Osteopathic treatment is gentle and non-invasive. Osteopathy works on the muscles, joints and nervous system as well as evaluating other relevant structures where necessary. It treats the body as a whole unit and considers many aspects of the patient’s life.
British Osteopathy is a primary healthcare system, complementary to other medical practices, with a sound foundation in biomedical sciences. An important principle of osteopathy is the recognition of the body’s natural self-healing mechanisms. Patients may be referred by their doctor or opt to attend an osteopathic clinic independently.
Osteopathic Consultation
Osteopathic Practitioners consider the whole person, so at the first consultation a detailed case history is compiled, followed by a thorough examination of the muscles, ligaments and joints, as well as evaluating other relevant structures where necessary. This will take up to 60 minutes depending on the complexity of your problem.
Your Osteopathic Practitioner will also observe your movements carefully. Once a diagnosis is reached they will discuss with you a range of options relating to your care. If osteopathic treatment is felt to be appropriate, with your consent a wide range of gentle manual techniques may be used. This may include deep tissue massage and the movement of joints. You may also be advised on exercise, posture or diet.
Some patients need only one treatment; others have a longer course of therapy or some patients choose to return periodically for help managing longer term conditions.