Posture has become a huge concern, particularly due to the increasing numbers of desk-bound workers. It is not necessarily the niggles and twinges that are the problem (although they are certainly warning signs of things to come); it is the long-term problems that arise from poor posture which are the issue. It is not very often that human nature considers the long-term effects, the focus tends to be on the here and now. This is why drug therapy is so popular and wide-spread; being able to take a pill, which gives instant relief from a problem, is far more appealing as it enables the patient to get back to their busy lifestyle. However, without taking time to seek expert advice and having a postural assessment, how do we know whether areas of this busy lifestyle are the cause?
Unfortunately, drugs are not always directed at the root cause. For example, take a headache which has developed over a working day in the office. There are a few options available to deal with it. One, you could take some painkillers, which would alleviate the pain and possibly remove it altogether, which would allow you to get back to your busy day – until the next day when you’ll require more painkillers. Two, you could wait till you get home and rest until the headache passes, until the next day when it will most likely return. Three, you could seek help from a Orthopedic massage therapist who will be able to determine the root cause (in this case, most likely to be posture at work) and support you to ensure a repeat of this headache does not occur.
Orthopedic massage therapists develop an individually tailored approach to any patient consulting them. As a matter of course they will perform a postural assessment, which will entail a detailed look at all areas of the body. This will often be carried out with the patient standing and sitting, to identify the changes that gravity has on the different positions. Medical history, lifestyle and occupation will be discussed, in order to pinpoint the root cause of any problems.
Often when consulting an Orthopedic massage therapist, there is still the expectation of instant relief, however, if the postural problem has developed over a period of time then gradual changes are required in order to correct it effectively. Massage therapy is not always an instant relief therapy, but the long term and preventative benefits are worth the time and money spent.