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After running a successful but extremely busy clinic in West Auckland, osteopaths Nick and Felice Karuna decided to move closer to where Felice grew up in Pakiri, and set up a clinic at the Matakana Country Park.
That decision was reinforced after rediscovering some of Mahurangi’s many attractions – including concerts at local wineries and its fabulous beaches.
Nick adds that if you are not careful, a big practice can easily turn into a production line of patients, but he is determined that Matakana Osteopaths will be a family-orientated practice where he and Felice get to know their patients well.
“We will take the personal approach of doctors of days gone by – where everybody knew everybody,” he says.
Between them, Nick and Felice have more than 20 years’ experience in osteopathy. In addition, Nick practices acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and cupping.
He says he decided to get training and qualifications in the additional therapies after seeing how well they complemented his osteopathy work.
“It means I can treat a broader range of conditions more effectively,” he says.
“Of course, such treatments are entirely optional, should a patient be wary
of, say, needles.”
Meanwhile, Felice specialises in the care of babies.
Common problems in newborns that can be treated through osteopathy include difficulty breastfeeding, where the jaw may be functioning incorrectly, and tummy upsets, where compression at the base of the skull irritates nerves in the stomach.
Nick says any musculoskeletal-related disorders, including things like neck pain, back pain, headaches and shoulder pain, are often best treated by an osteopath.
These are essentially mechanical problems, best corrected using a manual approach of manipulation and massage, rather than drugs.
“Drugs tend to mask such problems rather than resolve their root causes,” he says.
