Osteopathy and Rowing

• Enhance physical performance
• Get fit for rowing
• Prevent rowing injuries
• Address existing health issues to focus your energy where needed

“The workload that a rower can tolerate is determined by his physique and his endurance strength.”

“In rowing, there is no significant difference between the technique of a beginner and of an Olympic champion. It is the application of basic technique and the development of efficiency which differentiates the two.”

“The maintenance of good flexibility can minimise injury.” - Steve Redgrave

Osteopathic Medicine: Removal of mechanical impediments allowing optimal body fluid flow, nerve function, and restoration of health.

Osteopaths are qualified to diagnose any medical or musculoskeletal problem within the body. A consultation involves case history and physical examination, including orthopaedic or clinical tests, where necessary. Issues are often a combination of a recent injury/trigger on top of a series of ‘insults’ such as repetitive strains, trauma - emotional or physical, work-related strains, childbirth-related issues, road traffic accidents, surgery. Osteopathy can unfold these compensations, revealing the restriction that is holding the pattern, preventing recovery and restoration of health.

Osteopathy can help:

• Increase muscle efficiency
• Improve mental skills, a prerequisite for success, including by developing self-beliefand controlling the body’s response to stress
• Increase technical ability (alongside focused training with a rowing coach)
• Restore motion

• Ensure a healthy, functional liver to be able to supply energy in the form of glycogen
• Ensure efficient waste removal for aerobic metabolism
• Improve cardiovascular and respiratory function and therefore the body’s ability to supply oxygen to muscles during exerciseIncreased spinal mobility leads to increased flexibility and a decreased predisposition to injury.

Injuries: 

The majority of injuries are avoidable, if the athlete is prepared to seek help at the first hint that something is wrong, rather than waiting until the symptoms are so severe that continuing the sport becomes an impossibility without treatment. With most significant injuries, there are usually warning signs for some time prior to the onset of the injury. Treatment at this earlier stage may well prevent losing valuable training time. 

Over-use, due to repetitive, stereotyped performance of a limited movement pattern compromises the tissues, eg build up to a race, trails for selection, after a holiday or period of illness/trying to catch up. 
Poor technique; a consequence of a minor physical abnormality magnified through the actions required to row, eg a leg length discrepancy with no daily symptoms except in sport. In rowing, this results in a torque through the pelvis and lower back/spine. This can cause, e.g. SIJ (sacroiliac joint) strains, IVD (intervertebral disc) injury, facet lock of spinal joints, anterior knee pain, chondromalacia patellae (CMP), muscular stiffness, pins and needles (anaesthesia), rib pain/costovertebral joint strain, stress fracture, LBP (low back pain), wrist pain/tenosynovitis, G/H (shoulder) instability, arthritis, etc.

Low Back Pain 

The causes of LBP are numerous but if a muscular pain persists in the low back for 48/24 without showing signs of decreasing, the body should be examined to exclude any underlying issue. Back pain should be treated with respect. It is a sign that something is wrong. Pain should not be masked with painkillers so that rowing/training may be continued, for this only leads to poor performance and aggravates the underlying injury. Osteopathy dissipates swelling in the disc, relieving compression on surrounding structures and vice versa. IVD herniation ‘slipped disc’ is now the most prevalent cause of LBP in rowers from the age of 16+.

Osteopaths see a variety of patients complaining of many problems, including but not limited to:
• low back and neck pain;
• repetitive work-related injuries or strain;• effects of trauma such as whiplash;
• asthma and other breathing problems;
• colic and irritable bowel syndrome;
• postoperative pain and adhesion problems;
• back, joint and soft tissue pain during pregnancy;
• postpartum pelvic problems, including pelvic floor injuries;
• headaches and TMJ (jaw) pain;
• ENT problems;
• developmental, feeding, sleeping and other problems in babies and children.

Katy has been in private practice since 2008 after a 3-year full time BSc Hons degree (Biology, Psychology); 4-year full-time BSc Hons degree (Osteopathy) and 2- year postgrad. (Paediatric Osteopathy; the treatment of babies, children, adolescents, pregnant women and new mothers).

Please feel free to write/call with any questions or simply book a consultation online at: www.katyteasdale.com Seaforth House, Bath Road, Lymington SO41 3YL.

Katy Teasdale

Registered Osteopath

PHYSICAL MEDICINE

BSc (Hons) PsySc., BSc (Hons) Ost., DO, DPO

www.katyteasdale.com 

LYMINGTON, Hampshire, U.K.