 You will be seen by a fully qualified and registered osteopath and your first session will last for about 30–60 minutes.
The aim is to see if your problem is suitable for osteopathic consideration and which techniques would be safe to use or to refer you to your GP.
Your osteopath needs to know about your health, past and present. You will be asked detailed questions about your complaint, medical history, general health and any medication you may be taking.
The osteopath will carry out a careful physical examination, sometimes incorporating medical equipment to help with the diagnosis.
Your osteopath will normally ask you to remove some of your clothing and perform a simple series of movements to assess your mobility. The osteopath will use touch to identify points of weakness or excessive strain in your body.
If you choose, you may have a friend or relative present during the appointment.
At this stage your osteopath will be able to explain what is causing your symptoms, how they might be able to help and describe the treatment plan and any risk factors. You will be given the option to proceed and consent to the treatment.
Osteopathic treatment is done on a treatment couch. Your treatment might begin with gentle massage techniques, rhythmic joint movements and muscle release techniques. to release and relax muscles and stretch stiff joints. Your treatment might include a spinal manipulation. These are short, quick movements to joints in order to help restore normal joint function and mobility. Another technique your osteopath might choose is cranial osteopathy which is a more gentle approach consisting of subtle tissue release techniques.
Your osteopath aims to provide you with a logical method of getting out of the painful situation you are in by reducing the predisposing and maintaining factors that got you there in the first place, by changing your life-style. Your osteopath may show you exercises to do at home and suggest ways you can improve your posture.
Follow up treatments are usually 30 minutes and will follow a similar format, thereby monitoring your progression and reaction to the treatment, reassessing your problem and consolidating your diagnosis and prognosis. If necessary your treatment plan will be adapted or you may be referred.
The number of treatments needed depends on your condition. If you have chronic low back pain for example, you may need several treatments. For acute pain, one or two treatments may be enough.
After an osteopathic treatment, you may feel stiff or sore for a few hours, you should receive an after care leaflet. This can feel similar to post-exercise soreness. Please see the left hand menu 'What to expect after treatment'
We may advise you to have maintenance treatment.
Feel free to ring and talk with your osteopath if you have any concerns.
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First appointment