Although pelvic pain is commonly associated with pregnancy, it can affect both men and women of all ages. Low back, pelvic and hip pain can often be due to a sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. The SI joint is formed by the triangular sacrum bone - which is at the base of your spine, sitting between the two 'pelvic' (iliac) bones.

Did you know that humans are designed to be upright and on the move? We are NOT designed to sit and yet that is what we do for a large part of our day. Traveling to work, at the office or at home relaxing in the evenings, we SIT!! So, how can we reduce the stress of this on our low backs?

1) Avoid lumbar rolls or lumbar supports, especially in cars with bucket seats.

2) The ideal position when sitting is to have GREATER than 90 degrees between your trunk and your thighs. In other words, wherever possible, sit with your KNEES slightly LOWER than your hips. (This is harder in a car than at a desk). One easy way to achieve this is to use a folded up towel or small , flat cushion at the back of the car seat or office chair, so it lifts your bottom and hips up slightly . This stops you slouching as much and takes the strain off the bottom discs in your spine.

3) If your back is achey at the end of the day, when you get to relax in the evening , DON'T sit, LIE down. Try on your back , with your knees up and your feet resting flat on whatever you are lying on, your head elevated slightly on a pillow or cushion .

4)If you need to sit up, stay away from those low, soft lounges or saggy armchairs and go for something with a bit of support in the seat .

If you have any questions about any of these tips, please call Sharon on 9907 8919

Cranial Osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all body tissues  and use very gentle guiding pressure to encourage the release of stresses throughout the body, including the head. It is extremely effective in treating a wide range of conditions in people of all ages.

'Cranial Osteopath' are Osteopaths who practise a gentler, more subtle approach to therapy.  Cranial Osteopathy treatment is safe and pain free. One of its most common benefits is that the treatment is so gentle that it often has a soporific effect, whilst tissue and tensions are relaxing. This makes it an ideal treatment for newborns, children and pregnant mothers, which North Shore Osteopaths specialise in.

Cranial Osteopathy Can Treat:

Paediatric issues

Pregnancy Symptoms

Joint pain

Back and neck pain

Headache and migraine

Digestive disorders

Period pain and irregularity

Recurrent infection

Sinusitis

Asthma and chest complaints

Stress, depression, and fatigue

General ill health

What are the added benefits of treatment?

Osteopathic treatment can not only relieve symptoms and pain. Many patients feel an improvement in general well-being, energy levels, sleep patterns, and with symptoms that the patient did not originally come to their practitioner for.

Would you like to maximise your chances of a straight forward birth?

Did you know osteopathic treatment can improve birth outcomes? (1)

As well as helping to relieve back , pelvic and pubic symphysis pain, heartburn and headaches during pregnancy, recent research has shown better birth outcomes in women who have osteopathic treatment during pregnancy (1). 

Treatment is gentle and can help to balance out your pelvis and spine. This is thought to help the baby to enter the pelvis as level as possible as well as ease it's passage through the birth canal.

Sharon has also found that linking osteo treatment with the Calmbirth courses (www.calmbirth.com.au) plus good nutrition can all add up to a more straight forward, happier delivery....

BUT please don't leave it too late ! If you want your pelvis checked out for the birth, come along as soon as you can. That way, if there are any major issues, we have a bit of time to sort them out.

Need more info? Call Sharon on 0414 529 203

(1) Osteopathic manipulative treatment in pre-natal care. Evidence supporting improved outcomes and health policy implications '. Hollis H King AAO Journal 2000

Did you know that osteopathic treatment can help relieve heartburn during pregnancy?

Did you also know that quite often you get Heartburn and pelvic pain together?

The diameter of a woman's rib cage is meant to expand by up to 9cm over the course of her pregnancy, to make room for the baby.

For this to happen, she needs a nice flexible ribcage and a happy, stretchy diaphragm.

The diaphragm is not only the main breathing muscle, but it also has the food pipe pass through it to get to the stomach. Any tightness through the lower ribs and the diaphragm can not only worsen heartburn, but it can also reduce the room for baby.

As the baby grows and the uterus expands, if the diaphragm and lower ribs don't lift up and out of the way , the baby has to stay low and find room in the pelvis. This increases the load on mums' pelvis and means we often see pelvic and pubic symphysis or pelvic pain go hand in hand.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT !!

We can help the heartburn and the pelvic pain. Call 02 9907 8919 now for further information or to make an appointment.

Sharon Franklin - Director

We are thrilled to be offering our expert advice and helping the wider community understand what cranial osteopathy can do for babies. Our latest article has been published on the Woolworths Baby and Toddler Club website - click here to read it.

Did you know that osteopathic treatment may be able to help sleeping and behavioral issues in babies and kids?

Have you recently been on a flight , even a short, 1 hour domestic flight and your little one has stopped sleeping properly?

'Has your little one recently had a growth spurt or a fever?'

Are they more cranky or tearful than usual or just 'not themselves' and you have no idea why?

Over the sixteen years I have been treating babies and children, I have had Mums bring their little ones to me over and over for the above reasons and have experienced it in my own little girl. Time and time again there have been areas of tightness or irritation in their bodies, which, once treated , have led to a happier, calmer bub or toddler, and improved sleep. As an adult, you can understand if you are in pain or discomfort, or simply 'don't feel right' and are able to explain this clearly to others. Babies and children cannot do that, so we need to follow their cues and, as parents trust our instincts that they may need a little extra help.

I still remember treating my bub at 2am one morning as she had been struggling with teething for hours and the baby Panadol hadn't really helped. It settled her for the rest of the night. It has also reached the stage, now she is nearly six, that my husband (who isn't an osteopath), will say ' Sharon, I have no idea what's wrong with Asha at the moment, PLEASE will you give her a treatment ', or she will ask me herself!

Don't struggle, trust your gut and get them checked. If you're unsure, CALL me for a chat on 0414 529203.

Sharon