About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body, and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.
Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to facilitate your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.
Your tissues require both a good blood and nerve supply to remain healthy. Osteopathic treatment seeks to improve the circulation of blood and ensure that nerves are not impinged as they leave the spinal column and travel throughout the body. This approach can accelerate healing, alleviate your symptoms and help promote long term health.
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What does an osteopath treat?
- General, acute & chronic backache
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Generalised aches and pains
- Minor sports injuries and tensions
- Muscle spasms
- Sciatica
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Arthritic pain
However, patients have found osteopathy helpful for many other conditions. If you want to find out more please give me a call and I would be happy to discuss your condition further.
Suffering from stress and tension? Stress can often affect your posture and lead to pain in your neck, shoulders and back. Many of us use a computer for hours every day and this can easily lead to poor posture and also contribute to aches and pains in your neck, shoulders and back.
You may get immediate relief from your pain after treatment but unless the predisposing and maintaining factors are discussed and identified the pain is likely to return. Your Osteopath can help you to identify these factors and work with you to address them. Education, exercise and checkups are likely to work best in the long term.
How do osteopaths treat?
What should I expect on my first visit?
- Take a full medical history, including details of your presenting complaint
- Palpate tissues above and below the site of pain
- Examine your posture
- Observe movements of your spine and the rest of your body
- Perform special tests to help identify dysfunctional structures and tissues
- Discuss their findings with you
Treatment options will also be discussed and if osteopathic treatment is suitable, treatment will be aimed at helping to restore normal joint stability and function. If necessary, the osteopath will seek your consent to liaise with your GP to include them in the management of your case.
You may be asked to remove your outer clothing for the examination and treatment, please choose appropriate underwear so that you do not feel uncomfortable. If a patient is uneasy about getting undressed then it can be discussed, and depending on the presenting complaint, ways may be found to avoid getting undressed.
All clinical and personal information is dealt with in the strictest confidence.
How do I know an osteopath is qualified?
What should I wear?
Does it hurt?
What is the ‘clicking’ sound sometimes experienced?
Does osteopathy cure arthritis?
How many visits will I need?