Osteopathy is an excellent treatment for many problems affecting the musculo-skeletal system.

The osteopath's skill lies in their highly trained ability to observe the body's lack of balance and to feel tensions whether in the spine, the joints, or within the delicate balance of the cranium.

Osteopath's use a variety of gentle manual techniques to release tensions throughout the body to help restore harmony and relieve pain and thus allow the body's own "internal physician" to help restore balance and health.

The Maris Practice also offers osteopathy in the cranial field for babies (often referred to as cranial osteopathy), which some mothers find very helpful with improving feeding problems and may be of particular benefit following a tongue-tie release.

Claire MacDonald

Claire's interest and background in sports therapy and management was the initial impetus for her to train as an osteopath. It still remains an integral part of her treatment and programmes, ranging from games for children with co-ordination and balance problems to core-stability exercises for adults with back conditions. 

Since her undergraduate training in the 1990's Claire has had a keen interest in treating pregnant women and children. In 2005, following an intensive two year course, Claire received her postgraduate diploma in Paediatic Osteopathy. Until recent commitments in London, Claire has been the Clinic Director at the Osteopathic Centre for Children in Manchester and is a tutor on their MSc in Paediatric Osteopathy. 

Over the last few years Claire has been devising rehabilitation and maintenance programmes for chronic back pain sufferers and is currently half way through a Masters degree in Sports and Exercise Rehabilitaiton. This approach includes assessing the lifestyle, posture and fitness of the individual to establish the causes of their pain and determine ways to alleviate and manage their pain.

Sue Croft

Sue graduated from the British School of Osteopathy. Since then Sue went onto to gain an MSc in Paediatric Osteopathy. She is also a fully qualified sports masseur and core stability instructor.

As an osteopath and mother of 2 small boisterous boys, Sue understand the demands put on parents. I can help you adjust to the physical changes created by pregnancy (i.e. back and pelvic pain, sciatica etc.) and the physical demands involved in caring for children. Children are not ‘small’ adults, their anatomy and physiology is unique to them, they have their own collection of conditions such as gastric reflux, colic to glue ear and asthma.
Osteopathy can help babies, children and teenagers with colic, ear and chest infections, or sprains and bruises caused by tumbles and sports injuries. Osteopathy can also help exhausted fathers…

Sue will always try to offer you practical advice on day to day issues that may be predisposing or aggravating your painful condition.

Osteopathic treatment can help you not only in the relief of symptoms, but towards helping your body function better in all respects. Patients often report an improvement in general well being, energy level, and sleep patterns and also in areas of symptoms other than those that brought them to the Maris practice in the first place.