5 Things We Bet You Didn’t Know Can Be Treated By An Osteopath

When we Googled images of an osteopath clinic, as you’d maybe expect, we saw a dour white room with an uncomfortable-looking therapy bed, a life-sized skeleton model standing lifelessly in the corner and a pitiful clock hanging on the wall… The Sevenoaks Clinic urges you to dispel these dated preconceptions.

Think, instead, of a chic space nestled inside one of Sevenoaks’ finest lifestyle and fitness studios with mirrored walls, wooden floors, plants hanging from the ceiling and a rack of weights and exercise balls lining the room *love heart eyes*. Could it be that The Sevenoaks Clinic have breathed new life into an age-old medical profession and made it cool?

The Sevenoaks Clinic

The Sevenoaks Clinic launched in August 2023 and is headed up by two longtime friends, Joe Dees and Elliot Nation. The pair met at university over a shared love of competitive sport which gave them both a strong foundation in sports and exercise rehabilitation. Combine this passion with their specialist knowledge and medical background AND throw in a beautifully spacious clinic space… Something very special is happening!

You might recognise Elliot from around Sevenoaks – he’s been a tennis coach in the area for 9 years coaching at Sevenoaks Tennis Club as well as the local primary schools. When he’s not at The Sevenoaks Clinic, you can find Elliot working at The London Clinic on the prestigious Harley Street.

Business partner, Joe, is a highly skilled practitioner. Whilst Joe too comes with an intensive background in sports-related issues, his particular area of specialism is found in cranial osteopathy and nutritional science. Fun fact, Joe is also a fluent Mandarin speaker!

Learn more about Joe, Elliot and their wider team here.

Love at first coffee

We are most certainly biased, but our favourite part of their story is that it pretty much started inside the walls of another Sevenoaks business! Like all the great love stories that we watch on TV and read about in our books, this journey really kicked off with a chance encounter over a coffee…

Joe and Elliot had set their sights early on: a joint business venture within in their field since their university days. However, the pair were certain their dream would be years in the making. Sometimes the stars just align and a coffee in the Soul Kitchen at SPN provided a opportunity too good to miss. With the perfect room available in a perfect location, suddenly the dream was happening.

Since that fateful day, Joe and Elliot have immersed themselves in the Sevenoaks community to bring before you the clinic that stands there today.

What is osteopathy?

Dating back to the 1800s, osteopathy is a holistic practice grounded in medical principles. Our bodies are an intricate system of different networks, so, unsurprising, when one thing goes wrong it’s likely to impact another. Holistic, by definition, means “parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole”.

Simplified, the aim of the game is to alleviate pain and restore function, range of motion and mobility around your body. How is this achieved? Through professional/medical assessment, hands-on manipulation techniques, exercises and exploration of the root cause. This allows for a treatment plan that is tailor-made and accounts for the patient’s individual lifestyle. One size does not fit all.

Impossible to include everything, here’s a starting list of what The Sevenoaks Clinic can help with:

Movement/gait analysis
Acute and chronic pain issues – such as low back pain or neck pain.
Hypermobility
Osteopathy for elderly
Sports injury rehabilitation
Injury rehabilitation and prevention
Active release therapy
Cranial osteopathy
Post concussion therapy
Muscle relaxation
Range of motion

Joe and Elliot’s joint goal is to improve life quality and function for their clients, but also to empower them with a deep understanding of their condition so that they have the tools to maintain those benefits for long after. We think this evidence-based approach and extra care puts them head and shoulders above the rest, and so do many others it seems!

An outstanding 100% of their Google reviews are 5-star testimonies. Just like this one, left by a client called Duncan: “Had a perfect experience with Elliot Nation. Had two long standing issues, one with my elbow and another with my knee. Both were quickly diagnosed and remedied despite other therapists not being able to help. Totally turned the situation around! Would give 6 stars if possible!”

Read reviews for The Sevenoaks Clinic here.

“Joseph is more a magician than osteopath, fixed my back and shoulder quickly and painlessly in about 3 sessions. Gave excellent impartial (i.e. not upselling) advice and exercises to prevent reoccurrence. Highly recommend.” Naisan Benatar

Osteopath, Chiropractor, Physiotherapist – what’s the difference?

First things first… there are different types of musculoskeletal practitioners – with osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists being the main ones – but do you confidently know the primary speciality of each? Read this beautifully written blog by Joe which cuts straight through the noise to clear it up – “What is the difference between an Osteo, a Physio and a Chiro?”

5 Things We Bet You Didn’t Know Can Be Treated By An Osteopath

1] Headaches

According to the World Health Organisation, 1 adult in 20 has a headache every – or nearly every – day. The NHS reports that 3 million workdays are lost every year due to migraine-related absenteeism. These statistics are unsettling, at best.

It’s a relief to know that an osteopath can effectively address this common health complaint and help to alleviate the symptoms of the varying types of headaches, such as tension headaches or injury-related headaches.

2] Numbness/Pins & Needles in Hands or Feet

There are a few reasons why a person might experience numbness or tingling in their hands and/or feet and an osteopath may not be the first place you would think seek help BUT, given that our entire body is a complex network of nerves that can become damaged or blocked by spinal misalignment and muscle tightness, nerve compression or impingement. An osteopath is actually well-trained to spot and treat these types of issues.

3] Sports Injuries

A sports injury could be a mild strain, contusion or more severe, such as a fracture, muscle and ligament tear and nerve damage. In most cases, medical treatment is required to manage pain and ensure the injury heals safely and correctly.

Osteopaths are experts who play a crucial role in the rehabilitation of sports injuries, employing hands-on techniques and personalised rehabilitation exercises to improve joint mobility, restore strength and facilitate the healing process.

4] Jaw Pain

A little bit more niche, jaw pain, also known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), can occur for a number of reasons – from stress or a physical blow to the face to teeth grinding or an uneven bite.

Osteopaths use gentle techniques to address imbalances in the jaw and surrounding structures, promoting better function and reducing discomfort.

5] Pregnancy/Postpartum Pain

It’s well known that pregnancy is responsible for a myriad of changes to our bodies. Osteopathic treatment can support these changes, particularly in the 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters but also in the postpartum period too. An osteopath can address musculoskeletal changes and discomfort associated with the physiological demands of pregnancy. Techniques focus on promoting balance and easing strain on the body during these transformative stages of life.