Osteopathy and evidence-based practice- getting there, but challenges still ahead
Whilst NOT perfect (and continually under evolution and refinement- e.g. Greenhalgh et al 2014), evidence-based practice (EBP) is the OPTIMAL and ETHICAL approach to clinical healthcare practice. The now familiar definition of EBP is the integration of best research evidence WITH clinical expertise AND patient values & preferences.. EBP was developed in the early 1980s,…
Read MoreCPD Course on Effective language and communication when managing low back pain- how to help and not harm
CPD for musculoskeletal therapists Patients with back pain who consult a musculoskeletal healthcare professional expect and desire a diagnosis and information for their problem. However, the words we use to shape our responses and convey messages to patients in pain, have the potential to heal (facilitate recovery) or have the capacity to harm (delay or…
Read MoreYour back IS strong…even if you (or someone else) doesn’t think that it is
When we’re experiencing back pain is easy to feel that our spines are fragile and vulnerable to damage. It can really feel like any ‘wrong’ movement or position will be harmful to our backs. As a consequence, we often modify our behaviour and change how we move. For example, maybe you decide to skip a…
Read MoreLow back pain: To scan, or not to scan? That is the question
Many of my osteopathy patients with low back pain (LBP) often ask me whether or not a scan is required, but the decision to scan is not always straight forward, so let’s clear a few things up. Firstly, there are several different types of scanning procedures used to investigate back pain, we’ll focus on…
Read MoreJedi powers and magic manipulations for back pain? Nope, just get moving.
Back pain is common…really common. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that LBP affects about a quarter of us each year costing the UK over £12 billion annually. With lots of bad advice and claims of instant fixes, lets clear a few things up: Q. What’s the…
Read MoreWhat is sciatica?
Approximately 70-80% of people will suffer from lower back pain (LBP) at some time during their life. Fortunately, the majority of these cases are ‘simple non-specific’ LBP which will resolve relatively quickly with manual therapy and exercise. However around 15-40% of people with LBP will also experience additional back-related leg pain, which can be…
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