Osteopathy


On this page you will find information about:
  • Why people visit an Osteopath
  • How osteopathy can help you
  • FAQs about your osteopathic sessions
Osteopaths take a whole-person approach to your health, and will take time to understand your individual history, circumstances and unique physiology.  

We provide you with safe, effective treatment and care that aims to promote your health using manual therapy, health advice and sometimes exercise, tailored to your needs, no matter what your  age or current state of health.
Osteopaths are recognised Allied Health Professionals just like Physiotherapists, Podiatrists etc.
 
People generally visit an osteopath for two reasons:
The first, and most common, is because they are experiencing pain and would like to get rid of it. 
The second reason is because they see that being healthy is not just about the absence of pain.  Health is a much broader concept encapsulating a functional body and a tranquil mind that builds the vitality and resilience we need to deal with our busy lives.
 
What follows below is some more information on the type of conditions osteopathy can help with and some of the principles of wholistic health.  Please feel free to take a look.  If you don’t need to read on and are ready to book an appointment, you can click here.


​I hurt!  What can you help me with?

Well, here is a range of conditions osteopathy has been shown to be effective in treating.

  • generalised aches and pains
  • joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise
  • arthritic pain
  • general, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
  • uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
  • headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) / migraine prevention
  • frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences
  • circulatory problems, cramp
  • digestion problems
  • joint pains
  • lumbago
  • sciatica
  • muscle spasms
  • neuralgia
  • fibromyalgia
  • inability to relax
  • rheumatic pain
  • minor sports injuries and tensions
 
I can’t see my pain in the list.  Can you still help?

The list above is given by the Advertising Standards Authority and states what we can legally advertise.  

In some ways this is a good thing because it stops me from claiming outrageous things like curing cancer or autoimmune disease etc.  On the other hand it ties osteopathy to a set of applied “techniques” to be tested or, worse still, it ignores evidence from current pain neuroscience research which is revealing the fundamental role the brain plays in pain generation.

So if you don’t see exactly what your problem is on the list, don’t worry!  There will be some treatment, advice or self-help practice that can be given to help you. 

The best thing to do is to book an appointment and tell me about what you need.  If in the first consultation I think I can’t help you, I won’t charge you, and I will direct you to someone who I think might be able to help.
Wholistic healthcare

And firstly, no it’s not a typo.

In this case what I mean is healthcare for the whole person, not just the leg, neck or back, but for the whole body AND mind.

As human beings we have a strong bias to look for the negative and potentially dangerous things around us and within us.  This is an ancient survival mechanism that allowed us to run away from danger or fight off a predator attack.  This mechanism is still active in us today.  However, the pace and busyness of life doesn’t allow us to “discharge” the pent up fight/flight response and so we fail to nurture our rest and relaxation response, which allows our bodies to rest and repair.
​
I have a range of gentle treatments that will not only allow your body to move with better ease but also quieten your natural survival mechanism so you can feel rested, relaxed and restored following your treatment.
​
You can have this type of treatment whether you are feeling pain or not, and I have many patients who feel the benefit, and return regularly, just like they would do with massage.
 
If you want to use your osteopathic session to feel rested, relaxed and restored, click here, and when you are in the booking page, just type “wholistic” in the comments section.

Frequently Asked Questions about treatment sessions.

How much is a session?
All sessions are £45 and last up to 45 minutes, depending on individual needs.  Payment is by cash or cheque or by bank transfer in advance.


Do I have to undress?
Generally speaking, I treat most patients clothed. But I do ask patients to dress down to T-shirt/vest top as this allows more accurate palpation (touch).  There are times when I may need to see the spine or check for skin rash during the examination and would ask for the T-shirt layer to be removed, which can then be replaced after examination.

Examining knees can be tricky through thick denim, so shorts would be a helpful item to bring with you.  And generally lycra is not a helpful fabric to wear for treatment as it is very slippy to handle, so cotton based leggings work better.  Also if you have a sore neck/shoulders it is helpful if your clothing does not have a collar or roll neck.

I want you to be comfortable and relaxed throughout your treatment and therefore I can accommodate you.

I’ve seen some videos on the internet, do you have to click me?
“Clicking” (high velocity thrust, or HVT) is only one tool in the osteopathic toolbox. 

Osteopathic techniques range from the very still (you might not even know something is being done) up to the HVT.  Most of my treatment is done somewhere in the middle using oscillation (wiggling) or long-lever (waggling) techniques and is augmented with cranial (very still) and when necessary HVT techniques.  If a HVT technique might be useful I will always explain what I am about to do and ask your permission to do it - you are always welcome to say “No” if you don’t want it.  You can also say at any point in the session you don’t like/want “clicking”.

Does treatment hurt?
If you are visiting me with a painful condition then you would expect to experience a normal amount of pain as you move within the clinic room and on the treatment bench. 

Sometimes it is necessary to keep you in an uncomfortable position to effect treatment, but this would be for the shortest time required.  Some muscles can be tender when being treated with long hold techniques.
​
My overriding principle in treatment is that you are comfortable and relaxed, as this provides the best state in order to effect change within the body.