What we treat

At GW Osteopathy, we understand that pain, discomfort, and restricted movement can profoundly impact your life, whether you’re recovering from a sports injury or struggling with a long-term condition. Our multi-disciplinary team offers a holistic approach to care, combining the specialized expertise of Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Cranial Therapy, and Sports Massage to accurately diagnose and effectively treat an extensive range of issues. From chronic back pain and headaches to specialist support for post-partum recovery and unsettled babies, we are committed to finding the root cause of your problem and creating a personalized plan to help you achieve lasting relief and restore your optimal health.

Please see below for the treatment recommendations for these conditions and problem areas: 

Musculoskeletal issues, aches and pains

Pregnancy, post partum and babies

Other issues

Musculoskeletal issues, aches and pains

Problem: back pain

You are suffering from chronic or acute pain and stiffness in your spine, which severely restricts daily movement and posture.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Uses manipulation and soft tissue work to restore mobility, ease muscle tension, and treat the root mechanical cause of the pain.

Problem: sciatica

You are experiencing sharp, debilitating pain that may shoot down your leg, severely restricting movement and daily life.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Eases nerve compression and muscle spasms in the lower back and glutes, reducing the shooting pain that radiates down the leg.

Problem: musculoskeletal issues

You have generalized aches, stiffness, or chronic joint pain that hinders your ability to move comfortably and perform daily tasks.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Provides holistic assessment and treatment plans involving hands-on therapy and targeted exercises to resolve pain and dysfunction across the body.

Problem: knee pain

Localised pain in your knee joints or muscles restricts your movement, preventing you from engaging in activities you enjoy, like sports or gardening.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy and sports massage

Identifies and treats restrictions in the associated joints and soft tissues to reduce local inflammation and restore pain-free movement.

Problem: hip pain

Localised pain in your hip joints or muscles restricts your movement, preventing you from engaging in activities you enjoy, like sports or gardening.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy and sports massage

Identifies and treats restrictions in the associated joints and soft tissues to reduce local inflammation and restore pain-free movement.

Problem: shoulder or neck pain

Localised pain in your shoulder or neck joints or muscles restricts your movement, preventing you from engaging in activities you enjoy, like sports or gardening.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy and sports massage

Identifies and treats restrictions in the associated joints and soft tissues to reduce local inflammation and restore pain-free movement.

Problem: sports injuries

You need rapid and effective treatment for a strain, sprain, or muscle tear to minimize downtime and safely return to peak athletic performance.

Recommended treatment: Sports massage

Accelerates recovery from sprains, strains, and tears by improving blood flow, releasing scar tissue, and maintaining optimal muscle length.

Problem: muscle spasms

You are experiencing sudden, painful muscle knots that restrict movement and indicate underlying physical stress or overuse.

Recommended treatment: Sports massage or dry-needling

Directly deactivates painful trigger points and hyper-contracted muscle fibres to relieve acute pain and restore muscle flexibility.

Pregnancy, post partum and babies

Problem: pregnancy related issues

You are dealing with painful changes in posture, including severe pelvic girdle pain or back ache, making the later stages of pregnancy uncomfortable.

Recommended treatment: Pregnancy massage and osteopathy

Offers specialised, gentle techniques to ease low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, and postural strain as the body adapts to hormonal and physical changes.

Problem: post partum support

You are struggling with post-birth pelvic instability, core weakness, or neck/shoulder strain from the physical demands of new parenthood.

Recommended treatment: Post partum osteopathy

Focuses on re-aligning the pelvis, restoring core stability, and relieving chronic muscle tension resulting from labor and new parenting demands.

Problem: baby with colic or reflux

Your baby is unsettled, crying excessively, or suffering from painful wind and regurgitation, leading to disturbed sleep for the whole family.

Recommended treatment: Cranial osteopathy for babies

Uses subtle touch to release tension around the diaphragm and vagus nerve pathway, aiming to ease digestive discomfort and reduce excessive crying.

