Explore Pain at the Science Museum

Pain Less is a new exhibition featured in the Antenna – Science News gallery investigating the future of pain relief.

Last year, nearly 6 billion painkillers were sold in the UK. Pain is a constant reality for some people, especially if you're one of the 1 in 5 who suffer from relentless chronic pain.

We treat pain with drugs that haven’t really changed for decades. Is there a better way to control pain?

Explore pain through the stories of extraordinary people who deal with it every day – from the patient who suffers with chronic pain in his missing limb, to the man who feels no pain at all.

How are scientists working to create the perfect pain relief? Geneticists decode DNA to find out how pain works in the body. Neuroscientists examine brain activity to discover how emotion affects how we feel pain. Researchers ask, do we really feel no pain during surgery under anaesthetic? Or do we simply not remember it? How might this affect us?

Pain Less introduces you to the latest pain research, through personal stories, scientific discovery, fascinating objects, films and even games.

Check out their blog to explore the content and creation of Pain Less.

Bowen Therapy - gentle treatment for all ages

Bowen Therapy

How can a therapy that seems to do so little achieve so much?

Many patients receiving a course of Bowen Therapy treatment are genuinely  surprised and often delighted when they notice a significant improvement in their symptoms.  It can seem hard to understand how a treatment which is so gentle and 'light touch' can change the body in so many ways.

Both recent and chronic conditions including muscle and joint aches and pains can be helped by stimulating the receptors in the neuromuscular system using 'Bowen moves'.  

The aim of this therapy is to stimulate the body to speed up its natural healing response.  Sometimes, despite the body having recovered from an injury, the brain has 'locked in' muscle tension and seems unaware that there is a problem with reduced circulation, build up of waste products and unnecessary tightness in some muscles.  

The Bowen Technique offers a gentle reminder to the body that all is not well, and the body seems to take the hint by readjusting the nerve signals to these problem areas.  After a short course of treatment, the nervous system seems to have made subtle changes which affect the blood supply to areas of the body which have been causing unncessary pain.

Bowen Therapy is often reported to help other conditions which the patient wasn't complaining of at the time - for example, someone with back pain having treatment may report that as well as the aching in the low back improving they also noted they were sleeping better, or a student with elbow pain reporting that their concentration levels during exams was better.

If you are suffering from a condition that you think should have resolved by now and your doctor is happy that there is no underlying disease or serious problem, you may want to try a new approach.  Rather than masking your symptoms using pain killing medication, you could try Bowen Therapy to give your body a gentle 'kick start' to recovery - don't wait any longer, give Absolute Health a call on 0116 282 7766 and come in for a free health check and 10% off the cost of your first treatment.  

Back Care Awareness Week 8-12 October 2012

From 8-12 October 2012 it's Backcare Awareness Week, and this year the theme is 'Builder's Back Pain'. 

Focussing on the back problems builders encounter and the also the stresses and strains on construction workers as the building industry has the highest rate of back related injuries.

The aim of the week long event, which is organised by BackCare, the charity for healthier backs, is to raise awareness of the problems back pain can cause, as well as prevention and treatments.

You can visit the Backcare shop and order one (or all!) of their information packs, based on back problems found at home, at work and at play. They also have a great selection of back friendly bags to help ensure that you reduce the chance of any potential problems.

While we might all know the best way to pick up boxes safely, we tend not to think about the effect every day tasks like picking up shopping or children's toys have on our backs.

It's thought that 4 out of every 5 adults will experience back pain at some point in their life, so why not get an information pack and find out what you can do to prevent it?

For treatment information and advice about how to deal with your aches and pains before they turn into something more serious take up our Backcare Awareness Week offer - 3 Osteopathy Treatments for the price of 2 (new patients only).

