Osteopathy

Osteopathy recognises the need for medical investigation into symptoms when indicated and uses many of the diagnostic procedures used in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength, however, lies in the unique way in which the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint and manual methods of treatment applied that suit the needs of the individual patient rather than specific treatment for a specific problem.”

Generally osteopaths focus on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation primarily on musculoskeletal disorders. Osteopaths are trained to use palpation (a highly-developed sense of touch) to assess the condition of the musculoskeletal system, looking for areas of weakness /imbalance /excessive strain which are then treated to create the perfect condition to facilitate the healing process. Treatments would generally involve soft-tissue massage and stretching, joint mobilisation and (where appropriate) manipulation, followed by gentle exercises to do at home, and postural /lifestyle advice. Treatments are tailor-made for the individual and their current condition, and appropriate techniques are chosen (eg modified for elderly /frail /osteoporotic patients).

-Back pain -Joint pain /injuries (cartilage /tendon /ligament)
-Neck pain -“Frozen shoulder”
-Spondylitis/ Spondylosis -“Tennis /golfers elbow”
-Sport /work-related injuries -Carpal tunnel syndrome
-Arthritis /rheumatism -Repetitive Strain Injury
-Whiplash injuries -Headaches /migraines
-Postural /stress-related back/ neck /shoulder pain -Plantar fascitis
-Trapped nerves -Pregnancy care
-“Sciatica” -TMJ /jaw pain

What training must an osteopath undergo?

Osteopaths undergo a rigorous 4-year honours degree in Osteopathic Medicine during which time they study, among other subjects, in-depth anatomy, physiology, neurology, pathology, biomechanics and clinical methods. This enables the osteopath to be skilled enough to diagnose conditions and recognise whether the condition is suitable for osteopathic treatment, or whether further investigation is necessary. A full medical history is taken from every patient. Your osteopath may be in contact with your GP /other medical professionals if necessary, although the patient’s consent is always required prior to this.

All fully-qualified osteopaths must be registered with GOsC prior to practising, and must complete at least 30-hours ongoing training (CPD) every year to remain registered.

Osteopaths form an integral part of primary healthcare teams. They are different from many other therapists as they are primary care practitioners (ie they make a diagnosis themselves). You do not need to be referred by your GP to see an osteopath.

What to Expect

* Usually takes 45mins-1hour. During this consultation, a full case history will be taken, including details of your presenting complaint, your past medical history (including medication you may be taking) and your current health status.
* Examination involves a standing exam (assessing your posture, tissue state and any contributing factors), after which your movement will be assessed (you may be asked to do a few simple active movements, and then they will be assessed passively). Appropriate orthopaedic tests may be performed, possibly alongside your blood pressure and reflexes.
* A diagnosis of your condition will be reached after the examination, and this will be explained to you fully, along with your treatment options. Should you need to be referred or any further investigation required (although only a small percentage of people require this), this will be discussed with you at this stage.
* The initial consultation also includes your first treatment, and post-treatment advice and appropriate exercises will be discussed with you.

Further treatments:

The number of treatments that a patient requires depends entirely on the individual, his/her condition, and any contributing factors. However, in most cases, patients usually require between 2-6 treatments. The number of treatments you will be expected to need will be discussed with you at consultation, and this will be continuously reviewed as your condition changes.

I frequently suggest seeing patients on a maintenance basis following their initial set of treatments which, depending on the condition of the individual, can be from once every few weeks to twice a year. This option will be discussed with the individual, and I always advise that you need not wait until you have a problem to see me- “M.O.T.” consultations are available as I strongly believe prevention is better than cure!

What to expect post-treatment:

Your anticipated reaction to treatment will be discussed with you at each session. It is perfectly normal to experience a mild “treatment reaction” where you may experience some soreness or an increase in symptoms for the first 24-48 hours after treatment. However, not everyone will experience this. Advice on how to avoid/ cope with this reaction will be given to you at consultation. Patients are always advised to contact me in the case of any concerns or questions.