Osteopathy in Frome and Batcombe. Please call and book a free 15 minute call if you would like to speak to one of us before booking a session. No waiting list for New patients at present.

We have changed the way we work post Covid 19.

We are now practicing from our new home at LifeCare Health and our reduced team of professional and experienced practitioners are now managing their own diaries and so need to be contacted individually via the numbers on their therapist pages.

The team at Mendip Family Osteopaths continue to work in Frome and are also available at The Batcombe Family Practice. Please contact the Osteopaths on the main number 01373 454595.

Osteopathy is a safe established system of diagnosis and hands on treatment.

Osteopaths are used to dealing with patients in pain – whether it occurs in babies through the mechanical strain of birth, the young through sports or work related injuries; caused by weight and postural changes in pregnancy or in an older patient with arthritic pain. Their role is to alleviate pain, to improve mobility and posture and to make patient’s lives more comfortable.

What do Osteopaths treat?

Osteopaths are not just ‘back specialists’,they also address problems affecting any part of the musculo-skeletal system which in turn has an affect on the health of the body as a whole.
Some of the problems that Osteopaths treat are:

— Back & Neck Pain
— Tension Headaches
— Arthritic and joint pain
— Sciatica
— Postural adaptation to pregnancy
— Sports Injuries
— Babies & Children
— Circulatory problems, local or minor
— Fatigue, stress and tension

Osteopathy for Babies:

The small amounts of movement that exist in the infant skull permit the baby’s head to adapt to the forces of labour. However when birth is complicated by being unduly slow or fast, or when other complications occur such as the need for forceps delivery, the infant head may not fully recover from the distortion. This may result in subtle changes in function leading to varying problems.

Osteopaths will often use a special technique, often called cranial Osteopathy, when looking at children. This employs the Osteopath’s highly trained sense of touch to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations, both in and around the joints of the skull, and throughout the body. Osteopathic techniques are suitable for children at all stages of development.

These same techniques are employed when treating new mothers, and may be supplemented by more structural techniques, such as massage and articulation, which are more appropriate for adult treatment.

Osteopathy for Children:

As children grow older, problems may become apparent which may have arisen because of knocks or strains in earlier life. Recurrent infections in the ears, eyes and nose may be due in part to restrictions in the small yet important movements between the various bones of the growing skull.

Many osteopaths experienced in this field also consider that mechanical stresses on the body can be an important factor in cases of developmental delay, such as delayed speech, educational difficulties and problems with co-ordination and physical development that have no particular medical diagnosis. Such children often make better progress once osteopathic treatment has been started.
Older children can also benefit from osteopathic treatment; helping the body to adapt to the postural demands made on it during periods of rapid growth,and strains or sprains caused by large amounts of exercise.

Please call the practice for further information
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WHO ARE WE?

Kathrine Read
BSc(Hons)Ost

Kathrine is a graduate of the British School of Osteopathy, where she studied a degree course in Osteopathic Medicine. She has practised as an Osteopath in Somerset for over 23 years, including two and a half years working at the Bristol Children’s Clinic.

Kathrine is the principal of the practice, and is a well-known and respected Osteopath who has built up two large practices in Somerset. Kathrine is the mother of 3 children. She has particular interest in treating pregnant and postpartum women, babies and children, and enjoys treating patients from birth to the elderly with a wide range of conditions. She uses a variety of gently osteopathic techniques in her practice including cranial osteopathy.

Kathrine has a special interest in the prevention of symptoms, helping patients to maintain their recovery through exercise and lifestyle management.

Kathrine has completed comprehensive postgraduate training in Cranial Osteopathy, Paediatric Osteopathy and is herself a postgraduate lecturer. Kathrine is also a qualified Infant feeding Coach.

Kathrine is registered with the General Osteopathic Council and has CRB clearance to work with children.

Kathrine is available for appointments in Frome & Batcombe.

ROSE BRUNEAU
MOst/DPO

Having benefitted from treatment in her adolescence, Rose was drawn to osteopathy through its holistic view of the body and its ability to help individuals with a wide range of conditions. Having worked in an award-winning East London clinic since 2015, Rose relocated to Bath in early 2020.

Rose trained for 5 years at the University College of Osteopathy (formerly the British School of Osteopathy), graduating with a masters’ degree in Osteopathy (M.Ost). Having discovered a passion for treating pregnant women and children in her undergraduate training, Rose then completed a two-year diploma in paediatric osteopathy (DPO) at the Osteopathic Centre for Children (OCC) in London. Whilst at the teaching clinic, she was fortunate to work alongside highly experienced osteopaths, treating a diverse range of patients. She continues to enjoy treating all members of the family from newborn babies to great grandparents and all those in between.

Rose enjoys helping every individual realise their potential. As a registered osteopath, she continues to undertake regular courses in order to expand and develop her skills. She employs a variety of osteopathic techniques accompanied by advice, which is tailored to each individual, for an integrated approach to recovery.

Rose is available for appointments in Frome on Thursdays.