Drivers at risk of whiplash

15 MILLION DRIVERS AT RISK OF WHIPLASH DUE TO BAD SEATING POSITIONS

Drivers who fail to wear seatbelts correctly are at risk of injury according to the British Osteopathic Association (BOA). While most people are fully aware that wearing seatbelts saves lives the majority are not aware that the way they sit in a car plays a huge part in their personal safety.

The result of a survey by the BOA, released ahead of Back Care Awareness week (8 – 12 October) has found over one in ten drivers (13%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.  To be effective, the belt should be sitting over the bones of the pelvis and not the stomach preventing internal injuries and in contact with the shoulder to prevent a serious neck injury.  Sitting too far from the belt can often lead to submarining - where the occupant slips under the belt which can cause catastrophic injuries.

Half (45%), 15 million, of all UK drivers do not drive in position where their head is close enough to the head restraint or they sit too far back for their seatbelt to be effective, so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury. Furthermore, only 6% of people adjust the head restraint regularly, despite the fact that most people travel in a variety of vehicles (as drivers, passengers and in taxis for example) and half of all drivers surveyed (51%) said they never adjusted their head rest at all.

Head restraints work by catching and supporting the head in the event of a rear end crash and so reduce the chance of permanent soft tissue damage. A correctly adjusted head restraint should be as close to the back of the head as possible and as high as the top of the occupant's head, meaning head movement in relation to their body is reduced as the car and seat is punted forward when hit from behind. In addition the driver's seat should be at the correct distance so that a properly positioned seat belt is low across the hips and pelvis, with the shoulder belt firmly across the chest and collarbone.

Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an air bag during an accident is also a very real possibility for one in seven drivers (14%) who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel. Drivers with a gap of less than 12 inches between themselves and the steering wheel when driving are at risk of receiving the full force of an airbag deploying in a crash involving the front of the vehicle.

Airbags have to inflate very quickly (some at over 200 mph) in order to protect the head and chest of drivers and passengers in the event of a frontal crash.  Therefore an airbag needs enough space in front of the steering wheel in order to inflate properly. People who are shorter than around 5' 2" (1.57m) often sit too close to the steering wheel and may be injured by the inflating airbag.  A safe distance is around 12 inches - the size of an A4 piece of paper placed lengthways.

Danny Williams, BOA Council Member, said: "While most of us are aware that seatbelts save lives, it's fair to say that the majority of us don't know that the way we sit in a vehicle also plays a huge part in our safety and wellbeing.
"The position of the head restraint, how far or close we sit to the steering wheel and how long we spend sitting at the wheel without having a break can cause long-lasting neck and back injuries."

Matthew Avery, Crash Research Manager at Thatcham, said: "Vehicle safety has moved on at a pace with numerous new technologies now available designed to help avoid or mitigate injury during a collision. Whilst many seats and head restraints perform well in protecting the occupants, this research goes to show that too many drivers are still subject to avoidable risks by not taking the time to adjust their head restraints correctly."

Reduce Anxiety and Stress with Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy - help for anxiety and stress disorders

Hypnotherapy is commonly used to relieve stress and anxiety, as people look for natural, safe alternatives to medication.  


Stress and anxiety are a normal part of our natural defences, and enable us to deal with demanding and taxing situations.  This may be in any part of our lives including in the home, family life or in the work place.  Chronic stress and anxiety are both considered medical conditions, due to the potential for them to lead to further health complications.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that aims to make use of the untapped potential of the unconscious mind to effect real world changes.  This is primarily achieved through the use of hypnosis, which is an altered state of consciousness or trance.  This state can be used to relieve a range of conditions and ailments including: smoking, weight issues, poor sleep, concentration, pain, phobias and stress.  Most hypnotherapists will use their voice to induce a state of hypnosis.  It is not possible to become trapped in a trance, though you may feel the need to sleep if you are especially relaxed. 

