Bowen Technique Bridport – Top 8 Injury Tips

Top 8 Injury Tips

How to speed up muscle strain recovery and care for your injury.

Emergency Bowen Appointment

To save time being in pain, or not earning money at work, or ruining your holiday/weekend activities, go and book an alignment appointment, as soon as possible. Bowen is what I love and practice so that is what I will share about here and is my go-to, when I have an injury. Yes it can be used immediately on an injury, think of me as an emergency musculoskeletal support.

Bowen is the perfect treatment to calm the nervous system immediately after an accident/injury and it removes the shock/trauma from the body, instantly relaxing you and prepping the body for restoration.

Bowen supports to align fascia, surrounding all muscles, joints and nerves, therefore benefits are pain reduction, more range of movement and quicker recover time.

The sooner the better, benefits felt from 1 treatment, but typically 4 are recommended, 1 week apart, however frozen shoulders may take up to 8 treatments.

In my own experience and my clients, recovery is quicker with Bowen and you can get back on with your life again. Find out more about Bowen therapy here.

Reflect & Protect

It is good to take note of what happened, so symptoms you feel and taking stock of what has been happening over the last few months to potentially weaken things or contribute to the injury. You could consider emotional stress, posture, repeated moves, walking/carrying yourself.

An injury is a perfect time to stop and check in on how to therefore take the best care of you. If you are not sure how to do this, I can support you in this process. 

I aim to get you back to your working self asap and then together, we can plan ways to support injury prevention.

Self-care

When are your symptoms worse or better? Use your own natural intelligence to work out what you see you need to do to support yourself, for most people, it is better for moving, such as walking and worse for sitting still.

Arnica capsules, used in homeopathy, 30c strength, are great at settling and aiding repair in the body. You can purchase these from health shops, or even better use a homeopathic pharmacy, like Buxton and Grant are in Bristol, or Helios are an online store. Ideally you would seek support from a homeopath, but these are a great first aid remedy and can be taken 15 mins either side of food or drinks other than water and re-taken when you feel the symptoms returning.

A maximum 10-minute ice pack can help if there is swelling and tumeric capsules can help with reducing inflammation.

Keeping an area warm for example wearing a scarf around your neck, or using a hot water bottle can soothe too.

Pain Relief

It is fine to take pain relief, such as ibuprofen or CBD drops, or your chosen support to help relax and ease things. Yes it won’t treat the cause but it might soothe things in the short term. 

Bow to Epsom Salts

There is a reason why athletes and dancers use these, they work! An Epsom salt bath can sooth aching muscles, relax you and provide yummy magnesium to soothe the body. Take extra care as they can make things slippy, also not longer than 20 minutes in the bath.

If there is inflammation and you would prefer to not use ice (for example we don’t usually suggest icing an area soon after a Bowen treatment as it can interfere with the fascia work we have done) you can put a spoonful of Epsom salts in a tissue and wrap them around the affected area.

Hydrate

Drink plenty of water, it will help aid your body to be hydrated and flush out toxins and support the body to do its job best.

Movement

Stretches aren’t always helpful, as they can exacerbate symptoms for some people, but for others it can soothe things, just start with a few gentle moves, here is an example. 

Start by lying flat on your back with your knees supported by something comfy.

Back care stretch injury care

Back care injury tips Bristol

Schedule Adjustment

Yes you may need to slow down and that can be tricky for some, but also there are benefits to relaxing back into your body and lifestyle. Re-consider your schedule, that includes training schedule.

Do something to support relaxation and being present in your body. I can support you here if you are unsure how to fully relax.

Book an Injury Treatment

Home Self Care – Back pain tips

Back pain tips

I put together 6 simple tips for how to take care of back pain, in particular when its an annoying niggle and you are trying to work out what it is, where it came from and what to do to take care and improve the pain, have a read below.

1 Morning slowness movement

1. How do you take care of any back twinges? The first tip is movement. You have probably heard the advice, don’t sit still, yet are worried about moving as you are not sure which sort of movement could irritate it? Its true sitting still for long periods will make any twinges/tightness/aches worse. Move in a way that feels supportive, such as walking, a simple Pilates routine, or a gentle morning yoga video on Utube, I would suggest yoga where you are checking in with your body and feeling out your posture in a way that is good for you.

