Frequently Asked Questions

Consultation, Examination, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

At your first Osteopath appointment, I will take a detailed medical history, including information about your lifestyle such as your level of physical activity, your work environment, your diet, and past medical history. All of this is relevant in understanding your injury presentation. I will then address your current condition to find out exactly what is causing you pain, when it is causing you pain etc.

I will conduct a physical examination, whereby I will examine how you move through various planes of movement both actively and passively. I will assess your mobility by observing your range of movement and carry out specific strength and special tests. All of the assessments findings will be discussed with you, to agree a treatment plan going forward.

After diagnosing the cause of your condition I will propose a treatment program which may consist of one or more of the following techniques:

Soft-tissue massage, Medical Acupuncture, Mobilisation/ Articulation of joints, Manipulations, and Muscle Energy techniques (a form of stretching).

The ‘crack’ or ‘pop’ occurs when opposing joint surfaces resist separation until a critical point where they then separate, creating a gas bubble that forms rapidly, then pops.

Osteopathic treatment should not be painful. Certain techniques may feel uncomfortable and it is common to experience some soreness after treatment. This is temporary and should last no longer than 24-48 hours, after which patients often feel considerably better. Treatment methods can be modified depending on the patient and presenting complaint. If you are at all concerned about the level of discomfort during or after a treatment please speak to your Osteopath.

It will be necessary for me to ask you to remove some clothing, so that I can see and touch the areas of the body causing concern. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can wear clothing such as shorts and T Shirt, or close fitting garments, that will enable me to work effectively without making you feel uncomfortable, so please do discuss this. You are welcome to bring someone with you into the examination room if this puts you at ease.

Sports massage/ deep tissue massage

Medical Acupuncture

Mobilisation/ articulation

Manipulations (HVLA Thrust techniques)

My aim is to help to ease your discomfort and improve your body’s overall function. Generally there should be some positive change after the initial treatment. However, it may be necessary for multiple sessions before improvement is noticed. This is entirely dependent on the condition being treated, your age, work and lifestyle factors, and your general level of health. This will be discussed within your first appointment.

This is entirely dependent on the condition being treated, your age, work and lifestyle factors, and your general level of health. This will be discussed at your first appointment. For more acute conditions it can take on average 2-3 appointments. For more chronic conditions it can take longer, or it even may require management rather than a complete resolution.

Most Osteopaths work in the private sector, so GP referral is not necessary and the majority of patients “self-refer”. If you intend to claim through your health insurance then please check your terms and conditions. Some require a GP referral before the cost of treatments can be claimed.

The National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE)

Osteopathic treatment is recommended by The National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the effective treatment and management for non-specific low back pain. If you have had symptoms for more than six weeks NICE advises that your GP should make you aware of osteopathy as an effective treatment option.

Many private health insurance policies provide cover for osteopathic treatment. It may be possible to claim for a course of treatment but you should check in advance with your insurance company before seeking osteopathic treatment, in order to confirm the available level of cover and whether you will need to have a referral from your GP or a specialist.

Yes. Any information disclosed to us is strictly private and confidential. We would always discuss with you first, if we feel the need to refer you to another healthcare professional. We would only make a referral with your consent.

All your personal data is held in accordance with GDPR.

Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors all work on the structure of the body. Some of the conditions we treat are similar but we are fundamentally different in terms of philosophy, application of technique and even some of the techniques used.

In brief, Osteopaths look at the whole body and are more holistic, considering how dysfunction in one part of the body can have a knock on effect on another part. We try to identify and treat the root cause of the problem. Every patient is treated as an individual and treatment plans are specific to each patient, not a “one size fits all” approach for the same condition.

Osteopaths v Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists often work within the NHS and help people to recover following a physical illness or injury or people with developmental problems or disability. They often use equipment such as TENs machines or ultra sound and prescribe rehabilitative exercises.

Osteopaths v Chiropractors

People often get confused about the difference between Chiropractors and Osteopaths as we use similar techniques. Chiropractors primarily focus on the alignment of the spinal joints and on the effects of the spine on individual nerve branches that stem from between the segments. They often utilise X-rays and see patients multiple times per week.

What makes us different.

Osteopaths traditionally use a wider variety of treatment techniques including soft-tissue massage, muscle stretching, joint articulation/mobilisation, and manipulation.

Within each profession individual practitioners develop their own unique style of practice and you as an individual need to find what works for you and ensure that they are properly trained.

Generally speaking no. There may be a few select cases that might require clarification to rule out a specific serious pathology, however as a general rule x-rays are completely unnecessary in aiding the treatment of simple neck and back pain. In fact because of the exposure to harmful radiation, it is recommended that you do not have an x-ray without a good clinical reason.