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety often lead to one feeling overwhelmed, which is when the body’s natural defences are triggered, and the hormone cortisol is released into the blood.  This has the effect of raising heart and breathing rates – in preparation for the stress of the situation at hand.     If not properly managed this scenario can lead to a perpetual feeling of pressure or nervous tension, which can be exhausting for sufferers.  Addictions, phobias, poor work performance and poor sleep patterns can result. Both conditions can be better managed by including the following coping strategies into your life:

• Plenty of exercise
• Healthy diet and eating
• Ample sleep
• Sufficient rest and relaxation time; and by
• Limiting stress or stressful situations in your life 
• Other disciplines such as yoga, meditation and hypnotherapy are increasingly utilised alongside these techniques to aid recovery and healing.

Hypnotherapy often leads to a very relaxed state being reached, so is potentially beneficial in relieving stress and anxiety.

Read more about Hypnotherapy at Absolute Health clinic: click here

Special Offer for new Osteopathy patients!

Now that Summer is here, we are getting more active.  Playing more sports and working harder in the garden can contribute to muscle or joint injuries.  

If this happens to you, give yourself a few days rest and if your pain or discomfort isn't getting better after a week, don't wait any longer before getting help. 

An Osteopathy treatment can give your body a gentle nudge in the right direction to speed up your recovery.  

For a limited time, new Osteopathy patients will receive 15% off the cost of initial consultation and treatment (normally £46, discounted price £39.10).

Mention the Absolute Health blog offer to get your discount - valid until end of September 2012.

Back pain, sciatica and disc problems

Back pain affects almost everyone at some time, causing restricted movement and untold misery, stress and discomfort. It also causes millions of people to take valuable time off work, costing companies enormous sums in sick pay and lost production.

What causes back pain?

• poor lifting or incorrect carrying of heavy weights
• poor posture
• unsuitable seats or beds
• sports or other injury
• stress
• pregnancy
• general 'wear and tear'

Osteopathic manipulation has been recognised as highly effective in treating back pain, and the Royal College of General Practitioners issued guidelines for GPs in 1996 which recommended manipulation within six weeks of onset for the relief of acute low back pain.

Osteopaths are trained to identify and treat the specific cause of your back pain, and once you have been treated, they may also advise you on an appropriate rehabilitation and maintenance care plan to prevent a recurrence.

The bones of your spine protect the spinal cord; if they lose their normal motion or position, this can irritate the nerve roots that branch from the spinal cord to the organs and tissues of your body. Sciatica is a general term describing pain in the sciatic region, which extends from the base of the spine down the back and side of the leg. Unless there is a specific injury to this region, pain here is 'referred' from other areas. (The irritation of the nerve in one area can sometimes lead to pain, known as 'referred' pain, in other parts of the body). The nerves that supply the sciatic region come from the lower back.

In order for the spine to be flexible, the vertebrae are joined together by soft tissue structures known as discs and ligaments. Each disc is made up of two parts - a central soft core and outer rings of tough cartilage. The discs allow movement and also help to absorb shock. A slipped disc is the rather inaccurate term used to describe the condition, often in the lower back, where trauma or 'wear and tear' have caused damage to the outer rings of cartilage, so that the core is squeezed outwards. This can eventually result in a bulge which can press on the spinal cord, the nerve root or the nerve itself. It can cause excruciating pain, either in the back or referred elsewhere - for example in the lower leg or foot. Osteopathic treatment can mobilise the spine to reduce any inflammation around the spinal cord or nerves.

Trigger points (sometimes referred to as 'fibrositis') are very common and related to back pain. They occur in the neck or shoulders (often caused by bad posture or stress) or sometimes in the buttock area at the base of the spine. Painful 'knots' form within muscles which have gone into spasm - a reaction which the body triggers in order to tighten muscles round a problem area to prevent further injury. This is why the condition so often occurs in patients who have had a back pain problem for some time.

Your Osteopath will therefore use manipulation to adjust the relevant joint, and also deep massage and soft tissue work to relieve the condition. Since the 'knots' of muscle are often very tender, the soft tissue treatment may be painful at first.