Stretches are beneficial, but overstretching isn’t! Just start with a few gentle moves, here is an example, I start every morning with gradually rolling back and letting my back align on the floor (it usually crunches for me) relax your shoulders, feel your spine fully on the floor, move your neck slowly from side to side. Start to curl up your lower back, so pelvis tilted upwards to move around the lower back/sacral area. Bring your knees in and hug them, rock gently from side to side, backwards and forwards along the spine, do a figure of 8. Circle your hips, then use your abs and momentum to sit yourself up. Yeay for moving our backs in a supportive way. 

2. Epsom salts or arnica in your bath

Epsom salts or a 30c arnica capsule in your bath. There is a reason why athletes and dancers use Epsom salts, they work! An Epsom salt bath can soothe aching muscles, relax you and provide yummy magnesium to soothe the body. Take extra care as they can make things slippy, also no longer than 20 minutes in the bath.

Arnica is perfect for relaxing tired, overworked muscles, especially good for bruising. If you don’t have a bath, you can take an arnica capsule internally or rub some arnica cream onto the affected area.

 

3. Schedule in relaxation time

Schedule in time to totally relax. Relaxation is the best medicine and that can look different for each person, for me it’s literally scheduling in some time to do nothing and asking your body what does it need to feel better. That could look like going out for a walk in nature, listening to the birds, going to the sauna (in our lockdown dreams), meditation, have a bath and an early night.

Whatever it is you need to do to make your back smile again, be gentle on yourself and know that you are a soft animal body that needs relaxing care right now.

PS Ted’s fav way to relax is to literally sit in bed and look at the clouds passing and the occasional bird flying over (we have a skylight)

Relax with ted caring for you treatments

4. Adjusting your schedule

That’s something we have all had to experiment with during the pandemic! ✨Sometimes unexpected things crop up (that’s life peeps) the same with an injury, it can stop us doing what we love, for example gardening or training, you may need to slow down and that can be tricky for some, but also there are benefits to relaxing back into your body and re-considering your schedule, that includes a training schedule.

✨Ask yourself, what actually is an essential task that can’t wait?
✨Clearing time to take care of your injury is numero uno priority, it’s also a perfect excuse to stop rushing around.

✨Don’t forget cherubs to keep your fluids topped up with plenty of water. Water will help aid your body to be hydrated and fascia loves to be hydrated, (fascia is a connective web that envelopes muscles, ligaments and joints). Water can also flush out any toxins and support the body to do its job best. If your body is inflamed, which it often is with an injury, water will support your lymphatic system to flush out any debris that is not wanted and reduce the swelling.

✨I would also recommend joint capsules such as these, they are natural and made by a company that is carbon neutral as well as housed in sustainable packaging. They have yummy things in to benefit the entire musculoskeletal system such as Turmeric, Frankincense and Calcium from an algae.

Back care tips Bristol

6 Reflect and protect 

Take note of what happened prior to the pain/niggle, so symptoms you feel and taking stock of what has been happening over the last few months. This could be mental/physical/emotional stress to potentially weaken things or contribute to the niggle or pain.

When are your symptoms worse or better? Use your own natural intelligence to work out what you see you need to do to support yourself. A maximum 10-minute ice pack can help if there is swelling. Keeping an area warm for example using a hot water bottle around your lower back/kidney area can soothe too.

To conclude

So there you have it, my 6 easeful tips to take of a niggly back and if your still getting trouble from your back, then reach out here for an alignment treatment and I will support you. We will work through steps to work out possible causes, reduce and eliminate your pain and send you off more relaxed and hopefully a bit clearer about taking care of your body.

Back Pain Tips – 10 Ways to Take Care of your Back

 

Back care support caring for you treatments

1 Backpack

Two straps are better than one, can you imagine if everyday you wear a bag on one shoulder, slowly the muscles will adapt to balance out wearing the bag. They may rise up on the bag wearing side and to counter act this, the mid back may tilt for balance, the neck will tilt to counteract the change and then the pelvis will tilt up. It only takes 30 days for the muscles to adapt a new posture.  See direct example below.

So in a nutshell both straps for a happy back.

2. Footwear

Yeay for taking care of our feet. They carry us around, they put up with wearing all sorts of shoe shapes & heel heights, they provide stability, posture support, they carry natural waste (uric acid & calcium deposits) products in the form of crystals, there are loads of nerve endings here, they need care, put them in shoes that support all aspects of your foot. Pumps are death to feet. If you wear flip flops a lot, consider how much harder your muscles in the feet are gripping hold. I love Ecco & Hotter shoes, which are both UK companies & sandals that have straps so my feet are happy, secure & supported.

