Osteopathy | Complementary and Alternative Medicines (C.A.M.)

What is an Osteopath?
An Osteopath uses an established, recognised system of diagnosis and treatment laying its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body. It is distinctive in the fact that it recognises much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by disease processes. An osteopath uses many of the diagnostic procedures used in conventinal medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength lies in the unique way the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint and the manual methods of treatment applied to suit the needs of the individual patient.

What do Osteopaths treat?
Osteopaths treat all manner of pain and injury and although about half the treatments are for back pain many other areas are treated, including neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, wrist and ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, sports injuries, work related pain, stress and many more. An osteopath treats patients with a variety of modalities such as manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue, cranial and functional techniques to help restore optimal functioning of the body.

How many times will I have to see the Osteopath?
There are many different reasons why people are in pain and each person has a different way of responding to it. The average number of visits to an Osteopath is between 4-6, sometimes less and sometimes more and occasionally an extended maintenance programme is required. However it is the policy of this practice that if you do not respond to your treatment we will discuss other alternatives and try to find a therapy that works for you.

What happens when I visit an Osteopath?
When you visit an Osteopath for the first time a full case history will be taken and you will be given a physical examination.You will normally be asked to remove some of your clothing and to perform a simple series of movements. The Osteopath will then use a highly developed sense of touch, called palpation, to identify any points of weakness or excessive strain throughout the body. The Osteopath may, on occasion, need additional investigations such as x-ray or blood tests. This will allow a full diagnosis and suitable treatment plan to be developed for you. Each patient is treated as an individual with the treatment plan geared towards their needs.