Looking for a Back Pain Specialist Near Croydon? Your Local Osteopath’s Complete Guide
Understanding Back Pain: Common Causes Affecting Croydon Residents
Key Muscles, Joints & Nerves Involved in Shoulder Movement
- Acute lumbar sprains from deadlifts performed with a posterior pelvic tilt.
- Chronic lower back tightness from quad-dominant training with neglected posterior chain work.
- Thoracic immobility caused by overemphasis on bench pressing and chest training.
- Compression-based back pain from repetitive jumping, sprinting, or plyometric exercises on hard surfaces.
Posture-Related Back Pain from Desk Work
- Tension headaches from cervical muscle overactivation.
- Upper back tightness between the scapulae.
- Chronic low-grade lumbar ache after long working days.
- Referred sciatic-type symptoms if disc pressure irritates spinal nerve roots.
- Soft tissue release targeting overactive hip flexors, hamstrings, and thoracic extensors.
- Joint mobilisation, particularly of the thoracolumbar junction and sacroiliac joints.
- Postural retraining exercises — not vague “sit up straight” advice, but targeted drills like:
- Thoracic extension over foam roller.
- Supine pelvic tilts and hip bridges.
- Cervical chin tucks to restore neck position.
- Workstation audit, ensuring proper screen height, keyboard positioning, and chair adjustments tailored to your spinal morphology.
- Behavioural coaching, including scheduled micro-breaks, habit stacking for movement, and active sitting solutions like sit-stand desks.
How Osteopathy Helps with Back Pain in Croydon
Hands-On Techniques Used by Croydon Osteopaths
How Osteopathy Relieves Muscular, Joint & Nerve-Related Back Pain
- Releasing overactive erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, or glute medius.
- Restoring movement to restricted facet joints that forced the muscles to work harder.
- Re-educating core activation patterns to distribute load evenly through the pelvis, hips, and lumbar spine.
- Mobilisation of restricted joints.
- Reducing compensatory muscle guarding.
- Enhancing hip, thoracic, and pelvic mobility to reduce excessive load through the lumbar spine.
- Neural mobilisation techniques to reduce nerve tethering.
- Myofascial release targeting muscles that compress nerve pathways (e.g., piriformis release for sciatic nerve symptoms).
- Postural retraining to offload the irritated nerve root during sitting, standing, and movement.
I have been using Sanderstead Osteopaths for many years David has been treating my ongoing back and neck issues and wouldn’t go anywhere else. I would highly recommend.
August 28, 2023
What Sets Osteopaths Apart from Other Back Pain Specialists in Croydon
Whole-Body Approach vs Symptom-Focused Care
How Osteopathy Relieves Muscular, Joint & Nerve-Related Back Pain
- Soft tissue release to address muscle tension and fascial restrictions.
- Joint mobilisation and articulation to restore normal joint glide.
- High velocity low amplitude (HVLA) thrust techniques for joint cavitation where appropriate.
- Visceral mobilisation (where relevant to back pain linked to digestive or pelvic issues).
Patient Education & Long-Term Prevention
- Ergonomic advice tailored to your specific working environment (home office vs corporate setup).
- Movement coaching for gym-goers, runners, or manual workers.
- Self-management techniques, including targeted stretches, movement snacks, and postural resets.
Sanderstead Osteopath provide quality treatment & professional service, I've been using David Ayers Osteopath services for over a decade with no complaints.
August 28, 2023
What to Expect from Your First Back Pain Appointment in Croydon
Comprehensive Case History Taking
- When the pain started, and whether it was linked to a specific injury (such as lifting at work or a fall) or gradual onset.
- Your job, particularly if you work in a desk-based role, driving job, or manual trade — all of which significantly affect spinal health.
- Exercise habits, including whether you go to the gym, run, play sports, or do yoga — helping to uncover training imbalances.
- Lifestyle factors, from how you sleep (mattress quality, sleeping position) to how long you commute and even your stress levels, as stress-driven muscle tension can amplify back pain.
Full Postural & Movement Assessment
- Postural analysis, looking at spinal alignment, pelvic symmetry, and overall posture.
- Movement testing, assessing how well you can bend, twist, and load your spine without discomfort.
- Palpation, using skilled hands-on assessment to identify areas of tissue tension, joint stiffness, or muscle guarding.
Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
- The primary diagnosis (for example, lumbar facet joint irritation, discogenic back pain, or postural dysfunction).
- Contributing factors, from hip tightness to thoracic stiffness.
- The proposed treatment plan, explaining which techniques will be used (manual therapy, rehabilitation, ergonomic coaching) and why.
Initial Hands-On Treatment
- Soft tissue release to ease muscle tension.
- Joint mobilisation to restore spinal movement.
- Postural correction coaching, showing you how to sit, stand, or move to reduce pain.
- Home advice, giving you simple exercises or adjustments to make between appointments.
Assessment Process
- Your occupation, working environment, and physical demands at work, especially for desk-based office workers, manual labourers, and commuters travelling into London.
- Your exercise habits — are you regularly at the gym, playing football in Beddington Park, or doing long-distance running along the Wandle Trail? Each of these leaves distinctive patterns of strain across the spine.
- Previous injuries — not just to the back, but anywhere in the body. An old ankle sprain can create subtle changes in gait and pelvic mechanics, gradually overloading the lower back.