Mirte Vandebroek
MOst

Mirte graduated with a master’s degree from the European School of Osteopathy. Having a passion for natural medicine, she decided to deepen her knowledge of the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms by studying homeopathy alongside her osteopathic studies.

Mirte has a deep love of nature which is reflected in her work as both osteopath and homeopath. She is fascinated by nature’s power to bring people back to a healthy state. Mirte believes that our mind and body are intimately connected and thus takes every patient’s presenting complaint from an individualised and holistic point of view.

Seeing movement as a key part of living a happy healthy life, Mirte aims to empower patients to move with confidence and joy. Through gentle touch, Mirte explores together with you any patterns of tension and holding within the body. She uses a range of different approaches including osteopathic techniques, cranial osteopathy, embodied movement and lifestyle management. By bringing full presence to the patient, she creates a safe space for change to occur in both mind and
body.

Mirte enjoys treating patients across all ages, from newborns to elderly. She has a particular interest in supporting women and children towards health and well-being. She also has a specialist interest in working with trauma and stress, either due to a physical or an emotional cause. As a registered osteopath, she continues to develop her skills and deepen her knowledge of the human body.

Mirte is available for appointments in Frome on Tuesdays and in Batcombe on Wednesdays.

REGULATION & TRAINING

The degree course for an osteopath is 4 years full-time, where osteopaths study anatomy, physiology and biomechanics as well as pathology, neurology and clinical methods. The rigorous training ensures that when you visit a qualified osteopath you will receive the highest level of healthcare, recognised by the British Medical Association as a discrete clinical discipline.

All of your Osteopaths are CRB cleared to work with children.

In 1993, Osteopathy became the first complementary health care profession to undergo statutory regulation by Parliament giving Osteopaths the same legal status as dentists and doctors, guaranteeing patients the same level of professionalism, protection and confidentiality.

This registration regulated by the General Osteopathic Council shows that all registered osteopaths are safe and competent practitioners.

For further information on Osteopathy contact:

The General Osteopathic Council
Osteopathy House
176 Tower Bridge Road
London. SE1 3LU.
Tel: 0207 357 6655

www.osteopathy.org.uk

OSTEOPATHY FOR MOTHERS & BABIES

A Happy Baby means a Happy Mother!

Osteopaths will use a special technique, often called cranial osteopathy, when looking at children. This employs the osteopath’s highly trained sense of touch to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations, both in and around the joints of the skull, and throughout the body. Every baby’s birth experience is unique, whether fast, long and drawn out, or Caesarean birth.

Early difficulties are often associated with feeding and digestion, sleep and crying. A baby, who is unsettled or struggling to feed, may be uncomfortable from the effects of birth. Osteopaths believe that unresolved birth stresses may contribute to many different problems as the child grows. Osteopathic treatment is extremely gentle and is safe for the smallest of babies.

These same techniques are employed when treating new mothers, and may be supplemented by more structural techniques, such as massage and articulation, which are more appropriate for adult treatment.The most important thing for a new mother is to make sure that her new baby has the very best care and attention, so that the baby is content, growing well and happy. As Osteopaths, the health of the mother holds equal importance, as she will need to use her reserves in the first demanding months of the childs life.

Childbirth itself is physically stressful on the mother. After giving birth, the body has to recover from both the changes it made during pregnancy and from the effects of the delivery. New mothers may suffer from aches and pains, and sometimes feel quite traumatised by the labour experience, or ‘out of sorts’.

Mum’s pelvis is often pulled out of balance by the passage of the baby, particularly after a difficult delivery. If the mother’s feet are in stirrups for delivery or stitching, the weight of the legs puts huge leverage through the pelvis at a time when the pelvic ligaments are unstable. This is one of the more common causes of back problems after childbirth.

Why is Treatment important?

Unresolved childbirth stress in the mother’s pelvis can contribute to ongoning back problems, neck pain, general fatigue, or headaches arising from the neck. Treating problems in new mothers is best done relatively soon after the birth, as there is still a large amount of flexibility in the pelvic and lumbar ligaments, which allows us to ease things back into place much more quickly.

It is also a good time to give you advice about exercises to regain your abdominal strength and stability, and postural advice on feeding and regaining your pre-pregnancy posture.

What is a Mother and Baby session?

The session will take between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 mins, and will include case histories and examination of both of you, and then treatment.

We can then ascertain whether either of you will need follow up care, and then rebook as appropriate.

For appointments or questions please call: 01749 830439

Contact us

The Batcombe practice is open Monday and Tuesdays. We have alternate appointments at our Frome practice.

Please leave messages on the answerphones and we will call you back when we are not treating patients.

We are always happy to offer telephone consultations prior to making an appointment, so please feel free to call for further information:

Batcombe Family Practice, Shepton Mallet

Tel: 01749 830439

2 Batcombe Vale Cottages
Crows Hill
Batcombe
Shepton Mallet
BA4 6BN

Appointments also available at our other practice:

Life Care Health Clinic, Frome

6 Manor Road
Marston Trading Estate
Frome
BA11 4BN

01373 454595

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Mendip Family Osteopaths