3 Posture awareness

How often do you bring the focus back internally, to how you are sat, are you relaxed? You can try this be isolating an area, tensing it then relaxing it, hunch your shoulders to your ears, then relax them down and back, tighten up your face muscles then relax them, especially the eye area. If you repeat this naturally when you remember, you will have greater awareness of your posture & can sense when you are sat in a way that doesn’t support you. Here is a simple beginners guide to this exercise.

4 Alignment treatments

Do you feel a bit wonky? Do you notice some areas have a restricted range of motion? Alignment treatments can prevent injury, soothe pain/injury, increase range of movement, improve posture & relaxation.

Bowen is what I love & practice, so it is my go-to, when I have an injury. Yes it can be used immediately on an injury, think of me as an emergency musculoskeletal support. Bowen is the perfect treatment to calm the nervous system immediately after an accident/injury and it removes the shock/trauma from the body, instantly relaxing you & prepping the body for restoration. Bowen supports to align fascia, surrounding all muscles, joints and nerves, therefore benefits are pain reduction, more range of movement and quicker recover time. The sooner the better, benefits felt from 1 treatment,  but typically 3 are recommended, 1 week apart. In my own experience and my clients, recovery is quicker with Bowen & you can get back on with your life again.

5 Sitting position

Getting clear on how we sit at work, when watching the TV or driving. then imagine how many hours a week, a month, a year do we spend doing the same actions repeatedly? A lot! So check how you are sitting & reflect if it matches where you might have back pain, Below is a suggested desk height posture for at work, I use a portable adjustable laptop stand, but there are fixed stands available too. You can also get an iPad stand & a phone stand to save holding the item, its way more relaxing just try it! An ergonomic mouse really supports my wrists & a good chair is a great help too, here are some supportive chair options.

Self care correct posture working at desk

 

6 Engaging your core with exercise

I always love Pilates for strengthening & posture support, but its important to find some exercise you enjoy, if you are not sure, try it! Backs typically prefer movement to being still.

7 Relaxation

Relaxation is our natural state, as seen more obviously in nature, for example the trees aren’t sweating that they don’t know what the future look likes, nor the flowers quivering due to fearing lack of money, or the bees worrying about their bumbly round body image, they are just doing their thing in complete relaxation.

Relaxation supports all of our body systems & mind to work at their best. A regular form of relaxation is a great way to provide self care & it can be whatever works & provides support to you. I love to take short moments of mind & body relaxation, also called strong mind, which can be carried out anytime, anywhere, with nothing else needed, it is so easeful & the results are very quick & profound. It supports stability of mind no matter the worries, fears of uncertainty, we never know what is around the corner, so to simply focus on each moment is very refreshing. This doesn’t mean that we can’t plan or prepare for the future, but for me, it has meant I can live a happier life where I feel contented, no matter the thoughts or emotions I have.

It is an ancient Tibetan practice that has been developed for the modern day. This practice has ultimately supported me to see the best way to take care of the self, how to make decisions & have clarity on how I would like to live my life. See here for more info https://www.bright.how/ also books can be found here.

8 Good mattress and pillow

We spend a vast amount of time in bed over our lifetime, please invest in a good quality pillow & mattress that will support to keep your spine aligned. Also how do you wind down for bed? A few stretches? A bath? what pillow do you use? Is it supportive? Is it providing benefit to your neck & spine? It is so important to upgrade your mattress & pillow to support preventing injuries & providing care for you. When you book in a treatment not only do I provide freedom from pain & injury but also look at your

posture at work & play so you can continue on injury free 💜

9 Lifting 

What the toddler did, we can learn a lot from small beings on the natural way to lift items.

10 Emotional care

Can you see when you are getting overwhelmed and stressed? We all know a bit of short term stress has benefits, as in getting our shit done, but if we are sitting around for a long time overwhelmed by a state of emotion, then it’s time to reach out for support. Emotions can sometimes manifest into physical ailments, so often backs I see need some relaxation from an emotional stress, rather than a physical injury. Fresh air & relaxation is always my first go to, also connecting with those important people in our lives, that truly wish for us to flourish and be well. We all and I mean ALL experience a continued variety of emotional thoughts and on some level it is just particles and energy, like fireworks in space.

Shifting our focus from a singular being of suffering, is a concept, yes, but actually there is part of us that is connected to many other beings, feeling the same thought or emotion at the same time. Whether it is your church, community, family, guru, pet, professional help, whatever it is that works for you, please always be brave and reach out, as just that alone can be a great relief.