- Your home setup, including mattress quality, sleeping position, and even how you sit on your sofa — all relevant contributors to back pain.
- Postural analysis, observing how you stand, sit, and move.
- Active movement tests, assessing flexion, extension, rotation, and side bending across the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine.
- Joint palpation, identifying areas of restricted mobility, particularly at the facet joints, sacroiliac joints, and thoracolumbar junction.
- Neurological screening, if symptoms suggest nerve involvement — including reflex testing, dermatomal sensory checks, and neural tension testing (e.g., slump test for sciatica).
Tailored Treatment Plans
- Your diagnosis — is this discogenic pain, facet joint syndrome, sacroiliac dysfunction, or referred pain from muscle tightness?
- Your lifestyle factors — are you driving 90 minutes a day on the A23, or spending 10 hours hunched at a desk in Central Croydon?
- Your physical condition — hypermobile patients need very different treatment approaches to those with stiff, osteoarthritic spines.
- Soft tissue release for overactive lumbar muscles, quadratus lumborum, or glute medius.
- Joint mobilisation to restore lost movement at sacroiliac joints or facet joints.
- High velocity low amplitude (HVLA) manipulation, if appropriate, to improve segmental mobility.
- Myofascial techniques to address deeper fascial restrictions caused by old injuries.
- Rehabilitation exercises to retrain postural stability, core control, and hip function.
- Nerve mobilisation techniques for cases involving sciatic nerve irritation or lumbar disc compression.
Lifestyle Advice & Exercises
- Seated pelvic tilts to keep the lumbar spine mobile.
- Thoracic extensions over the back of a chair to reduce upper back stiffness.
- Neck retractions to combat forward head posture.
- Movement screening to identify faulty lifting patterns (especially during squats, deadlifts, and overhead pressing).
- Balancing anterior and posterior chain training to prevent chronic muscle imbalance.
- Introducing spinal hygiene drills — such as cat-cow, lumbar decompression hangs, and hip mobility work — as part of every session.
Have seen both David and Clare on and off over the last 4 years with lower back pain/stiffness. They really know their stuff and have always provided me with solutions to my lower back. My job is quite demanding and doesn't help the pain (lots of driving and lifting) but knowing David and Clare will always be there to help at Sanderstead Osteopaths it puts my mind at rest. I started going weekly and with the regular treatments it's eased the pain so now I am going every 2-4 weeks. I would highly recommend either of these guys!
August 28, 2023
When to See a Croydon Osteopath for Back Pain – Key Signs & Symptoms
- Sitting at your desk for long periods
- Driving along the A23, Purley Way, or during your commute into London
- Standing for extended periods, particularly on hard flooring
- A tilted pelvis
- A shifted torso
- Difficulty standing fully upright
Benefits of Choosing a Local Osteopath for Back Pain Treatment Near You
- The physical stress of long commutes into London via Southern Rail, or driving along the Bridghton Road.
- The postural strain linked to desk-based roles in Croydon’s business hubs, like Lombard House or Davis House.
- The type of sports injuries common at local gyms, football clubs, and running groups — from PureGym Croydon to Goals Tolworth and Croydon Harriers.
- Best ergonomic suppliers locally for office chairs and desks.
- Recommended local personal trainers for supervised rehabilitation.
- Running coaches familiar with the terrain and routes in Croydon parks, ensuring your exercise doesn’t reinforce faulty movement patterns.
Lexi has been very helpful with pain in my back and the treatments have been very affective and she gives out great follow up exercises
February 28, 2024
Book Your Back Pain Consultation at Our Croydon Clinic
Why Choose Our Osteopathy Clinic for Back Pain?
- Experienced in treating local lifestyle-related back pain — from commuter-related lower back stiffness to desk posture strain and gym injuries.
- Hands-on assessment and treatment from the very first appointment — no waiting lists, no unnecessary referrals.
- Tailored rehabilitation plans designed to fit into your daily routine, with advice tailored to your work, commute, and exercise habits.
- Whole-body approach — treating not just the painful area but also the underlying causes, such as hip stiffness, poor spinal mobility, or previous injuries creating compensation patterns.
- Convenient location in Croydon, with easy access for residents across Beddington, Wallington, and Sutton.
- Flexible appointment times, including evening and weekend slots for busy professionals and parents.
How to Book Your First Appointment
- Call our Croydon clinic directly, and our team will guide you through the booking process.
- Book online, choosing a time that fits around your work or home commitments.
- Send an enquiry through our website, and we’ll call you back to discuss your symptoms and recommend an appointment slot.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
- Any relevant medical records — particularly if you’ve had previous scans (MRI, X-ray) or reports from your GP or physiotherapist.
- A list of medications you currently take, especially if you’re managing inflammatory conditions or have a history of pain management prescriptions.
- Comfortable clothing — you’ll need to move freely during the assessment, so loose-fitting clothes (or gym wear) are ideal.
- A clear description of your pain history, including when it started, what aggravates or eases the symptoms, and how it affects your work, sleep, and exercise.
Absolutely brilliant. Lexi is a miracle worker, i always come away feeling back on track and realigned. I honestly dont know what i would do without her regular resets! She is lovely and the practice is always, welcoming, warm and quiet.
February 28, 2024