“Prevention is better than the cure” is a commonly spoken mantra and this couldn’t be truer. Whilst many complaints are easily treatable, in most cases, these problems can be avoided in the first place. When someone visits an osteopath with back pains after stopping to pick up a pen or a piece of rubbish, this act is rarely the cause of an injury, it is more likely to be a trigger for underlying causes. This means that the injury would likely happen at some point in the next days, weeks, months or longer. However, the injury can usually be prevented by taking steps to look after the body.
Posture is often one of the causes for the onset of many musculoskeletal conditions and taking steps to improve posture can significantly help to prevent any serious problems, as well as having generally health and fitness benefits. In most cases, making a few simple changes can have a big impact on our posture and ability to prevent pain and injuries.
Many of the things that we do on a daily basis can have a negative effect on our posture. A large percentage of people work in jobs where we sit down for most of the day, in addition to sitting down when travelling and relaxing after a long day at work. As well as increasing the risks of illnesses such as heart disease, staying inactive can also lead to many musculoskeletal problems. Whilst sitting down isn’t a strenuous activity, sitting in the wrong position for long periods of time can put a lot of extra pressure on the body as a whole.
By taking steps to create an ergonomic layout for your workstation, you can help to prevent a number of musculoskeletal problems and reduce the possibility of injury. Small steps such as repositioning your monitor and adjusting your seat can make a big difference.
Osteopaths for prevention
Whilst seeing an osteopath is often the last thing on your mind when you are feeling healthy and pain free, making an osteopathic appointment can help to make sure your body is functioning effectively. Osteopaths can give a thorough examination to learn about any potential problems, check your posture and provide advice on what you can do to stay healthy.
As well as discussing your working environment and giving advice on ways to improve posture, osteopaths can also give advice on exercise and your diet. In some cases, where the body is functioning as well as it should be, osteopaths can also devise treatment programmes to help return the musculoskeletal system to equilibrium and lessen the chance of future injury.
In the same way that a car needs an MOT even if it seems in good health, it can be really beneficial to go in for a check-up to make sure your body is functioning well and to look for any potential future problems.
To book an osteopathic appointment, you can call our Halesowen Practice on 0121 585 8555 or our Wombourne Practice on 01902 894 894.
