We are a welcoming family clinic in Blackheath offering back pain clinic services for adults and children. We are easily accessible from the surrounding areas including Greenwich, Lewisham, Deptford, Catford and Woolwich, and booking is quick and easy using our online system.
We also offer treatment for a range of related conditions, including neck pain, sports injury, headaches and migraines, foot and ankle pain and sciatica. We are registered with the General Osteopathic Council and offer a range of approaches including osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, dry needling and sports therapy.
There are many possible causes of back pain. Osteopaths are experts in posture and spinal alignment, and can assess your overall biomechanics and lifestyle to get to the bottom of your back issues and provide you with the most appropriate treatment to keep you healthy moving forward.
In our modern life, many back pain issues are simply down to poor or incorrect posture. This may be an issue if you do desk work or drive frequently, or simply spend a lot of time in an armchair that is not good for your back. Certain other activities can also cause postural-related back issues, for example playing certain musical instruments might cause you to hold your body in an unusual posture for significant periods, leading to back pain. In children and young people, smartphone usage can also be an aggravating factor on the back and the cervical spine.
Back pain may also arise as a result of other illnesses. Some conditions can be a direct cause of back pain – for example sciatica, osteoporosis or scoliosis. Others can cause back pain indirectly – for example pain in the foot or hip might cause you to alter the way you walk which has a secondary effect on spinal alignment, or breathing difficulties might cause you to roll the shoulders forward which can also have an effect on the spine.
Back pain is also frequently caused by injury. You might have experienced a direct trauma to the back, for example by falling down the stairs, or be suffering a painful slipped disc or trapped nerve, or ‘put your back out’ by straining to lift a heavy object. Whatever the cause, at your initial appointment we will be able to assess your condition and offer you a professional diagnosis and bespoke treatment plan to get you out of pain and on with your life.
Our skilled and experienced practitioners take a person-centred approach and are dedicated to helping you back to full health, whatever your age, activity level or health goals. Our osteopaths are fully registered with the General Osteopathic Council and Institute of Osteopathy.
Pregnancy is one of the leading causes of back pain. The weight of the baby pulls the body forward, altering centre of gravity and putting significant strain on the muscles of the lower back. Pregnancy hormones can also lead to a softening of some of the structures of the spine, making conditions like sciatica more likely. After birth, lifting and carrying the baby can also put a lot of strain on the back and spine.
Osteopathy is a safe treatment during pregnancy and an ideal treatment for pregnant mothers. Osteopaths are able to release tight muscles and improve spinal alignment. The improvement in overall biomechanics makes your musculoskeletal system better able to bear the load of the baby and avoid injury as well as reducing pain. Osteopaths do not prescribe drugs, also making it a safe treatment for nursing mothers.
Back pain is treated in many different ways. Many people treat their own occasional back pain with painkillers, simply masking the problem and potentially making it worse. Many people also find heat modalities such as heat pads and hot baths soothe their back pain, and in many cases will certainly have a mild therapeutic effect.
If your back pain is muscle-related then massage may help, whether from a partner or professional, or with a foam roller or massage gun. Physical exercise involving stretching – such as yoga and pilates – also help many people, and your osteopath will be able to advise on to what extent these might be useful in your particular case.
If you find yourself regularly experiencing back pain and are unable to fix it on your own, a professional assessment is recommended. Our osteopaths will be able to give you a professional diagnosis and a bespoke treatment plan, and you will normally notice an improvement from the first session.
Osteopathy is a hands-on physical therapy that is an ideal treatment for back pain. Osteopaths are experts in spinal alignment and the musculoskeletal system, and are able to accurately diagnose the root cause of your pain and give you appropriate treatment. We use a range of physical therapy techniques including direct spinal manipulation, joint mobilisation, soft tissue techniques such as massage and myofascial release, dry needling (also known as western acupuncture) and stretching. You can learn more on our osteopathy page.
Osteopaths train for a minimum of 4 years and are registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Osteopathy is one of the 14 Allied Health Professions, and many osteopaths work in musculoskeletal departments of the NHS. Osteopaths are also Primary Care Practitioners, able to assess you and refer you to a more appropriate service or further tests and scans if osteopathy is not the right treatment for you.
We are a welcoming osteopathic clinic in Blackheath offering specialist back pain clinic services. We treat all the family including babies and children, and offer a range of treatments including osteopathy, cranial osteopathy and dry needling, and also treat a range of related problems such as neck pain and headaches. We are easily accessible from nearby areas such as Greenwich, Lewisham and across South-East London.
Booking is easy using our online system, allowing you to quickly find a convenient day and time for your appointment and choose the practitioner you wish to see, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help.
The information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Nirosan Sriskandarajah MOst, osteopath and clinical director of Sphere Osteopathic Clinic.
Sphere Osteopathic Clinic
5 Delacourt Road
Blackheath
London SE3 8XA
