London School of Osteopathy
Chris is has just been offered a new job at The London School Of Osteopathy. He will now be teaching 3rd and 4th year students osteopathic manipulation as part of the osteopathy module. This appointment means he will not be available on Thursday’s during term time at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice.
But don’t worry, Alix will be covering, so we can still offer you an appointment with an osteopath at a time that suits you.
Give us a call at Bexleyheath Osteopaths on 02082987122 if you need to book an appointment.
Latest Changes to our Coronavirus Policy
I am pleased to report that in keeping with recent changes to the Government advice in healthcare, it is no longer compulsory for patients or staff to wear masks as standard. We will, however, continue to wear masks for vulnerable patients.
Hopefully this is a sign that life is continuing to get back to normal, but if you are uncomfortable with this updated policy, and would like us to wear a mask when you visit, please just ask!!
I hope this news gives people confidence that we are continuing to adhere to all Government guidelines relating to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
At the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice we always want our patients to feel relaxed and safe, so call us now on 02082987122 if you want to book an appointment with one of our osteopaths.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Just so you know...
We love helping people with osteopathic treatment, but are always realistic about what osteopathy can treat. It is for this reason that we only really treat musculoskeletal conditions at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice.
Pain is a really complicated and unpredictable thing in humans, and whilst there is some quite good evidence supporting the techniques used by osteopaths, it is not always a “magic cure.”
Some patients need a short course of treatment, some however need longer courses, it is impossible to tell until we see you (..sorry!)
The path to becoming symptom free is not always uniform either and we warn all of our patients that there might be some "road bumps” along the way. We tend to ask people to gauge their condition "week on week", not necessarily "minute on minute” as pain levels often fluctuate depending on many factors.
We also warn patients that they might actually be sore immediately after treatment, as osteopathy can be quite challenging to the tissues that might be damaged. It is for this reason that we try to make people aware that they might even feel a little bit worse after undergoing osteopathic manipulation. This should be very short term and manageable, but it’s important to us that patients understand that it can happen.
It is actually quite easy to over treat some conditions, which can lead to increased pain, this is why a session is not “set in stone”. We tend to take about 45 minutes to see a new patient, and then work on about a half an hour list for returning patients. Working longer and harder does not necessarily give better outcomes… would you ask a dentist to continue drilling when they have completed the treatment you have come for?
Thanks for reading, as we feel having realistic expectations about your visit to the Bexleyheath Osteopahtic Practice will help us to help you more effectively.
If you would like to book an appointment to see one of our osteopaths in Bexleyheath please give us a call on 02082987122 to arrange a convenient time. We look forward to meeting you at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice soon!!
Sprained Ankle
A sprained ankle is an injury that occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. This can stretch or tear the tough bands of tissue (ligaments) that help hold your ankle bones together. Normally the pain will be on the outside of your ankle.
Ligaments help stabilize joints, preventing excessive movement. A sprained ankle occurs when the ligaments are forced beyond their normal range of motion. Most sprained ankles involve injuries to the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle. The most commonly strained ligament in the human body is called the anterior talo-fibular ligament (ATFL)
Treatment for a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the injury. Although self-care measures and over-the-counter pain medications may be all you need, an evaluation might be helpful to reveal how badly you've sprained your ankle and to determine the appropriate treatment and managemant.
Signs and symptoms of a sprained ankle vary depending on the severity of the injury. They may include:
- Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot
- Tenderness when you touch the ankle
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Restricted range of motion
- Instability in the ankle
- Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury
Call us if you have pain and swelling in your ankle and you suspect a sprain. Self-care measures may be all you need, but talk to an osteopath to discuss whether you should have your ankle evaluated. If signs and symptoms are severe, you may have significant damage to a ligament or a broken bone in your ankle or lower leg.
The following tips can help you prevent a sprained ankle or a recurring sprain:
- Warm up before you exercise or play sports.
- Be careful when walking, running or working on an uneven surface.
- Use an ankle support brace or tape on a weak or previously injured ankle.
- Wear shoes that fit well and are made for your activity.
- Minimize wearing high-heeled shoes.
- Don't play sports or participate in activities for which you are not conditioned.
- Maintain good muscle strength and flexibility.
- Practice stability training, including balance exercises.
If you want to book an appointment give us a call at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice on 02082987122. We look forward to hearing from you.