Problem: baby feeding issues

Your baby struggles with latching, sucking, or swallowing, making successful breastfeeding or bottle feeding difficult and stressful.

Recommended treatment: Cranial osteopathy for babies

Targets restrictions in the baby’s jaw, neck, and mouth muscles to improve latch, sucking efficiency, and overall feeding comfort.

Problem: unsettled babies

Your baby is unsettled and you’re not sure why.

Recommended treatment: Cranial osteopathy for babies

Uses subtle touch to release tension around the diaphragm and vagus nerve pathway, aiming to ease digestive discomfort and reduce excessive crying.

Other issues

Problem: headaches

Frequent tension or migraine pain significantly disrupts your focus, mood, and ability to function normally throughout the day.

Recommended treatment: Cranial osteopathy

Applies gentle pressure to release deep muscular and fascial tension in the skull, neck, and jaw, often reducing headache frequency and intensity.

Problem: TMJ syndrome

You suffer from chronic jaw pain, clicking, or locking that makes eating, speaking, or fully opening your mouth difficult and uncomfortable.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Targets tension in the jaw muscles, neck, and surrounding fascia to improve joint alignment and reduce clicking or pain upon movement.

Problem: arthritic pain

Stiffness and chronic aching in your joints (like knees or hips) limits your mobility and makes simple daily activities increasingly difficult.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy and dry needling

Employs gentle articulation and mobility techniques to reduce stiffness around joints and decrease compensatory muscle guarding.

Problem: vocal and laryngeal issues

You struggle with hoarseness, vocal fatigue, or a restricted vocal range, which impacts your ability to speak or sing clearly and without strain.

Recommended treatment: Vocal osteopathy (laryngeal manipulation)

Uses specialised manual therapy to release muscle tension around the throat, tongue, and larynx, improving vocal quality and reducing strain.

Problem: pre operative treatment

You need to optimise your body’s strength and flexibility now to ensure you heal faster and regain function successfully after your upcoming surgery.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Optimises the body’s condition, strength, and mobility before surgery to set the stage for a faster and more efficient recovery.

Problem: post operative rehabilitation

Following surgery, you face stiffness, reduced mobility, and muscle weakness, which prevents a full return to your normal activities and independence.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Guides a structured, progressive exercise program to safely restore muscle strength, flexibility, and full functional capacity after an operation.

Problem: constipation

You experience discomfort and irregularity in bowel movements, leading to abdominal bloating and systemic discomfort.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy or lymphatic drainage

Applies gentle visceral mobilisation techniques to the abdomen and pelvis to encourage bowel motility and balance nervous system control of the gut.

Problem: IBS

You suffer from chronic and unpredictable abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits that severely impact your daily life and routine.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy or acupuncture

Addresses physical tensions in the abdomen and spine that can aggravate intestinal function, helping to calm the nervous system-gut axis.

Problem: disturbed sleep cycles

Persistent pain, discomfort, or an inability to relax is preventing you from achieving restorative sleep, leading to chronic tiredness.

Recommended treatment: Cranial osteopathy

Promotes a deep state of physical relaxation and helps balance the overactive nervous system often associated with insomnia and poor sleep quality.

Problem: fibromyalgia

You experience widespread, chronic musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, often accompanied by fatigue, making simple movements exhausting and difficult.

Recommended treatment: Osteopathy

Utilises extremely gentle, low-force techniques to help balance the nervous system and soothe widespread musculoskeletal tenderness and pain.

Problem: long covid

Persistent fatigue, ‘brain fog,’ and overall systemic imbalance are preventing you from returning to your full energy levels and mental sharpness.

Recommended treatment: Cranial osteopathy or lymphatic drainage

Provides gentle support to calm the autonomic nervous system and enhance circulatory function, helping to manage symptoms like fatigue and ‘brain fog.’

Acupuncture enquiry

Get in touch with Esther directly to request an appointment. You can find out more about her at www.estherholford.com

Sports therapy bookings