What is Osteopathy? What to expect

Osteopathy is a health care system which lays emphasis on understanding all the structural and mechanical elements of the body. 

An osteopath will take a detailed  patient case history before conducting an examination predominantly of the body's musculoskeletal system, but also of other organ systems, such as the nervous system and the circulatory system. 

The examination typically involves asking the patient to move certain parts of their body while being observed. For example, in an assessment of a low back pain case, asking the patient to run their finger tips down the front of their legs ("flexion") and telling the osteopath when they feel the pain being reproduced or changed in their back. This procedure is then repeated for leaning backwards ("extension") as well as down the side of their legs ("side flexion"). This is known as the active examination. The osteopath may also make an assessment using palpation (touch) "the passive examination" of how a patient's back is functioning. This will be explained in depth at the time of the consultation, so that a patient's informed consent can be gained before any examination takes place.

Please wear loose fitting clothing when attending (a loose tee shirt and track suit bottoms are ideal).  

Osteopathic treatment tends not to solely target the symptomatic area, but gives careful consideration to identifying predisposing, and/or maintaining factors contributing to an individual patient's complaint. Postural, occupational, and psychological components to an individual's problem might, for example, be considered; a so-called holistic "Biopsychosocial approach".

Treatment is usually gentle, and shouldn't be painful.

Most osteopaths utilise a combination of soft tissue massage techniques, gentle articulation and mobilisation of joint structures, and if appropriate, manipulation (clicking) of joints. 

Advice given will almost certainly include the prescription of appropriate exercises, lifestyle considerations, as well as advice on management of flare-ups and preventative measures. Occupational and postural factors are also considered in evaluating the cause of an individual complaint and helping the patient with it.

Osteopaths are governed by a strict ethical code and all information discussed during the course of a consultation is strictly confidential. You will be asked to read and sign a GDPR (Data Protection) document prior to your initial session. We will also discuss the possible use of PROMS (Patient Reported Outcome Measures). These are validated research tools used widely in musculoskeletal medicine to monitor patient progress, should patients wish to more accurately see how things are going. There is of course no pressure to utilise these if patients do not wish to do so.

By law, all osteopaths in the UK have to be registered with The General Osteopathic Council who set standards for the profession as a whole, and ensure osteopaths are governed by a strict code of ethics.