Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Suitable for Treatment?
What to expect on your visit to an Osteopath?
How long are the treatments?
What will I need to wear?
What does Treatment involve?
Does osteopathic treatment hurt?
How many treatments will I need?
Are there any side effects with treatment?
Is it necessary to see my GP first?
Are there any statistical facts for Osteeopathy?
What is a Chiropractor – What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor?
What is a Physiotherapist – What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Physiotherapist?
Other Questions

Who is Suitable for Treatment?

Osteopathy is for everybody - from babies to the very old - and can help the very fit and the infirm alike. Age is not a barrier to receiving osteopathic treatment. Treatment is specifically adapted to a patient’s individual needs.

Babies
Sometimes the ability of the infant skull to adapt to the birth process is insufficient to avoid function disturbances that can result in abnormal sleep patterns, feeding problems, colic etc.

Youngsters/Teenagers
Various developmental problems can arise in the adolescent years. Quite often these occur as a result of poor posture, too little exercise or even too much exercise, especially if it is not suited to the individual, or if their bodies are struggling to cope with a 'growth spurt'.

 Middle Years
All sorts of life's stresses can take their toll on the body's musculo-skeletal system. These can be emotional as well as physical.

Elderly
No matter how well we try to look after our bodies, we cannot avoid the gradual loss of our former physical form, as our tissues start to lose their strength and flexibility and suffer the effects of 'wear and tear'. This affects different people at different stages in their lives and at different rates. However, easing tight, painful muscles and encouraging more movement in stiff joints can help many symptoms.

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What to expect on your visit to an Osteopath?

On your first consultation, the Osteopath will take a full Case History. This involves an in-depth discussion about your presenting complaint(s), questions on your general health, lifestyle and past medical history .

This is followed by a physical examination where the Osteopath will use their highly developed sense of touch (palpation) and ask you to perform a series of movements and tests so that the mobility of your body can be evaluated. As pain in one area can be caused by problems in another, resulting in 'referred' pain, this may require a more extensive examination in the form of orthopaedic and neurological tests. The osteopath will also perform various passive movements to your joints and, in conjunction with all the other information that has been gleaned, arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan.

The osteopath will then explain in detail what has gone wrong and show you models, pictures and diagrams to aid your understanding. You will be told what type of treatment is required and how long your recovery is likely to take. If the osteopath is concerned about the presence of a more serious underlying condition or if osteopathic treatment is not indicated, you will be refered to the most appropriate specialist/doctor for help and/or further investigations.

In most cases, some sort of treatment will be started on your first visit, but subsequent visits will be inevitably be much more 'treatment orientated'. At these subsequent visits, the Osteopath will carefully monitor your progress and discharge you as soon as you have made a satisfactory recovery. If necessary, the Osteopath will provide a sick note and prepare Medical Reports at the request of your doctor or solicitor.

During your consulatations you will be given relevant advice. As Osteopaths, we are keen to find ways in which you can self manage the injury and therefore advice may be given on such areas as posture, ergonomics, diet and exercise. You will also be made aware of potential aggravating factors in your everyday life.

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How long are the treatments?

The initial consulatation with the Osteopath will last between 45 minutes - 1 hour. Subsequent treatments will be 30 – 45 minutes long.

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What will I need to wear?

For the Osteopath to examine you properly, you may be asked to remove some of your clothing to your underwear. If you feel uncomfortable about this, you may bring a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to change into before your assessment. A gown will be provided, if desired.

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What does Treatment involve?

Treatment is tailored to suit each individual patient. Osteopaths use their hands to carry out a wide variety of treatment techniques.

The techniques utilised depend very much on the severity of the problem, fragility of the tissues, age and anxiety of the patient. They include muscle and connective tissue stretching and massage, joint articulations and traction. Manipulation or high velocity thrust techniques (which sometimes produce an audible ‘click’) are used to improve the movement at a joint that is restricted.

Very gentle releasing techniques including cranial osteopathy are also used, especially when treating children or elderly patients.

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Does osteopathic treatment hurt?

In general, no. There may be some mild aching or a slightly "bruised" feeling after treatment. If your tissues are tense and sore, it may be uncomfortable at first to have them stretched and relaxed, especially if they have been tense for a long time. If your muscles are very inflamed or you are in acute pain, we try to handle you as gently as possible. We are usually able to relieve acute pain quite quickly.

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How many treatments will I need?

Your rate of recovery will depend on several factors including your age, general health, sensitivity to treatment, activities in your life, as well as the type of problem you have. After the initial assessment and treatment the osteopath will be able to give you a more accurate prognosis. On average, 2 to 6 treatments is usually sufficient to correct most problems that are amenable to osteopathic treatment.

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Are there any side effects with treatment?

Side effects are generally very rare; you might experience some soreness or tiredness for a few days afterwards but this will subside quickly. Osteopathy is a very safe & effective form of treatment & most patients feel substantially better for it.

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Is it necessary to see my GP first?

Many patients are referred by their doctor, but it is not necessary to visit him/her first. If necessary your osteopath will liase directly with your doctor to ensure that your treatment works in harmony with any other medical needs that you may have. You will always asked first for permisission to speak to your GP

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Are there any statistical facts for Osteeopathy?

Some surprising facts to consider:

What is a Chiropractor – What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor?

A Chiroprator is very similar to an Osteopath in many aspects however there are a few fundemental differences.

Chiropratic treatment is primarily based on manipulation of the spine whereas Osteopathic treatment employs a wider range of techniques overall such as stretching, massage, pressure and mobilisation. Osteopaths generally spend longer time with each patient, therefore osteopathic patients generally require less frequent treatments. Osteopaths have a holistic approach to their patients and treat the underlying cause to the patient’s problem not just the symptoms.

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What is a Physiotherapist – What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Physiotherapist?

A Physiotherapist is similar to an Osteopath in the fact that they both treat patients with physical problems. The main differences are: -

Physiotherapists use many machines during their treatments. These can help with the symptoms but do not treat the underlying problem - Osteopaths do! Osteopaths generally are able to spend longer time with each patient and therefore osteopathic patients generally require less frequent treatments and get better quicker. Osteopaths have a holistic approach to their patients and treat the underlying cause to the patient’s problem not just the symptoms.

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Other Questions

There are many other questions that are frequently asked like, What is the best position to sleep in?, How often should I do exercises? Are there any supplements I should take for my joints? What is a slipped disc? What causes sciatica? All these questions plus other queries and whether Osteopathy can help you can be answered if you call the Clinic. We are always happy to discuss your case personally over the telephone before you book a Consultation.

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