Omicron Variant
At the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice we are continuing to use full PPE and requesting that patients continue to wear masks.
Last week the guidelines for healthcare settings were relaxed by Public Health England, however due the recent discovery of the Omicron variant, our osteopaths in Bexleyheath are continuing to wear masks, aprons and gloves. We are also regularly airing the practice to reduce any viral load, and wiping down the plinth in between each patient. The waiting room remains out of action, sorry.
Thank you for understanding and bringing a mask when you visit, we really want to play our part keeping Bexleyheath and Welling residents as safe as possible, in order that we can all, hopefully, enjoy Christmas 2021!!
Please call us at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice on 02082987122 if you need to book an appointment with an osteopath.
Another Quick Coronavirus Update
As the UK further relaxes its coronavirus restrictions on the 19th July, we thought it was a good time to communicate our position. We have, as a profession, been advised by the Institute of Osteopathy, the General Osteopathic Council, and Public Health England that we should continue with all of our coronavirus safety procedures.
What this means is, when you visit we will be continuing with our infection control protocols, like cleaning the treatment table and common contact points between patients, and will still be asking people to wait outside to be called in to avoid unnecessary contact with others. We will continue to be wearing our full PPE and request that patients bring a face covering.
"In a nutshell” nothing is going to change for us, as we continue to do everything we can to keep everyone as safe as possible.
We hope that this continues to give all of our patients the confidence to attend the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice, so please feel free to give us a call on 02082987122 if you need us.
Thank you
Looking after your Mental Health
Mental health… we’ve all got it, and it can fluctuate between being good and bad.
I suspect there are very few people out there that can claim to have had a great 2020, and as an osteopath I believe that physical and mental health are inextricably linked.
So here are just a few simple tips that might help you look after yours:
1) Be in the present… most things we worry about have either happened in the past or are a construct of our imagination and will probably never happen. How many times have you worried about something that never actually happened?
2) Try to get good sleep… routine is important, try to relax and wind down as well as avoiding stimulants like coffee and tea. Avoiding phone and computer screens might help too, as well as making sure your bedroom is both dark and quiet.
3) Connect with others… Covid has made this one difficult this year but, spending quality time with friends or family and talking to someone about how you feel can improve your mental health and wellbeing. Finding ways to help other people can also stop you feeling lonely and improve your mood. This can be done online, by phone or (when possible...) seeing someone in person!
4) Live a healthy life… Being active, enjoying the outdoors and having a healthy, balanced diet all impact how we feel. Also, binning bad habits like smoking, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our mood.
5) Reframe unhelpful thoughts…The way we think, feel and behave are linked. Sometimes we develop patterns of thoughts or behaviours that are unhelpful so recognising them, and taking steps to think about things differently, can improve your mental health and wellbeing.
There is a growing body of evidence that what experts call “psycho-social factors” are one of the most reliable “indicators" for people that suffer long term back and neck pain. Put simply, there seems to be a correlation between stress and pain!!
Please look after your mental health and always try to remember to be kind, because none of us know what anyone else is going through.
If you need us, we are currently able to stay open throughout any tier/lockdown system because we are a “covid-secure” practice and classified as allied healthcare professionals. If you need to see an osteopath, give us a call at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice on 02082987122.
We have male and female osteopaths in Bexleyheath available to help you, and hope to welcome you soon!!
Coronavirus Lockdown/Restrictions Update
As Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHP) we are able to remain open, even during a full lockdown. The reason for this is that we already have in place very stringent infection control protocols (click here for more details) and wear all of the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) set out in government guidelines.
Both Chris and Alix, as registered osteopaths, are considered key workers. In addition to this, it has been confirmed that patients are permitted to travel to an osteopathic or medical appointment even during a lockdown.
We are remaining vigilant and screening people for coronavirus symptoms before they attend, and maintaining the very highest standards possible to help protect everyone. We are asking that patients wear a face covering when they visit, and inform us if they feel at all unwell.
It is hoped that by supporting and treating local people with musculoskeletal conditions, we can in some small way, help reduce the burden on our already overstretched National Health Service (NHS) during these unprecedented times.
Remember to wash your hands regularly, wear a mask and observe the 2 metre social distancing rule whenever possible to help control the spread of the virus- "Hands, Face, Space"
Please call us on 02082987122 if you need to book an appointment with an osteopath in Bexleyheath, we are open for business as usual!!
