Matthew graduated from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine with a Masters Degree in Osteopathy and Diplomas in both Osteopathy and Naturopathy. The degree included modules in Nutrition, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Visceral Osteopathy, Cranial Osteopathy and a broad range of Osteopathic techniques.
Matthew Oliver is an Osteopath, Musculoskeletal pain specialist and massage therapist. His post-graduate education has incorporated the clinical applications of Medical Acupuncture (also known as Dry Needling), Kinesio-Taping and has integrated extensive education in the neurophysiology of pain in order to offer his patients an understanding and context of their pain which evidence identifies as having a huge benefit for those in pain, especially persistent pain.
“I integrate education in my approach to my patients on how other aspects of lifestyle and health have a direct effect on pain and suffering. In medicine, this is known as the biopsychosocial approach. I always ask questions about their pain specifically, but also want to know about exercise and activity history, as well as diet and sleep patterns, work and home life. This insight helps create a targeted approach to helping someone in pain and reducing their suffering. I then find it far more beneficial when integrating a rehab program or just target which exercise or exercises can build conditioning in the affected part of the body.”
Matthew taught for 11 years at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) where he himself trained. “I found teaching extremely rewarding, and over the years seeing so many graduates pass through the college and enter my profession has been an honour”.
Early clinical experience was gained at a specialist Osteopathic clinic in Hampstead serving approximately 50 GP surgeries in the Camden PCT (Primary Care Trust). The diversity of NHS referrals offered a fantastic insight into how manual therapy can improve people’s lives and offer relief from pain. “I was serving referrals from the Chronic Pain Clinic of the Royal Free Hospital, these patients generally had multiple co-morbidities involved in their symptoms and had little or no relief from conventional medicine”.
Matthew was the Osteopath for Westcliff Rugby Club (2012/13 season) working with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams as well as the extremely successful Academy sides where he gained vast experience in dealing with sporting injuries, both on the field and rehabilitation. Matthew’s involvement in Rugby followed a period of volunteer work with St John Ambulance. “I felt that the experience in first aid, both pitch side for the rugby club and with St John at sporting events and concerts, would be invaluable in helping my clinical work and that experience has come in handy on a few occasions over the years”.
Through The Body Matters’ close relationship with Havens Hospices, Matthew has also been volunteering his time to the fundraisers who have run the London Marathon each year since 2012, several of whom consider they would not have made it to the start line without the expert help and advice.
Matthew is committed to meeting the specific needs of his patients by offering an individual, tailor-made structure to his treatment and management plans.
Q&A with Matthew Oliver
What are your qualifications?
I have a Masters degree in Osteopathy from the University of Westminster. I also have a diploma in Osteopathy from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) and have been teaching at the college now for five years.
My post-graduate training includes Medical Acupuncture (also known as Dry Needling), Kinesiology Taping, Trigger point therapy and Functional Neuromuscular Rehabilitation.
Why do people come to you?
I see myself as a means to relieve pain. In most cases, patients can expect to see an immediate reduction in their symptoms although that is obviously not always possible.
The difference can depend on how long the symptoms have been there. If a patient initially feels the issue will resolve on its own, they may wait (and wait!). Once they present to me in the clinic, enough time has passed that there has been physiological adaptation made in response to the symptoms. It is then a long process to make the required changes and return the patient to symptom-free.
It can also be down to the mechanism of injury. An acute injury may need time to heal, however, getting the correct advice to manage symptoms is essential for the early rehabilitation after injury
Do you have any specialism?
I do not have any qualification in any speciality, but I do see a lot of patients with both neck and shoulder pain either in combination or isolated. Also, Osteopathy is synonymous with lower back pain so I do treat plenty of patients with lower back symptoms. There is nothing more rewarding than having a grateful patient walk out of the clinic with reduced symptoms when they were barely able to walk in an hour earlier.
What are the typical complaints Osteopathy can help with?
As I mentioned I do treat a lot of patients with lower back, neck and/or shoulder pain, but I feel confident in my abilities to treat a majority of painful musculoskeletal complaints and injuries, so basically I can, and do, treat any painful condition without a systemic pathological aetiology.
What complaints can you help with that many people find surprising?
People may be surprised to hear that Manual Therapy can also help with gut issues. The anatomy of the abdominal organs (organs of digestion) has various ligamentous attachments to the front, back and sides of the body. There is also some extremely close relationship with certain muscles and organs (i.e. when a muscle contracts it moves the organ it is in contact with), therefore manually manipulating certain organs in the abdomen can, and will, affect lower back pain, or loin pain, or hip pain, the anatomical connections are limitless, almost!
Can you tell us a surprising fact about Osteopathy?
Nothing surprises me!