Happy backs to you all 🙂 unhappy backs can make contact here.

Back Pain Therapist Case Studies

Read case studies and results from Emily, a back pain therapist in Bridport

Bowen technique back care

1 Symptoms and prevented activity

49 year old mum had recurrent episodes of her back seizing up and feeling out of place, she was prevented from doing anything when this happened, including working and especially working and gardening and she loved gardening.

Treatment and results

She had 4 Bowen sessions and the pain was resolved, the client wasn’t expecting it to work, but she couldn’t believe the quick and long lasting effect it had. She is now able to do so much more in the garden and has since had no further episodes of her back pain. Client now returns, for a luxury facial to feel relaxed and pampered.

2 Symptoms and prevented activity

34 year old counsellor was presenting with shoulder tension and pain, which was affecting her daily life, low self confidence and dissatisfaction and emotional stress from her work. 

Treatment and results

The client loved receiving treatments in Bowen, Reiki and Reflexology, so she often chose a different treatment depending on how she felt and had also asked what I saw would be best too. Results were complete relaxation, stress reduction, release of shoulder tension, increase in wellbeing, increase in confidence and encouragement to focus on her passions in the workplace, which led to a change in job.

3 Symptoms and prevented activity

24 year old student was presenting with back pain, after a fall to the coccyx, that had been untreated. Every few months her back would feel out of place and that would mean missing work, she was also suffering with migraines. She previously had found the chiropractor too aggressive for her preference and it created a bad pain in her neck.

Treatment and results

She began with a hot stone massage and she couldn’t believe how much this alone eased her symptoms, she then went on to have 4 sessions of bowen which completely resolved her migraines, back and neck pain and meant she was no longer taking days off work as her back wasn’t coming out of place. She now comes as and when for a top up either in bowen or hot stone massage.

 Quote taken from Kim from Google reviews

“I have been visiting Emily since April receiving marvellous treatments to help with aches and pains, specifically an injury on my lower back and neck. I first had a hot stone massage which made me feel as though i was in heaven and freed up a lot of aches in my body the warmth of the stones is very soothing. Emily made me feel at home straight away and really listens to what you are saying to ensure her treatments are personalised for you as an individual. Having spoken to Emily about the Bowen therapy I have since had a course of 3 treatments which completely fixed and reset my neck and back and helped me get back to my old more active self. I now just top up my treatments with a massage or bowen to keep the pain at bay…and just because I feel so damn lovely after a treatment!! couldn’t recommend Emily any higher – she is fab. Thankyou :)”

4 Symptoms and prevented activity

48 year old nurse suffering from stress, migraines and insomnia. This affected her work and social life with tiredness and needing to rest when migraines were present.

Treatment and results

After 1 bowen session her migraines had completely resolved and she had the best night sleep for a long time. She went on to have 2 more bowen sessions to relieve tension in her hamstrings, provide a balance to the body and aid relaxation and stress reduction.

5 Symptoms and prevented activity

34 year old fitness coach presenting with back pain after a coccyx injury, which affected her when exercising and she was experiencing difficulty in conceiving.

Treatment and results

Client received 9 sessions of a mixture of reflexology and bowen. After 4 sessions her back pain had completely resolved, after 4 more sessions she informed me that she was pregnant, this was a very heart warming moment to have supported someone along their journey of a wish to conceive a baby.

6 Symptoms and prevented activity

 34 year old female that books in monthly hot stone massages, overall improvements are.

“I have experienced so many positive changes. I came to you initially as a gift to myself because I had recognised I was suffering from stress. You’ve always been so kind, gentle and nurturing and have listened and responded to what I’ve told you. When a reoccurring back issue flared up you suggested Bowen Technique might be helpful, and after only two treatments I am no longer suffering from any back pain. This is remarkable for me as the pain has been there in the background for some time. I cannot thank you enough.

The other thing you have done so well is give me gentle guidance around how I can improve my wellbeing. You’ve always done so in such a brilliant way…it’s never felt like you are preaching to me or trying to tell me how to live my life. That sort of approach would’ve completely turned me off but you’ve been so brilliant…it’s enabled me to make good choices and change some of my less healthy habits. I have replaced my endless cups of tea throughout the day with water and have been allowing myself to snack when I’m hungry. The latter might seem like nothing, but for me, with my seemingly endless issues around food, it is a major step forward. I am so very grateful for the impact you’ve had on my life.

