target them? And how responsive will GPs be to sending patients off for manual therapy as opposed to physiotherapy or drug treatment?

What do you all think?

So, another year down! Only 3 more to go!

In many ways, Year 2 was a much harder year for me. Outside of the course, there’s been a lot going on which has made it hard to focus on study at the level it deserves. The course content was a lot tougher at times too. I’ve always found neuroanatomy quite challenging and this was a large part of the content for this year. It was only towards the end of the year that it really clicked for me, especially as we looked into pain perception and management.

On a more positive note, this year felt far more involved than the first year which was very much a foundation year. Although the practical element seemed to make up a fairly small part of this year’s modules, it seemed far more aimed at offering a better quality of treatment than just a mechanical method of learning.

Perhaps most pleasingly, I’ve noticed that my massage treatments have become much more confident as the year has progressed. I’m incorporating many of the techniques that we’ve learnt into my treatments and am also taking the case histories in as osteopathic a way as possible! Of course, this is great practice for me too.

So, 3 years to go and I’m really looking forward to Year 3. Finally get a chance to actually treat some clients!!

Rich

P.S. 8 As and 2 B+s across the first 2 years isn’t bad is it? 😉

this is a test message to see if I can update the blog from my phone…

I’m very excited to announce that I’m now offering professional sports massage in two prime locations in Nottingham City Centre. Tuesday appointments will now be taken at Elite Martial Arts, based at the High Pavement Business Centre in The Lace Market, Nottingham. This new facility is directly opposite the famous Pitcher & Piano pub, so is in a perfect location for those based in the city centre.

Thursdays will still be at Bushido MMA, the number 1 location for MMA, BJJ and Muay Thai boxing in Nottingham. Home of the Rough House Team featuring some of the best MMA fighters out of the UK including Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy, Paul “Semtex” Daley, Jim Wallhead, Lee Livingstone and many more, it has established itself as a top martial arts training location in the East Midlands.

Appointments are available from 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with other times and home visits available on request. If you would like to book an appointment at one of these great facilities, give me a call on 07990 548519.