What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a holistic system of healthcare that assesses, diagnoses and treats a wide range of health problems. Its main emphasis is to alleviate symptoms arising from problems that can affect the body’s structure and function. Osteopaths believe that the pain and disability that we suffer can be the result of changes to the normal function of the body’s mechanics affecting joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves and connective tissues.
Treatment and Exercise
Osteopathy is a natural, manual therapy, which uses a variety of ‘hands-on’ techniques such as soft tissue massage, stretching, joint articulation, manipulative techniques and muscle energy techniques. Alongside treatment, exercises are often prescribed and advice given to encourage the body’s natural self-repairing mechanisms, aiding recovery, promoting health and preventing reoccurrence of symptoms.
FAQ's
What happens on my first visit?
On the first visit to an osteopath, a full case history will be taken, followed by a full physical assessment and examination in order to determine the correct diagnosis and treatment.
The patient will be asked to make some gentle movements to establish the comfortable ranges of spinal or joint movements.
The patient is then invited to sit or lie on the examination couch (or plinth) and a passive examination will be performed to assess the range of movement available within the dysfunctional part of the body.
Any special tests (non invasive) will be performed and explained. For example; deep tendon reflexes and power testing.
Treatment is begun once the assessment has been completed and it has been ascertained that osteopathic treatment is appropriate.
Your osteopath may need to refer you to your GP or for further diagnostic tests, for example, Xray, blood tests or MRI scanning.
Is treatment painful?
Careful case history taking, assessment and examination will help the osteopath determine how much pain you are in and therefore how to adapt treatment to your particular problem.
Treatment should not be painful, however, it is common for symptoms to take 1-2 days to improve, and for soreness to be felt after treatment. This is a normal part of the healing process.
Please note that the practitioner will not treat the patient using any techniques that have not been fully explained to the patient and consent for this treatment given to the practitioner. If at anytime during the treatment the patient feels uncomfortable with the treatment being given, for any reason whatsoever, please tell your practitioner and they will stop the treatment.
What should I wear?
In order to make an accurate postural and mechanical assessment, it may be necessary to remove some clothing, underwear being left on at all times. If you feel uncomfortable about this, please feel free to wear or bring along some shorts and a vest to change in to. Assessing and treating fully clothed is possible but limits the osteopaths’ ability to assess and treat.
How often should I have treatment?
In most cases, within a couple of visits, your symptoms should be under control and at a manageable level. Some patients require further visits to restore mobility and function to a normal level. Your osteopath will explain what he or she feels the problem is and give you some idea of how long and how many treatments are likely to be required to treat your condition. Occasionally, ‘maintenance’ treatments may be suggested in order to keep the original problem at bay. Often, exercises are prescribed and lifestyle advice given, in order to maintain improvements in symptoms and prevent their reoccurrence. If the patient is successfully compliant with the exercises and advice, improvements should be faster and longer lived.
No matter whether you return after one week, three weeks, two years or much longer, your visit to the Wallington Osteopathic Practice will be as a “current” patient and as such you will be welcomed with whatever condition you present with and treated accordingly.
In other words you will only ever be a “New Patient” once!
If there is a need to re-evaluate your condition, your consultation time will be extended (at no additional charge) to 60 minutes. Otherwise repeat treatments are based on 30 minute bookings and appropriate treatments given within this time.
An I covered by my private medical health insurance?
Yes. You may have to check with your provider as to the correct referral procedure, but our osteopaths are registered with most major health insurance companies. Please contact us if you require the relevant provider numbers when contacting your insurance company:
Medical Acupuncture
Medical Acupuncture (Dry Needling)
What is Medical Acupuncture?
Medical Acupuncture (Dry Needling) is often used in conjunction with osteopathy in order to achieve further positive changes in the soft tissues.
How does Medical acupuncture work?
Inserting a needle into a trigger point or classical acupuncture point is thought to cause various responses, all of which ultimately lead to reduction in pain.
- The needle stimulates local nerves causing an increase in local blood flow which leads to an increase in oxygen and removal of local toxins which in turn improves the muscles ability to heal and relax.
- Locally stimulated nerves send information to the spinal cord to tell it to relax that muscle and reduce pain stimulation for that area.
- It stimulates the release of chemicals and hormones both locally and globally which induce a pain relieving effect and feeling of well being.
What can it be used for?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture for the treatment of
- Non-specific low back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
You can benefit from using acupuncture alongside osteopathic care for pain relief from many musculoskeletal conditions as well ...see our 'Conditions We Treat' page.
Is Acupuncture painful?
Everyone responds to treatment very differently and there are many kinds of feelings that the needles can stimulate. The response is very much determined by the individual and how they are feeling that day. Most people however do not notice any pain at all as the needle is inserted. This is because the needle is much finer than those you may have come across previously during a blood test or whilst having an injection. Whilst the needles are in you may notice an ache or feeling of heaviness in the muscle, which can spread to other areas. This is a positive sign. However, if the muscle is extremely tight then a feeling of twitching or cramping can occur. Some people may feel very lethargic during or after treatment due to the large stimulation on the nervous system. If you feel unwell or clammy during the treatment, please let us know and we will remove the needles.
Is it safe?
Yes, we only use single sterile disposable needles. As part of the first assessment we always take a thorough medical history and ask about your general health. Please inform you osteopath if you have any of the following
- Pace maker
- History of fainting or fits
- Previous strong reaction to acupuncture
- Bleeding disorder
- Blood borne virus such as HIV or hepatitis
- Heart valve problems or anything else which may make you prone to infection
- Taking immune suppressant medication
- If you are taking anti coagulation medication such as warfarin.
What if I don't like needles?
If you do not like needles you don’t have to have this form of care. It is your treatment and so if it something that you are not comfortable with we can use one of the many alternatives such as deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy work.