It was such a big step for me to invest in myself in this way and commit to a regular session with you. But I’m so glad I have. It’s making a huge difference to my life.”

7 Symptoms and prevented activity

56 year old musician who loves playing the violin but experienced constant pain in her shoulder, neck and back with stiffness and limited range of movement. This also affected her sleep as the pain was so bad.

Treatment and results

Bowen treatments improved her sleep, she now no longer has pain in her shoulders, neck and back. She has more energy and has began exercising more, which is benefitting her too. She still comes for preventative treatments as she is continually using her muscles a lot when playing her violin and bowen supports with overall health and freeing up stiffness. She says how much she looks forward to coming for a treatment and finds it so relaxing.

8 Symptoms and prevented activity

28 year old marketing manager was suffering from constant back pain, which she felt at work, when driving and when sitting on the sofa, this was seriously impacting her daily life and preventing her from feeling comfortable, on top of that she wasnt sleeping well.

Treatment and results

4 bowen treatments later, her back pain had completely resolved and she was sleeping much better, she could sit on the sofa without any discomfort. She chooses to comes back monthly for top ups as preventative care, which is her preference to support herself, after years of back complaints.

Taken from Felicity from Treatwell

“Emily has really helped me over the past few months. I had never tried Bowen therapy before but the results have been fantastic. Emily is really lovely too and her treatment room is so calming and relaxing.”

 9 Symptoms and prevented activity

65 year old housewife presenting with a slipped disc, from a previous injury, so she had a lot of back pain, sciatica, (shooting pain down the side of her leg) she was unable to walk and sit, without feeling some sort of pain. 

Treatment and benefits

6 bowen treatments have been received and she felt relief from day 1, such as being able to walk straighter, freer and the pain had reduced. The slipped disc has completely resolved and the client comes back monthly to support with overall health.

Taken from anonymous on Treatwell

Emily is very good at explaining the treatment. Very relaxed quiet atmosphere. I have benefitted from reduced pain and better posture from my damaged spine

 

10 Symptoms and prevented activity

27 year old sports lover had a ski injury with cartilage damage to the sternum, she experienced a lot of pain in her shoulders, arms, ribs and back when breathing and moving, she was unable to lift objects at work, the pain was seriously impacting her everyday life.

Treatment and results

After only 3 bowen sessions all symptoms had resolved, except minor pain when breathing due to cartilage damage to the sternum, which will take a little longer to heal. She told me she had another skiing trip booked after the first session and I said lets take it easy as you might not be able to ski and then she successfully managed to ski! Also enjoy her holiday as she quickly sought help for her injury. She is now way more relaxed and had the trauma/stress from the injury removed from her body. 

Taken from Jess from Google reviews 

“Emily helped me massively over 3 sessions! I was in some serious pain when I first came to see her, and a couple of days after my first session I had already gained back the majority of my movement that I had lost due to an injury.

She is very kind, provides a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere, and is very good at what she does. I highly recommend Emily and will definitely be going back for a visit when needed!

You do not need to put up with back, neck or shoulder pain, bowen technique can provide a quick long lasting support.”

Jujitsu student had ‘crunched’ her neck doing a backwards roll, which led to serious limited neck movements and a lot pain and discomfort in moving.

Treatment and results

She came to see me right after the injury for an emergency appointment, she didnt realise that Bowen is safe enough to treat right after an injury, she felt relaxed, the shock was taken out of her body and the body could begin to repair. Her neck movement returned shortly after the treatment and then had a follow up session a week later and was able to get back to training the following week. 

Taken from Indi google reviews 

“I badly injured my neck during jujitsu training and had to immediately stop. I was shaky and in shock. I called Emily as she had completely cured my RSI with 2 sessions of Bowen previously and so I wanted to see how quick she could see me now for this. She was pleased I called so quickly because Bowen can be used immediately on injuries as it’s non invasive and can really help the healing process right from the start. Treating acute injuries is another area she’s specialised in and she wished more people contacted her when they had just injured themselves, rather then days or weeks later.

I used to be physiotherapist for 10 years and I never touched a patient who had literally just injured themselves (especially on the neck!) and would recommend rest and ice or heat etc for the initial period. It was such a relief to find there was something I could actually do immediately to specifically help my injury directly. Within the hour I was on the treatment bed in the incredibly relaxing environment and in the safe hands of Emily. I was made comfortable as my neck had seized and my muscles in spasm. I felt my body immediately able to relax at a time of such pain and shock.