Stay safe everyone!!
Coronavirus Update
We just wanted to write a small piece to tell people how things have changed, and what we are doing in order to make the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice “COVID-secure".
When the country went into lockdown at the end of March 2020 we closed our doors, not because legally we had to, but ethically we felt it was the right thing to do. We didn’t want to source Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that the NHS needed so desperately, and we wanted to do our bit to protect the public.
Now as we are starting to understand the virus a little better we are back open with a “new normal”, so I just wanted to outline a couple of things you might notice when you come in for your osteopathic appointment.
We are currently spacing bookings to avoid any patient crossover and to allow us time to clean thoroughly the treatment table and surfaces as well as any other potential contact points (like door handles). Patients should wait outside the building until called in by the osteopath. This gives us time to be ready, and ensure contact with others is kept to a minimum. We are airing the room regularly to reduce the “viral load”.
We are asking patients (if at all possible…) to avoid using the toilet, so as to reduce the potential for contamination. Please consider this before you visit!
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- We are using facemasks (and ask that patients wear one too!), the osteopath will also be wearing an apron, gloves and possibly protective glasses. This will ensure that we are all as safe as possible. We continue to meticulously hand wash (obviously...), and also have sanitiser available, for regular use by everyone.
Patients are being screened for coronavirus before they attend via a phone call. We check they are not suffering from a persistent cough, fever or loss of smell/taste. We reserve the right to refuse treatment if there is any doubt about their health.
We have had to remove all of the towels and linen as they present a potential for infection, which leaves us with a wipeable table and pillows to help us clean thoroughly between sessions.
Regular Rapid Lateral Flow testing also helps us to be more confident that we are not asymptomatic carriers and are therefore safe to work.
We continue to attempt to make you as comfortable as possible during your osteopathic treatment, but we are sure that eveyone will understand that we need to maintain the most rigorous infection control protocols at this time.
The Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice is committed to monitoring and following all current guidelines and government advice related to coronavirus to keep our patients, our osteopaths, and the community at large as safe as possible.
We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Please call us on 02082987122 if you need to book an appointment with osteopaths in Bexleyheath.
GDPR- Your privacy is (..and always has been!) really important to us!!
As you probably know by now on the 25th May 2018 new regulation is coming into practise that will govern how all organisations (including the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice) manage, store and use your personal data.
We thought, in order to be compliant, now would be a good time to reassure everyone about our policies.
Medical records have always been subject to stringent confidentiality guidelines, and when we take our case histories (which here, are recorded with pen and paper) we have always been obliged to keep them stored in a cupboard under lock and key. It is recommended that we keep notes for at least 8 years after we last see a patient, or until a child turns 25 years old. We afford the same level of privacy to all of the data we hold regardless of age.
These notes have only ever been accessible to staff members all of whom are trained about the importance of medical confidentiality. This remains the case, and is a responsibility we take very seriously.
On a first visit, when we take a patient’s initial case history it is obviously important (..and a General Osteopathic Council regulation) to take a certain amount of personal data such as name, address, age etc. We have never asked for (or stored) patients' email addresses as part of this process, but do ask for a preferred telephone number in order that we might contact people to send appointment reminders, or perhaps amend appointments if necessary. Some of these numbers are securely stored on mobile phones that require a passcode and finger print scan to access. Whilst we respect a patient’s right to request that we do not contact them, there are occasions that it might be necessary for the smooth running of the practice. We try to keep contact to a minimum.
If patients contact the practice by email, access to the email account is enabled to staff members only and password protected. Part of the reason that GDPR legislation has come into place is to stop organisations from inundating people with unsolicited “junk mail”. We do NO email marketing. We rely primarily on patient recommendations and people contacting us (by phone, but occasionally email) normally via our website.
Personal data has become a valuable commodity, and some companies sell what they hold for profit to third party organisations. Please be assured that we never have, and never will, partake in such activity.
I hope that this information outlines our commitment to GDPR compliance and gives you an idea about how seriously we take your privacy. I also hope that it reassures you that any information we hold, we do so as securely as possible, and only in order that we can supply the best possible service to our patients.
Thank you.
Give us a call at the Bexleyheath Osteopathic Practice on 02082987122 if you need an appointment.