CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES

As a bit of fun this month, I have asked all our staff members to pose questions to myself (Angela Cavil) about my work as an osteopath. Hopefully you will find it interesting- if not just skip this section!

Q- What made you choose osteopathy as your career?

A- Osteopathy was unknown to me until a career convention in Cardiff in 1983/84. It appealed to me because as well as diagnosing and treating patients, I would have the independence of running my own clinic. The rest as they say is history.

Q- How do you feel about your career all these years later?

A- I am very fortunate in being able to say I love my work. There are never two days the same in this job and there are never two patients the same. I would like to think that I am as enthusiastic today as I was when I embarked on my career in 1988.

Q- Have you ever treated anybody famous?

A- I am not able to disclose names as all patients’ identities remain confidential but I have treated a few politicians, a famous actor, some radio presenters, a football player and some rugby players over the years.

Q- If you had to choose someone famous to treat, who would it be?

A- The first person to come to mind is Stephen Jones who used to play no.10 for Wales. He always looked so stiff, especially in his upper back, and I always felt I wanted to manipulate him when he lined up to take a kick at goal! I would like to examine Dan Biggar who seems to be having a lot of trouble with his back at the moment.

Q- What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor?

A- I am often asked this question. After speaking to several chiropractors, the main difference in my opinion is that a chiropractor will aim to get everyone’s spines straight i.e. no lateral curves or over-exaggerated AP curves, whereas an osteopath will aim to improve the function of the spine as well as peripheral joints. From a patient’s perspective, the number of times that you will on average see an osteopath is 3-6 sessions compared to 40 or more sessions with some chiropractors.

Q- How many associates have you worked with at Pontypridd Osteopathic Clinic over the past 35 years?

A- Kim Tuhill is our newest associate and she is the 35th associate at our clinic.

Q- What is your most embarrassing moment as an osteopath?

A- As a 4th year student I treated a patient’s good knee! I have also been asked to treat a naturist in the nude! (Which I declined.)

1) Use a stable ladder or step. When reaching to add the star or other decorations to the top of the tree, use a ladder or step to prevent overextending your back or neck.

2) Squat or lunge to lift heavy boxes. Instead of bending over at the waist to lift  heavy boxes or ornaments or lights, keep your spine in a neutral position and flex your hips and knees to pick up the box i.e. squat or use a lunge position.

3) Secure the tree properly. If you are decorating an outdoor Christmas tree, make sure to secure it with a stand and stakes to prevent from tipping over in the breeze. For indoor trees, ensure that the tree is properly set up in its stand and that the stand is stable.

4) Ask for help. If your tree is large or difficult to handle, as for assistance from a family member or friend to help you with the setup and decorating process. This can help distribute the workload and reduce the risk of injury.

5)Take breaks and listen to your body. Decorating a Christmas tree can be a time-consuming task, so make sure to take regular breaks and listen to your body. If you start to feel any pain or discomfort, stop and rest or consider asking for additional help to finish the task.

Please take care this Christmas everyone!!