Emily carried out the treatment and I have no idea what she does or how Bowen works but after the treatment the shock in my body and mind had gone – I was no longer shaking! I felt more aligned, calmer and the pain had certainly decreased. I knew with this type of injury I wasn’t going to be pain free and have full range of movement for a while, but I knew I had significantly helped the healing process already and as Bowen continues to work over several days, and with Emily’s post treatment advice too, I was so confident that a more rapid healing would continue and that I was taking the best care.

I went back to see Emily about week later a lot better for the severity of the injury and very pleased with the progress, I was quite amazed actually as with the loud crunch of my neck I thought it would be weeks,  maybe even months, before I was back to normal again. So not surprisingly, I still had some decreased range of movement, pain at the end of range and most annoyingly, I still kept waking several times at night with discomfort. Immediately after the session, I literally couldn’t believe it; I had complete range of movement and no pain at the end of range at all – such immediate results! Not only that, but that night I slept like a baby, and have done every night since! Very happy 🙂

In all my time as a physio I have never seen or experienced such dramatic results for such an acute and significant injury. Neither for my clients or that of any of my colleagues. A few days later and I’m back to training again. I have no understanding of how Emily does it but she is just completely brilliant and magic as far as I’m concerned. I simply can’t recommend her enough: If you have any injuries or pain at all anywhere, do yourself a massive favour and just get to her as quick as you can!!”

12 Symptoms and Prevented activity

Anne was presenting with hip pain, lower back pain and knee pain, which was noticed after sitting for too long and driving

Treatment and results

Anne had already received Bowen from another therapist who relocated so she knew the potency of the results and although her symptoms were relatively minor, they were still problematic to her. After 2 sessions all symptoms had resolved and she now returns for maintenance treatments as and when.

Taken from Anne from google reviews

“Believe in Bowen! Bowen therapy with Emily is to be highly recommended. It is a remarkable treatment which realigns your body and miraculously eases any aches and pains you may have.

Some years ago I was convinced I needed a hip replacement after suffering with a painful hip for months. After x-rays showed there was no issue with the joint, I chose to go for Bowen treatments following a friend’s recommendation who has also experienced its benefits. The pain went within 2 or 3 treatments and has never returned. More recently, Emily has freed my other hip of pain as well as my knee. General every-day living such as driving, lifting, working at a computer, carrying uneven loads, sitting awkwardly etc. can, over time, put the body out-of-kilter. I cannot recommend Bowen therapy enough as a means to reverse these strains.

My elderly neighbour who was suffering with such a bad back that she wasn’t able to walk up stairs can now, after 2 treatments with Emily, do so easily – she is both amazed and delighted. I would urge anyone, whatever their age, who is suffering from any aches and pains to try Bowen therapy. Be amazed and believe in Bowen!”

13 Symptoms and Prevented activity

50 year old fireman struggling with lower back pain, sciatica and right shoulder pain which he could only raise up the side to a certain point, so it was restricting his range of movement. He also had a sore wrist and felt general concern and motivation to take better care of his body. 

Treatment and results

After 2 sessions the shoulder pain and sciatica had resolved, however the left shoulder now felt pain, most likely due to compensation patterns 

14 Symptoms and Prevented activity 

23 year old marketing executive with recurring kidney infections and lower back pain.

Treatment and results

After 1 session the thirst and urgency to urinate became slightly exacerbated for 24 hours then completely resolved, which usually lasts for up to a week. The follow up 3 sessions were able to align her pelvis which resolved her lower back pain and meant she had less recurring kidney infections.

15 Symptoms and Prevented activity 

66 year old retired teacher and grandmother had slept ‘funny’ her neck was seriously restricted and she couldn’t move her head to the right, she was in a lot of pain.

Treatment and results

After 1 session of Bowen she regained full movement in her neck and was amazed at how improved she felt with only 1 session,

16 Symptoms and Prevented activity

67 year old man with what he suspected was tennis elbow in his right elbow, this was causing him pain, it was swollen and felt warm to touch.

After 1 session of Bowen, the swelling had reduced, the pain had reduced and there was considerable improvement, after a second session the pain had reduced further and there was more movement to the elbow joint and shoulder.

Contact me here to book a treatment.

Bowen Therapy for Sciatica

Sciatica Relief

Bowen Therapy for Sciatica

What is it?

