Who do Osteopaths Treat?

Osteopaths are well known for treating patients with back pain. This condition will affect more than 80% of us at some time in our lives and currently costs the NHS more than £1 billion per year in back pain related costs. It is also one of the most common reasons for absences from work. accounting for one in every six days of lost work time. 

Most back pain settles after a few days but more protracted cases can become chronic and can benefit from specialist input.

Osteopaths use a wide variety of gentle hands-on techniques, often augmented by prescribed exercises. Treatment varies between different patient groups depending on age, fitness, past medical history and current diagnosis. The nature of the condition will be discussed with the patient so that agreement and consent can be obtained before treatment commences.

There is a significant amount of research evidence suggesting that osteopathic treatment (particularly when coupled with exercise) can help patients return to normal activities more quickly.

Osteopaths are highly trained professionals who are skilled in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems, including those conditions which may require further investigation. In these cases, the osteopath will organise imaging such as MRI scans or speak to your GP with regards to requesting other appropriate clinical investigations such as blood tests . Patients do not have to visit their GP before visiting their osteopath . It is important to recognise that back pain is not usually caused by anything serious, but the osteopath will always examine and check for any evidence of unusual causes of back pain before discussing these with you, and contacting other health professionals after a full discussion with you if this is appropriate. 

Osteopathic Intervention is not confined to back pain. We are trained in the examination and treatment of all the musculoskeletal structures in the body and specialise in having an in-depth understanding of how these structures relate to each other biomechanically. Such an understanding affords osteopaths a route to helping patients by assessing and treating postural and functional components to an individual patients problem. 

Although not exhaustive, the conditions below are generally considered as being amenable to Osteopathic Treatment and management;

Low back and upper back pain

Neck Pain

Some types of headache

Sciatic and other referred Pain

Fibromyalgia

Occupation Related Pain

Shoulder and Hip Pain

Peripheral Joint Pain eg Elbows and Knees