Osteopathic Treatment Centre - Pain free,naturally

Osteoporosis or bone loss is a deadly disease that affects the majority of older adults in modern societies. In countries like America, it is estimated that 9 out of 10 older adults, including both men and women, suffer some degree of bone loss.

In Singapore, the rate of osteoporosis has increased dramatically over the past three decades – by 5-fold in the case of women over 50 years old, and by 1.5 times in the case of men over 50.

Studies in the US, Singapore and other countries show that up to 1 in 3 people who suffer hip fractures due to osteoporosis die within one year. Most of the rest become permanently disabled and bed-ridden.

Silent Killer

Osteoporosis is often called a "silent killer" because sufferers do not experience any obvious symptoms. Osteoporosis sufferers generally DO NOT KNOW that they have the disease – until it is too late, when a fall or a hard knock results in serious bone fracture.

Lifestyle advice

Osteoporosis is very much a lifestyle disease.

It is caused primarily by the modern diet – high in protein, sugar, phosphorus (found abundantly in soft drinks) and food chemicals – as well as an inactive lifestyle and inadequate exposure to sunlight.

Contrary to what most nutritionists, dieticians, doctors and milk advertisements tell you, osteoporosis is NOT due to inadequate intake of milk and calcium.

Populations with the highest intake of calcium in their diet - the Eskimos, Americans and Europeans – have the HIGHEST rates of osteoporosis. In rural societies in Asia and Africa, where most adults do not drink any milk at all, the rate of osteoporosis is very low.

Hormonal changes experienced by women after menopause might aggravate osteoporosis. But this is also not the real cause. Women in rural societies generally do not get osteoporosis after menopause.

It is also important to note that milk is NOT the best natural source of calcium. The calcium in modern, processed milk is not easily absorbed by the body. Moreover, milk being a high-protein food, actually contributes to osteoporosis!

Foods like seaweeds, seeds and nuts – which are widely consumed in Asian society – have far higher content of calcium than milk, and their calcium is more easily absorbed. In particular, sesame seeds and hijiki seaweed have up to 14 times as much calcium as milk.

These foods are also rich in other minerals that are vital to building strong bones. Calcium alone will only build BIG bones, but not STRONG bones.

At Osteopathic Treatment Centre, our osteopaths are fully qualified to advise you on lifestyle changes that can help you prevent osteoporosis. If you already have the disease, you can still prevent it from worsening.

Our osteopaths are also qualified to prescribe nutritional supplements that will strengthen your bones.

WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

Osteopathy is a form of manipulation therapy, or manual therapy.

An osteopath works only with his / her hands, using a range of techniques, pressure, stretching, manipulation, etc. to correct imbalances in the body's musculoskeletal structure.

By restoring the body to balance, an osteopath is able to provide immediate and long term pain relief.

Osteopathy is widely recognized as an effective treatment for a wide range of aches and pain, including:

Headache & migraine

Stiff neck

Whiplash injuries

"Frozen" or stiff shoulders

Trapped nerve

Arm pain

Tennis elbow

Wrist and hand pain

Lower back pain

Back pain during pregnancy

Slipped disc

Hip, thigh and knee problems

Calf, shin, ankle, foot pain

Sciatica

Scoliosis or spinal curvature

Arthritis pain / stiffness

Sports injuries.

As body functions are related to the musculoskeletal structure, an osteopath is also able to correct functional disorders such as:

In the US, UK, Australia and many European countries, osteopaths are mainstream healthcare practitioners, Osteopathic healthcare qualifies for insurance reimbursement in most countries, including Singapore. Osteopathic treatment is gentle, painless and safe. Throughout the history of osteopathy, ever since it was founded by Dr Andrew Taylor Still in 1872, there has never been any known case of death or serious injury resulting from osteopathic treatment.

For acute conditions, one or two treatments will usually provide relief. For chronic conditions, you may need regular treatments over a period of time. Osteopathy and chiropractic share a common philosophy about the importance of the spine. Osteopaths use a wider range of manipulation techniques than chiropractors.