St Albans Osteopathy

This service has formal accreditation

• ACC accredited
• Family Court registered
• Any other accreditation association

Services provided

St Albans Osteopathy has some of the most competitive fees in Christchurch. You will always receive your treatment from Philip Bayliss, and never from a locum, associate or junior osteopath.

Philip graduated from the British School of Osteopathy in 1986. As a student, Philip had a special interest in, and did extra clinics, in orthopaedics, sports injuries, and the osteopathic care of pregnant women, babies and children. Philip emigrated from the UK to New Zealand in 1997, and became a New Zealand citizen in 2001. He established St Albans Osteopathy in 2004. He practices exclusively at St Albans Osteopathy and is a provider of osteopath services to ACC.

At your first consultation, Philip will take your history and examine you, including any osteopathic, orthopaedic and neurological tests needed. He may refer you directly for an x-ray or ultrasound scan if this is needed. He will explain all results to you. Philip is highly skilled in diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of pain in the body. The whole body is taken into account, and the underlying causes are treated, not just the painful spot. Most back pain, neck pain, joint and limb pains, headaches and migraines are due to sprains and dysfunction of muscles and joints. Osteopaths are trained to seek these out by using both observation and a highly developed sense of touch, which enables them to detect the smallest changes in muscular tension and joint mobility.

Philip uses a wide range of osteopathic techniques, including gentle manipulation, cranial osteopathy (cranio sacral therapy) , and soft tissue techniques such as massage, fascial release and muscle-energy, in order to optimise the functioning of the body and enable the innate self-healing ability of the body to do its work. Every osteopathic treatment is different and is designed specifically for the needs of the patient at that time. Advice may also be given on diet, exercise and posture as well as on how to avoid future problems. This caring and holistic approach to osteopathy can help you and your family achieve the highest possible level of health and well-being at any time of life. If you have a problem that can't be helped by osteopath treatment, you will be referred to a suitable practitioner.

Philip can help you make an ACC claim if you have had an injury as a result of an accident with an external force or resistance in the last year. You must start your osteopathic treatment within one year of the accident date, and complete your treatments within 52 weeks of your first treatment. You can have up to 16 osteopathic treatments for each accident. ACC does not fully fund osteopathy, so a top-up fee is payable by the patient.

The Christchurch osteopathy website (there is a link at the bottom of this page) has information on Philips' training and experience, the history and principals of osteopathy, the osteopathic care of headaches, migraines, pregnancy, babies, children, seniors and sports injuries plus details of fees, directions and testimonials. E-booking can be made via the website.

Headaches and migraines
99% of headaches are cervicogenic headaches, tension headaches or migraines. Cervicogenic headaches are due to sprains and dysfunction of the joints between the cervical vertebrae causing excess muscle tension. These muscles attach to the membranes of the skull causing a headache. Tension headaches are due to stress causing the muscles of the neck to contract. This increase in pressure often causes joints of the cervical spine with sub-clinical strains to become inflamed. Osteopathic treatment is very effective at resolving the joint strains and dysfunction and relieving the tight muscles of cevicogenic and tension headaches. The techniques that Philip uses are very gentle and precise and never involve a sudden twisting of the neck. A migraine is caused by a disturbance in the blood flow to the brain. The cause of this disturbed blood flow can be cervicogenic, be due to tension, or be biochemical (this includes food sensitivities). Osteopathy can help relieve migraines, whatever the cause. Osteopathic treatment can be helpful at preventing cervicogenic headaches and migraines.

Pregnancy
Osteopathic treatment is possible at all stages of pregnancy, in the position that is most comfortable. The techniques Philip uses during pregnancy are totally safe for your baby. Changes in weight distribution and posture together with softening of ligaments caused by pregnancy hormones can make joints more susceptible to strains. This can cause pain in the low back, buttocks, groins, legs, ribcage or upper back. Also, childbirth itself often causes lumbar and pelvic strains especially with an epidural and/or an assisted delivery. Feeding and carrying the baby can cause strains. The good news is that all these problems respond very well to osteopath treatment! Philip is very experienced in treating women when pregnant and after childbirth, and uses very gentle techniques. There is absolutely no danger to the baby, and in fact osteopathic treatment when pregnant may aid the childbirth.

Babies
Osteopathy is useful for problems such as colic, constant screaming, reflux, constipation, feeding difficulties or a flat or distorted head. Philip can check if your baby has any pressure in the head, or strain in the neck or back, or tension in the diaphragm, and he can help reduce irritability of the nervous system. It is highly recommended that you take your baby to an osteopath if your baby should have a fall and is distressed afterwards. Many parents choose to have an osteopath give their baby a post-natal check-up.

Children
Children can have many of the injuries that adults have, and a few specific to children. Children frequently sprain a ligament or joint when playing. Untreated childhood sprains can lead to osteo-arthritis and chronic pain later in life. Growing is usually a pain free process, and 'growing pains' respond well to osteopath treatment, as does scoliosis or curvature of the spine. Osteopathic treatment can help glue ear and ear infections by improving the drainage of fluid through the Eustachian tube. Osteopath treatment can't cure asthma, but it can help sufferers breath more easily. Children under 16 must be accompanied either by their parent or their caregiver (who must be at least 18 years old).

Seniors
Seniors also benefit from osteopathic treatment. Often symptoms are attributed to arthritis or the aging process and go untreated, but they can usually be helped. Osteo-arthritis is usually thought or as wear and tear of the joints, but this is not the whole story. Often people have a lot of wear and tear in their joints, but no pain. Then they strain some part of their body, have an x-ray, and are told that they have arthritis and that nothing can be done except take drugs. However, if they had had an x-ray prior to the strain or accident, when they had no symptoms, it would have looked exactly the same. The fact is, it is much easier to strain a worn joint, and it often needs a very skilled practitioner to help them recover. This is where a skilled and experienced osteopath comes in. Philip uses gentle techniques suitable for the elderly to ease these joints back to normal function and relieve tight and aching muscles. He can also advise you on nutritional supplements that may be beneficial for arthritis.

Sports Injuries
Osteopathy is invaluable both in treating sports injuries and helping professional and amateur sports people and athletes obtain peak performance and prevent injuries. Philip takes the whole body into consideration, obtaining optimal alignment and mobility of all joint and the correct muscle balance, which are coupled with both strengthening and stretching exercises that are specific to the persons sport and body type. Philip used to work at the British School of Osteopathy Sports Clinic where, amongst others, he treated Olympic athletes and professional sports persons.

Location
Thames Street runs between Innes Road and Westminster Street, three streets to the east of Cranford Street. Number 43 is opposite Norah Street.

From the city: Madras Street is a good way to come. At the end of Madras St, continue straight along Forfar Street. At the end of Forfar St is a T-junction. Turn right into Westminster Street and then first left into Thames Street.

From New Brighton/Shirley: proceed along New Brighton Road/Shirley Road/Warrington Street until the Forfar Street roundabout. Turn right. Then as above.