Sciatica literally means inflammation of the sciatic nerve, presenting as pain radiating down the leg, often felt around the lower back and glut area too. Ow!

How does Bowen help?

Bowen works to relax the nervous system as well as tense muscles, tendons, and ligaments, thereby allowing the pinched sciatic nerve to be released.

Not only is Bowen Therapy superb in addressing sciatica, but is it also very effective for other issues originating in the lumbar/pelvic region including lower back pain, hip pain, hip flexor issues, and sacroiliac pain.

Is your sciatica pain preventing you from your exercise, sport, or daily life? Ask yourself what makes it better or worse and use your body’s natural intelligence to support the healing here. It’s also fine if you don’t know as I can support you.

Usually, sciatica is resolved in a few sessions so it isn’t something you need to put up with and there is often a quick easy solution. 

As we treat the whole person in Bowen, I won’t just look at the localised sciatica area, but checking and address alignment across the whole body, as it is all connected. 

A brilliant side effect of this is an improvement in posture, more relaxation, more awareness of your body and the ability to get with your life pain-free hooray!

Get in touch here to see how I can support you further, or book in a 4 part treatment programme here to resolve sciatica pain now.

 

Sciatica pain relief

Bowen Technique Bridport – Top 10 Benefits of Bowen Technique

Top 10 Benefits of Bowen Technique

I share the many benefits of bowen therapy to your health.

 

What is Bowen Technique?

Bowen Technique is a soft tissue technique where rolling moves are made over precise points of the body, working over muscles, fascia, ligaments and nerves, providing alignment, reducing pain, improving muscle flexibility, movement and posture. But what are the benefits of this treatment?

Read on to find out more and how Bowen can help you!

 

1 Relaxation

When was the last time you took an hour to completely relax and give yourself an opportunity to recharge? Bowen is incredibly relaxing, it instantly soothes the parasympathetic nervous system, which encourages a balance of sleep, digestion and reducing stress.

 

2 Pain relief

Over time fascia can become sticky or dehydrated, repeated movements at work, or poor posture, or from an accident can cause pain & discomfort. Bowen re-sets fascia to be free from restriction & therefore pain is reduced. 

3 Improves posture

An incredible side effect is that you feel and appear taller and straighter after a Bowen session and more aware of your posture. Its important to adopt a natural posture for you, through relaxation, however, some of us need a little encouragement from time to time and this is fine.

“I don’t know how it happened, but I am experiencing less pain and I feel much more aware of my posture too, I just feel straighter and find it harder to slouch when I am on my computer, thank you!”  

Katie HR manager Bristol  

4 Injury care

It is common for previous injuries to be supported, reduce pain and help prevent further injury. During a treatment, precise moves are made by the therapist over muscles, fascia, ligaments and nerves, sending neurological impulses to the brain, creating a vibrational pattern that re-aligns the musculoskeletal system to its original state, thus old or new injuries are worked upon.

 

4 Benefits fascia  

Fascia is a three-dimensional web, that is ever-flowing and uninterrupted. It envelopes the entire body, connecting our superficial skin layer to the deepest tissues. When fascia is restricted it has an effect on our complete health, affecting not just muscular and skeletal health, but nerve capacity, gland and organ function and our general well being. Over time repeated movements, trauma or poor posture can cause sticking and tightness, Bowen supports to release any tension and provide a balance through working directly upon fascia.

Fascia lines image

5 Reduces muscular/joint restriction

Bowen is amazing at easing up knots & tension through deep cellular relaxation. There is NO forceful manipulation. Bowen ‘asks’ the body to recognise and make the changes it requires and over the week after a treatment, the body responds and readjusts safely according to its needs.

 

6 Provides alignment

If your jaw, shoulder, hip, pelvis, sacral joint, ankle, back or knee is out of alignment, it will affect your movement and the rest of your body, if it isn’t now, it may lead to future discomforts. Bowen provides gentle realignment, which the body is able to hold, releasing pain and compensation patterns.  The improvement can hold for weeks, months, years or indefinitely, depending on the individual and their lifestyle.

 

8 Rebalances you & promotes sleep

The theory of what makes Bowen Technique effective is that it connects the mind and body through nerves and receptors. The moves performed by the therapist are designed to create a restoration of the structural integrity between the brain and the body, thus reducing discomfort and restoring a harmonic balance.

