WHAT WE DO

  • There can be many causes behind headaches, which then create different “types of headaches”. Some of these are caused by musculoskeletal factors, such as poor posture creating tension in the muscles around the neck and shoulders, or perhaps you have developed headaches following an accident where you may have experienced some whiplash. Manual therapy can reduce these headaches by working on the structures in the neck and upper back, as well as other areas that may be linked, for example, dysfunctional breathing patterns.

    Additionally, manual therapy and cranio-sacral therapy can help relief headaches, brain fog and neck pain following concussions. However, it is advised that if you believe that you have recently sustained a concussion, that you see your doctor first. Other headaches include those caused by issues such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction if you are grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, or even migraines.

  • The neck and back are common areas for people to develop pain and discomfort following injuries, poor posture, or work stressors. Some people may even have more chronic pain in these regions caused by arthritis, or stenosis. Manual therapy can help by assessing the area with a case history, movement tests, and orthopaedic testing to rule out more serious issues that need referral to your doctor or a specialist. If deemed safe, hands-on therapy, as well as exercises can heavily reduce, and possibly eliminate this pain.

  • Many people suffer from visceral complaints, such as acid reflux (heartburn), pain, bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea. Whilst changing your diet will commonly help with these issues, fascial tension around the organs can also be a cause of these common issues. Manual therapy can reduce tension of the fascia (connective tissue) and ligaments around the organs, often helping reduce symptoms.

    Babies and children also often experience some digestive discomfort, which manual therapy can help. For more information, see below.

  • There are many different complaints that can be helped by manual therapy. A few common ones are:

    • RSI’s (Repetitive Strain Injury), such as tennis elbow and carpal tunnel

    • Disc injuries in the lower back or neck

    • Sciatica or other nerve impingement issues

    • Arthritic pain

    • Muscle spasms and tension

    • Foot issues such as plantarfasciitis

    • Tendinitis and tendonopathy

    • Dysfunctional breathing patterns

  • Sports injuries are common, especially in a place like Switzerland where sports are a part of the culture. These can be anything from injured ligaments, such as the ACL in the knee, to a pulled or torn muscle like a hamstring tear or a rotator cuff injury in the shoulder to runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome) or shin splints. It’s important to note that anyone can have a sports injury – from professional athletes to weekend warriors!

    Manual therapy can help with hands-on treatment and rehabilitation exercises, as well as strengthening exercises to not only heal injuries, but prevent new ones from occurring as well as optimising your performance.

  • Women who are wanting to become pregnant soon, are currently pregnant or are post-partum can all benefit from manual therapy.

    It can be helpful to correct any current imbalances before you become pregnant, as due to several hormones such as Relaxin, your muscles and ligaments can become more lax, leading to any current issues become exacerbated.

    During pregnancy, your posture and internal organs must go through many changes to accommodate the growing foetus. Due to this, as well as the effects of Relaxin as mentioned above, many women encounter different areas of pain or discomfort during different stages of their pregnancy. These include but are not limited to: Back and pelvic pain, round ligament pain (around the side and bottom of the belly), reflux, headaches, poor lymphatic drainage in the legs and feet (leading to swelling) and carpal tunnel syndrome. These can be partially prevented or reduced through manual therapy. It is also helpful to make sure the pelvis is properly aligned, and that muscles are balanced for the birthing process.

    Once a woman has given birth, it is natural and normal for all the attention to now be on the infant. However, giving birth is a major physical feat that should not be ignored. Even without complications, women can often have pelvic and back pain, as well as headaches, as their posture has again had to rapidly change. Complications such as the use of forceps, the baby getting “stuck”, and caesareans can create further imbalances and discomfort. Additionally, the act of breastfeeding and the posture that often accompanies this, can often lead to back and neck pain. Manual therapy can help with these complaints through hands-on treatment, gentle exercises, and simple adjustments at home.

  • Birth is a strenuous process, not only for the mother, but for the baby as well. Even without any complications or interventions, the infant’s skull has to change shape and the whole baby rotates as it passes through the birth canal. Complications such as the infant being in a difficult position, long (or very short) labour, or interventions such as the use of ventouse, forceps or caesarean can add further stress. This process can lead to strains and tension throughout the body, which may cause discomfort for your child.

    Some issues that manual therapy can help with include:

    • Latching and feeding issues

    • Sleeping issues

    • Unsettledness/colic

    • Digestive complaints

    • Torticollis

    • Plagiocephaly (flat-head syndrome)

    • Ear infections and blocked tear ducts

    • Post-birth check-ups – not only following a difficult birth.

    The type of therapy that is provided for babies is very gentle, with mostly gentle stretching, myofascial release and cranio-sacral techniques being utilised. Most of the time, treatment is done when the infant is lying down, or whilst being held by the practitioner or by mum or dad, depending on what technique is appropriate and how the baby is the happiest. Even five minutes of treatment on a calm baby is worth more than 30 minutes on an unsettled baby. If there are latching issues, you may be asked to demonstrate breastfeeding within the appointment.

    As well as hands-on treatment, you will be given specific advice in areas that you may feel you need help with. These can include:

    • Learning different settling and burping techniques.

    • Working together to personalise ways how to best help you and your family as a unit.

    • Supplementation and basic dietary advice.

    • Referral to other practitioners when necessary.

  • A child's development happens on multiple and different levels. As they grow, they have to learn so many things – sitting and crawling, learning to walk, talk, develop gross and fine motor skills, and so much more. Bodily strains and tensions that have occurred during birth, from childhood accidents and sports injuries, growth spurts, postural strains from school or too much time spend on the computers or phones can hinder the optimal development of a child. If left untreated, these tensions can still be problematic even in adulthood.

    Common issues that manual therapy can help with:

    • Growing pains

    • Osgood-schlatters disease

    • Sever’s disease

    • Back pain and headaches

    • Sports injuries

    • Trouble with sleeping and inability to relax

    • Digestive problems

    • Problems related to orthodontic appliances such as headaches, face, neck and back pain

    Please note that it is advised that a guardian accompany a minor under the age of 16.