What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a regulated, primary health care profession specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Osteopaths have particular expertise in the muscles and joints and their relationship to other systems in the body. We treat a wide range of conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, sports injuries, and chronic conditions such as arthritis. Osteopaths are highly skilled and complete a minimum of 1000 clinical hours during their four year degree.
The Osteopath’s skill lies in their intimate and detailed knowledge of anatomy combined with a highly trained sense of touch. Osteopaths take a holistic approach to healthcare, which means we don’t only focus on treating the symptoms in the problem area. We look for the underlying cause of pain to help prevent future recurrences, and give advice to help you maintain your recovery.
What will happen at my first consultation?
At the start of your first appointment, we will ask you questions about your medical history and lifestyle, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing.
Stuart will need to examine the area(s) of your body causing discomfort. Sometimes the cause of the problem may be in a different area to the pain, (for example, pain in your lower arm may be linked to the nerves in your neck) so he may need to examine your whole body. He will need to feel for any tightness in the muscles and stiffness in the joints and may need to touch these areas to identify problems. He will explain what he is doing as he goes along.
If you are uncomfortable with any part of this, you have the right to ask him to stop at any stage, without prejudicing your future treatment.
By the end of your first appointment you will leave with a diagnosis, an outline of how many treatments may be needed, your next appointment booked, and a personal exercise/mobility plan so you can immediately begin to get back to what you enjoy doing.
You are always welcome to bring a friend or family member to join you. All young persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
What should I wear?
As with any healthcare appointment, it may be necessary for Stuart to ask you to remove some clothing. This is so he can see and touch the areas of the body causing you concern. We suggest you wear sportswear/comfortable clothing eg shorts and vest top or t-shirt.
Will you click my back/neck?
Osteopaths are fully trained in the use of manipulation, and it is always done within a joint’s normal range of motion. It can often help with a quicker improvement in symptoms, but is certainly not essential. It is one tool in a range of treatment techniques, and Stuart will always discuss it with you before using this technique.
What can I expect after treatment?
Most patients will feel at least some improvement after the first treatment. For some patients, it can take a couple of days for the benefit to be felt. Other patients may experience mild soreness in the area of the body that was treated which normally resolves itself after 24-48 hours. This is due to the body mechanics changing where the treatment was done, similar to the way muscles may feel sore after a good work out if they haven’t been used for a while.
Some patients may find that their symptoms return after a few days. This is a normal reaction and means that the correct area has been found and simply needs further treatment.
Treatment is often a gradual process, and patients will notice that time spent without experiencing symptoms gets longer and longer. As a consequence you can often book your appointments increasingly further apart to follow the progress your body is making.
How many appointments will I need?
Many factors influence the speed of recovery, including the nature of the injury, your age, diet, exercise regime and length of time you have experienced symptoms. Typically, patients will need 3-5 appointments initially. For more chronic cases it may be helpful to receive maintenance treatment at regular intervals (eg every 4-6 weeks). Some patients find that having regular, well-spaced treatments help them to remain supple and mobile and assist with musculo-skeletal aches and pains.
Are Osteopaths regulated?
You can be confident that Stuart has the highest level of training and expertise, and will provide a safe and effective diagnosis and treatment for you. In the UK, the Osteopathic profession is regulated by the General Osteopathic Council and Osteopaths are trained to degree level, taking a minimum of four years, including over 1000 hours of contact time with patients at undergraduate level.
Osteopaths are also recognised by the NHS as Allied Health Professionals and play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment and care of people of all ages.