Osteopathy is a unique approach of assessing and examining the body based on the principle that the structure and function of the body are inter-related and therefore rely on each other for optimum health. As a result we treat the entire body and all the systems within it although the spine is one area which is frequently involved and therefore is often treated. It is possibly because of this that there is the general view that we treat mainly backs, but based on our main principle we can and do infact treat anywhere. A number of other complaints which we can help are: joint problems, trapped nerves, headaches, asthma, muscular strains, sports injuries and pregnancy related problems.

Osteopathic treatment generally involves mobilisation, articulation, soft tissue massage and other techniques, applied to the problem area and secondary areas to restore function and prevent its recurrence.

Cranial Osteopathy (Cranio-sacral therapy) is also another technique that can be used on both babies and adults. It uses a very gentle touch to restore the fundamental cranial rhythms in the body to return balance and movement. In adults it is particularly effective for head related problems such as migraines or whiplash, and for back pain following falls onto the sacrum.

What to do after an appointment

After an appointment it is advisable to take it easy and rest for at least 24 hours especially after your first visit. The body has a lot of changes to make following an appointment, and the muscles have been relaxed and areas mobilised. It is therefore not advisable to stress the body further as damage may occur and symptoms made worse. Light exercise, such as walking or gentle swimming, may be suitable a few days after treatment, but please discuss things with the osteopath first. Heavy work or lifting is certainly NOT advisable after treatment. The saying “no pain no gain”, is not true, if you do experience any pain, making symptoms worse please stop immediately.

Treatment Plan

The approach to osteopathic treatment is to address different areas over a course of treatments as the body should not be overloaded. As mentioned, the treatment is a team effort where we get more involoved initially, by mobilising joints, stretching muscles, reducing inflammation etc. and once your body is working better we get you to do more through stretches, exercises, posture advice etc. We then become less involved and reassess and check things over instead. It is therefore important to go through a course of treatment to progress through the areas that need to be addressed and for you to get a better understanding of problem areas, posture, stretches etc.

Maintenance/Check-ups

Depending upon the individual and the problem area, it may well be useful to have a check-up every few months. It allows the osteopath to reassess the full body and check whether areas are starting to show any problems. Through palpation we can often establish areas of poor function before they become symptomatic and therefore a future problem. The interval between check-ups will vary from usually two to six months depending upon the stresses your body is under.