What is Osteopathy?

osteopathy is a form of physical treatment aimed at relieving muscular & joint pain; nerve tendon and ligament strain and discomfort and can help solve wide a range of other common symptoms and problems. These symptoms may be caused by specific injuries or general wear and tear. Osteopaths diagnose what is wrong by asking you questions about your medical and life history and then giving you a physical examination - a bit like doctors. The difference is that osteopaths do not use drugs to treat you - they use physical therapies such as massage, manipulation and exercise (all of these and others are explained in the therapies section.)

What makes an Osteopath different?

Osteopathy was one of the first professions to incorporate biomechemical analysis of how injuries occur and what the secondary effects are likely to be. To take a simple example, if you go to an Osteopath with a knee injury, the Osteopath will do much more than just examine and treat your knee. He will want to know exactly how the injury occurred in order to assess not just which tissues in the knee are injured, but also whether there may be any involvement of other areas with a mechanical relationship to the knee, such as the foot, hip, low back and pelvis, and the associated soft tissue.

He will then want to analyse any possible secondary effects. For instance, you may be ‘avoiding’ the ‘bad knee’ and putting more weight on the other side. Over a period of time this may lead to problems developing in the low back or the ‘good knee’.

The Osteopath will then use this information to come up with a treatment plan that addresses not just the knee, but also all of the other areas of the body and associated tissue that may be involved. This plan will include attention not just to the joints and their associated soft tissues but also to the blood supply to the affected areas, the lympathic drainage, the nerve supply etc., in order to include all those factors, which will affect the success of healing. It is this ‘whole body, multi-system’ approach that has been the basis of the Osteopaths success over the years.

What do Osteopaths do?

Osteopaths diagnose and treat faults, which occur because of injury, stress or perhaps disease, to enable the musculo-skeletal system (bones, joints, muscles and connective tissue), to work as efficiently as possible, allowing the body to restore itself to normal function.

Osteopathy is a very safe form of treatment. It uses no drugs. Instead Osteopaths work with their hands, using a wide variety of treatment techniques. This includes soft tissue massage, mobilisation, stretching, electrotherapy and manipulation where appropriate, designed to improve the range of joint movement.

At the Bodycare Clinic we can also offer ultra sound, interferential and laser treatment, alongside osteopathic treatment, when the osteopath feels that this may be beneficial to your relevant complaint.

An Osteopath can advise on correct posture and movement. They can also give instructions on back care and preventative exercises.

What should I expect from my first treatment session?

You will be asked about your current condition and any related past injuries and your medical history.

You will normally be asked to remove some of your clothing. (Please wear suitable underwear – sports bra/ shorts if preferred, to avoid any embarrassment to you. There are also gowns available to wear).

You will then be asked to perform a simple series of movements (reflex, muscle power, vibration and sensory examination) so that the mobility of your body can be evaluated. Any points of weakness, excessive strain or specific injury will be identified.

The practitioner will then explain to you in simple terms what is the cause of your problem, and discuss your treatment.

What is Cranial Osteopathy?

Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment, that uses very gentle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses throughout the body, including the head.

Cranial osteopaths are trained to feel a very subtle, rhythmical shape change that is present in all the body tissues. This is called involuntary motion.

The skull is made up of 26 bones, which are intricately joined, in such a way that during the rhythmical cycle of involuntary motion, the skull can actually change shape very slightly to accommodate the normal involuntary motion of the brain. Impacts to the head can block or disrupt this movement. Which in turn can cause a very wide variety of problems both in the head and elsewhere in the body.

Using involuntary motion in the tissues, osteopaths can feel whether a person is working in the best way and if they are in an optimum state of health, or whether there is something preventing healthy movement of the tissue from occurring.

‘Visceral’ techniques are used in the management of conditions affecting internal organs. These involve gentle and rhythmical stretching of the visceral areas.

A cranial osteopath will vary their treatment methods depending on their patients individual problem. This technique is well suited to young children and the physically frail.

Osteopathic treatment is aimed not only at the relief of symptoms, but towards helping the body function better in all respects. Patients often report an improvement in general well being, energy levels, sleep patterns and also in areas of symptoms other than those that bought them to the Osteopath in the first place.

Why is Cranial Osteopathy different?

Osteopaths are taught a variety of different methods and techniques, ranging from the well-known ‘high velocity thrust’ with its dramatic clicks, to the very gentle applied methods used by Cranial Osteopaths.

Cranial Osteopath is the name by which Osteopaths who work at the more gentle, subtle end of the spectrum of different treatment approaches, have become known.

Conditions that cranial treatment can help

• Back & neck pain
• Joint pain
• Headaches & migraine
• Digestive disorders
• Period pain & irregularity
• Recurrent infections
• Sinusitis
• Asthma & chest complaints
• Stress
• Depression & fatigue
• General ill health
• Children – Many different childhood problems (See osteopathy for children).

How can Osteopathy help my child?

Osteopathy is very gentle and is carried out by an Osteopath experienced in treating babies and children. All treatment is safe and natural and helps young bodies adjust to stresses and strains, allowing them to flourish naturally.

How is my child treated?

By using gentle ‘Cranial Osteopathy’, the child is treated with the help of the parents. There is no risk at all to the child.

What about long term preventative care?

Osteopaths believe that getting patients to keep returning for more treatment is not the best form of long-term preventative treatment.  The key to preventing health care problems from recurring, and to developing long-term solutions, lies in increasing patient’s awareness of the causes of the problem, and in giving them the help they need to take responsibility for their own health.

Is Osteopathy proven and does it work?

Most definitely. There is a great deal of research and these reports show not only a consistent level of success but also a high degree of patient satisfaction. See our Testimonials.

Is osteopathic treatment safe?

There is no such thing as a form of medical treatment which is guaranteed 100% safe in every case. However, Osteopathy has one of the best safety records of any medically related profession. Osteopaths are trained to recognise any condition that might make osteopathic treatment inadvisable, and will refer patients for appropriate medical attention in such cases.
 

Can anyone call themselves an Osteopath?

No, since an Act of Parliament in 1993 which is basically to protect the title of ‘Osteopath’, all practitioners calling themselves Osteopaths or practicing Osteopathy, are now legally required to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

Do I need a referral to see an Osteopath?

You do not need a doctors referral to consult an Osteopath, unless you health care insurance cover specifies this.

How many treatments will I need?

An Osteopath will do his best to advise how many treatments session you may require, although this is not always possible. There are occasions when the Osteopath may require seeing you for further investigation before he can make a full assessment.

Can I receive treatment if I am having my period?

As far as an Osteopath is concerned having a period makes no difference to the treatment received.

What should I wear?

To fully assess your condition the Osteopath will normally ask you to remove your clothing, down to your underwear. There are gowns available for you to wear to avoid any embarrassment to yourself. It is also fine to wear sports shorts, if preferred.

Am I covered by private healthcare insurance?

We are registered with many insurance companies but we advise that you check directly with them before making an appointment with us

Do you supply Ostopathic Care Products?

Yes we can supply a number of items including Knee Straps; Lumber Supports; Osteopathic Pillows and Hot & Cold Packs. The use of one or more of these items can both aid in your recovery and often helps to prevent a recurrence of the condition in the future.

Will it hurt?

No there is no pain. Sometimes during treatment you might hear the occasional clicking but this is perfectly normal and just part of the treatment process.

Is it true that animals can be treated also?

Yes, many animals including horses; cats and dogs are cured regularly with a specialised form of Osteopathy. To find out more about this particular field of therapy Click Here

Do you recommend others  that  compliment your work?

Yes, here are links to companies we associate with and recommend for your further attention:

www.upandrunning.co.uk