Tinnitus (buzzing in the ear) and Osteopathy

 

Osteopaths often see patients who have health issues that the medical profession can’t always find a cause for. One of these is Tinnitus, a ringing sensation in the ear. I have to admit that this was the first patient I have seen who has come to me for this, so it got me thinking…… 

The ear has two important muscles: the tensor tympani (it attaches to the ear drum, and stabilizes it from the excess vibration caused by loud sounds) and the tensor levi palatini (it attaches to the Eustachian tube, and helps to open and close the tube, thereby equalizing pressure within the inner ear…it is what gives that popping sound when you are on an airplane.

Both of these muscles can become irritated from abnormal or excessive TMJ (jaw) movement, leading to a development of Tinnitus. There are also important embryological connections with the muscles used to open the jaw (lateral pterygoids) and the inner ear itself.

What does all this mean? – Well there are important links between the musculature and neurology of the ear and the jaw (both are made up by the temporal bone for starters!). Using this understanding osteopaths can focus their efforts in improving the function and movement of the jaw and the bones of the skull (of which there are 28!) and this should resolve (or at least reduce) any experience of tinnitus.

This same anatomical and neurological understanding can be applied with people suffering from unexplained vertigo (often caused by a disruption of the inner ear mechanisms) – all of which can be helped by ensuring the efficient movement of the jaw and bones of the skull.

Vaccination – A Mandatory Requirement for School Entry?

It appears that a Labour MP has suggested forcing all children to be vaccinated otherwise they cannot attend school and parents will not receive child benefits. I find this crazy, we have all heard about the profound positive effect they have on curbing the out-break of diseases; but similiarly the side effects of vaccines can cause.

I have desparately tried to put forth both sides of the agrument, however, I found that many of the “Pros” I wrote – I just didn’t believe!

  

 PROS

 

• Prevention is better than cure, and a vaccine is the best way to prevent an outbreak of a disease or to reduce its negative effects
• Compulsory vaccination has eradicated or greatly reduced the impact of some of the world’s most devastating diseases, such as small pox, polio, measles
• Compulsory vaccination leads to a better health situation nationally state?
• The state has a right to impose compulsory vaccination. If an age group is protected, that results in a better health conditions for the whole society.
• Productivity rates remain high and less money is earmarked for social and health transfers because people are healthier?

 

CONS

 

• Many vaccines have significant adverse effects.
• Some vaccines include toxic materials such as chemicals including mercury, formaldehyde, aluminium, and a variety of other known toxic materials.
• Vaccines might be capable of causing recurrent infections in children because they weaken the immune system.
• Through different techniques the figures on the efficiency of vaccines are kept artificially high.
• Evidence suggests that the dramatic rise in ear infections, allergies, and asthma in children can be attributed (at least in part) to the damaging effects of vaccines.
• By making vaccination compulsory, people’s freedom to choose is curtailed and that is an infringement on human rights.
• Researches show that alternative approaches towards diseases such as better nutrition, homeopathy, etc. give very positive results.

 

To Conclude:

 

I really don’t think taking away the freedom to choose is the right move – particularly as there not enough known about the negative effects (positively described as side-effects!). It is a good topic for discussion, so comments gladly welcome!

 

If you wish to sign the petition against this, please visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/forcedvaccines

Migraines

The common theories about the cause of migraines point towards a neurological disruption of some sort or another. With this in mind, treating them through the osteopathic “lens” can often be extremely successful.

 

A good example of this was patient in her early 20s presenting with a long history of frequent severe migraines (2-3 a week). After being put on Atenolol (a β-blocker to control hypertension (high BP)) the migraines disappeared. She was delighted with this as it allowed her to lead a normal life. However, she didn’t want to be on drugs for her whole life (understandably).

 

The approach taken was that something was causing the hypertension and if we could work this out then in theory the drug would not longer be required. Now blood pressure is finely controlled by the nervous system (like everything in the body) – more specifically the sympathetic nervous system which is the one that reacts to nor-adrenaline. If this is constantly stimulated then there will be a constant disruption to the control of many processes but in this case blood pressure.

 

The chain of sympathetic nerves run alongside the upper back, so treatment was focused around ensuring that this was moving efficiently. This involved a global approach looking at the entire body to ensure that the upper back wasn’t compensating for other areas.

 

The results have been great and the patient has chosen to reduce her Atenolol throughout the treatment (I must point out that this was her decision, not mine!). No migraines to date. We hope by working together, she will be able to enjoy her life without drugs, migraines and osteopathic treatment.

 

Watch this space for an update.

Jaw Pain

It is strange how some weeks I can see lots of patients with a similar issue, specifically this month I have seen many with pelvic imbalances. That is not to say that the pelvis is what they have presented with, however, it has been appearing in the screening process I run all patients through.

I will get to the point in a minute! – Everyone of these patients with pelvic imbalances, show up with a jaw “problem” on the same side. Now this can range from imbrication (where the jaw is impacted into the socket so it doesn’t move freely) to muscular stresses.

The jaw and the pelvis have a very strong relationship to each other. For instance, when we walk we rotate the head and pelvis together, effectively swinging in tandem. Indeed, both are areas where a majority of people hold their stresses.

Anyway, I have found that by treating the jaw “problem” the majority of patient’s pelvis imbalance resides….just go to show how the body is a finely integrated machine!

Interesting stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat Ballet Shoes as a Fashion Accessory

Well what can I say about flat ballet shoes, unfortunately I am not that fashion conscientious but since receiving your email I have been doing some observations of myself.  My opinions therefore are purely based on my observation and not on any hard clinical evidence.

 

Many of the young girls and women that I have seen wearing such shoes have had a tendency to over-pronate (in layman’s terms ‘a rolling in of the medial aspect of the foot and ankle’) whilst walking.  Unless the wearer has good foot mechanics in the first place, (ie strong foot arches and good ankle strength) it would appear that these shoes, especially the ones made from cloth  as opposed to leather, give little support to the medial arch. The wearer then has a propensity to roll the foot in.                      

 

Due to this over-pronation and the excessive stresses and biomechanical changes in wearing this foot wear, this indeed could potentially lead to wide variety of structural and functional disorders. As well as the effects to the foot and ankle, there also could be an effect on the mechanic of the knee, hip and spinal column.  These structural and functional changes could lead to ligament strain of the ankles and knees and cause back pain, if these shoes are worn constantly.

 

Another observation is the heavy planting of the foot itself – one could mistake an elephant walking behind you! This indeed could cause extreme shock and force which would penetrate through the foot and subsequently up through the lower limbs, leading to conditions such as heel spurs, plantar fascitis and shin splints.

 

As a trained dancer (who had good foot and ankle strength), who wore such shoes regularly for ballet classes, the thought of wearing ballet shoes all day as a fashion accessory, does not appeal to me. It was difficult enough walking from one dance studio to another without changing my normal gait pattern (way I walk) because they were so flat.