Lady sleeping well relaxation treatments

9 Stress reliever

Because you deserve some relaxation and timeout when was the last time you didn’t feel stressed? How do you manage stress? I tell you a secret, finding something that relaxes you is key to good health. Bowen can relax and relieve stress, producing good results by penetrating to a deep cellular level. 

 

10 Your bodies own self-healing mechanism

Bowen is really asking your body to sort itself out. The practitioner puts the moves into the body and the stretch receptors, neuroreceptors all communicate together, to align and repair.

I hope you enjoyed reading the top 10 benefits of bowen technique. Of course there are many more benefits but I wanted to share simply the main support that can be offered. 

Contact me to book a bowen therapy session. 

 

Contact to book an appointment

Self Care at Home – Caring For Your Muscles

Muscle Care 

7 muscle care tips to take the best care of your body and prevent injuries.

Caring for your muscles Bowen sports therapy

 

1 Get Moving & Stretch Post Workout

We’ve all heard how beneficial exercise is to body, mind & soul, well in my experience it does bring a lot of joy and support health, but the key is finding something you enjoy, the gym isn’t for everyone! I tried to find an online link to stretches that I find supportive, but no one routine is right for everyone, so here are some of my favourite stretches.

I recommend tailoring your choice of stretches to what feels right for your body and to what feels comfortable, do not force the range of movement but relax into it. Hold each stretch for at least 20 seconds, don’t forget to breathe! I warm up before exercise with core strengthening, or cycling, then stretch after a full workout, I would love to know what works for you?

 

2 Epsom Salts – for soothing muscle care

Otherwise known as Soda Crystals are a naturally-occurring product filtered and refined through unique heat processing to maximise their benefits. First popularised by athletes and sportsmen, now more and more people are using them to relieve swollen joints and ease sprains, strains and aching muscles after exercise or physical exertion. Great in a bath to relieve aching muscles, or with a bandage to reduce joint swellings. Word of caution can be slippy when getting out of the bath, also it is suggested to not soak in a bath with Epsom salts, longer than 20-minutes. 

 

3 Saunas

I do love to feel warm and to be honest, I get super excited to go for a treat to the steam & sauna, especially when It’s cold, rainy and grey outside. My joints feel supported from going and I have felt less cold this winter, with fewer colds. Other benefits can include flushing toxins, cleansing the skin, helping to support the immune system and a good recovery post workout.

I also heard it can make your hair shinier by allowing the sebaceous glands on the scalp to secrete! Like I need any more reasons to go as it’s so nice to be warm yippeee!

 

4 Relaxing Mind & Body

Bright is an amazing support network to relax body and mind in an easeful way. This has supported me to find ultimate health, a balance that sees clearly that this physical body is ageing and ‘temporary’ yet the great care to maintain its use, to be of benefit, for as long as possible. How you choose to take of you, is for you to discern, as i said before, we do not need to all go to the gym to be fit, yes that can support, but it’s your choice!

 

5 Supportive Posture

We all do it, slouchy tired posture, stressed out tense posture, but it’s great for preventing injuries to be mindful of your posture in a relaxed way. Great to hang loose in whatever way works for you, we are not all supposed to be straight bolt upright, but it’s often small habits over time that may contribute to an injury.

 

6 Nutrition Support

Listen in to what your body is asking for, as our natural intelligence will tell us. We have all heard about drinking water and the importance of keeping hydrated, it does contribute towards supporting our muscular vehicles to function fully, although no need to force tons of H20 down.

The foods you eat before a workout can play an important role in pre-empting the tissue-rebuilding process once the workout is over. I’m my experience I find it best to eat something small pre-workout such as a green juice or berry smoothie, I then have a healthy protein meal with greens around 20 minutes after a workout.

Omega 3,6 & 9, either taken in a capsule or through omega-rich foods (walnuts, oily fish, soya beans, chia seeds, flaxseeds) according to this source can reduce muscle soreness and increase muscle recovery, whoo!

7 Supportive Treatments!

We all need an MOT, like our cars, at least once a year! To prevent and maintain good health there are so many amazing treatments to support you! I offer treatments in Bowen Technique, which is great for healing injuries new or old, it realigns fascia, which is an amazing sticky tissue surrounding all our joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves. I find after a Bowen treatment, I train better at the gym, as my posture is straighter, aligned and I have better movement of my muscles and joints. Aromatherapy and massage are great for supporting tense muscles too, using bespoke essential oils to match your health needs.

Thanks for reading, happy muscles!

  • For more information or to book a treatment please click here.

 

References