Osteopathy FAQ's

What is Osteopathy ?

Osteopathy is a primary health care  system complimentary to other medical practices which can treat a vast array of medical conditions using a holistic approach looking at the patient as a whole.
Osteopaths in the UK undergo a four year full time degree education which covers anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and neurology along with training in specific manipulative techniques.

By using a combination of techniques such as manipulation, connective tissue stretching, massage and mobilizations, osteopathic treatment aims to help the body's own healing mechanisms through the resulting increased blood flow and nerve supply to tissues.

Because the individual is looked at as a whole treatment plans are specific to the individual and may include rehab exercises with the goal of prevention and promoting a healthy lifestyle. 

What can Osteopaths treat  ?

Most see an osteopath because they are suffering from pain, acute or chronic,  whether it is back pain, neck pain, hip or knee pain. Others will seek treatment for headaches which may have their origin from a neck dysfunction. Osteopaths will aim to not only give you relief from your symptoms but also try and get to the root cause of your discomfort. 
Osteopaths can help with a number of conditions which include the following :
Slipped disc
Back and Neck Pain
Shoulder problems such as frozen shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
Hip Pain
Knee Pain
Arthritis
Sciatica
Sports Injuries
Migraines and Headaches
Repetitive Strain Injuries

What happens at your first visit  ?

At the initial consultation your full health history will be taken along with detailed information about the problem you have come to see us about.
We will try and identify the cause of your symptoms in order to get a clear picture of the problem by asking questions such as factors which may aggravate the problem, the exact nature of how it feels and what may improve it. Through a detailed osteopathic diagnostic process we will try and identify if for example neck pain is coming from muscles, fascia, vertebral structures or nerves and what other biomechanical and or physiological processes may be involved.

The examination
 
A hands on physical examination is then carried out which may include various orthopaedic tests, systemic tests for the cardiovascular system, respiratory system and digestive system along with any necessary neurological tests. Other tests performed may include reflex tests and sensation tests of the skin, and general mobility tests and muscle strength.
Following on from the hands on physical examination a working diagnosis will be arrived at which will be fully explained to you with the possible options in order to help resolve your issue. Any referrals for further investigations will be made if deemed necessary.

Treatment 

Osteopathic treatment can commence after a plan has been formulated and agreed to by the patient. The type of treatment given will depend on many factors with the more physical type of treatment such as massage and manipulation not being suitable for some patients with inflammation of tissues and patients who are in acute pain.
In such cases more gentle treatment modalities may be more appropriate such as osteopathic myofascial techniques or craniotomy sacral work. It may be possible to work indirectly on the areas of pain by working on the surrounding areas in order to affect those areas of pain by promoting better overall circulation in the body hence promoting self healing.

How long are treatments ?
The initial session will last from 45 - 60 minutes and follow up sessions will be 30 - 45 minutes long.

How many treatments will I need ?

Although our aim is for our patients to retrurn to normality as soon as possible the speed of recovery will depend on various factors such as age, overall activity level of the individual, your general health and the nature of the problem. On average approximately 4 treatments should be sufficient for many problems to resolve however this will vary from case to case. Chronic conditions which have taken a long time to develop will require more treatments.

Adverse Reactions

Slight temporary tenderness following a treatment is not uncommon. This should last no longer than 48 hours followed by an improvement in symptoms. If you are concerned or the reaction goes on for too long please contact us at the clinic.

How to dress for treatment

So that an osteopath can accurately assess areas to be treated with direct contact with the skin you may be asked to remove a certain amount of clothing. Because of this we ask that you wear appropriate underwear and bring a sports bra and shorts if possible.