Frequently Asked Questions
Osteopathy
- How do I know if an Osteopath is fully qualified?
- Your first visit to the Osteopath
- Subsequent visits
- After Treatment
- How many treatments will I need?
- What is the difference between an Osteopath, Chiropractor and Physiotherapist?
General Questions
Osteopathy
1. How do I know if an Osteopath is fully qualified?
An Osteopath must have completed an accredited course in Osteopathy at a renowned university or college. They are then required by law to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOs.C)
Osteopaths are also required to undertake Continued Professional Development (CPD) throughout the year to ensure they keep up to date with the latest developments.
2. Your first visit to the Osteopath
On your first visit to see the Osteopath, a case history will be taken from you. This will begin by taking your personal details (name, address, date of birth etc), a history of the complaint you are presenting with, an outline of your past medical history and your current state of health.
The initial consultation will allow you plenty of time to tell the Osteopath about your symptoms. This will be followed by a comprehensive examination to determine the severity and cause of your symptoms. This may include checking the function of your neurological system (reflexes) or measuring your blood pressure.
The Osteopath will then explain in detail what the cause of the problem is, the treatment that is required, and how long your recovery is likely to take. If treatment other than osteopathy is required, we will explain why and what to do next and will refer you to the most appropriate source of help.
In order to examine you properly, it will be necessary to remove the outer layers of clothing, leaving your underwear on. This will enable the Osteopath to assess your range of movement and muscle tension.
Your first visit will be an interesting, informative and a pleasant experience.
These will be arranged to fit in around your schedule. The Osteopath will carefully monitor your progress and discharge you as soon as you have made a satisfactory recovery. We are able to provide off work certificates and G.P letters if necessary.
Sometimes you feel immediate relief from symptoms. Other times, your body may feel like it has "had a work-out" and you may experience aches and pains in various places. This is a transition process and your body's way of adjusting to the treatment you have received. Osteopathy is a very safe and effective form of treatment and most patients experience very little discomfort.
5. How many treatments will I need?
This will depend on the problem you have. With a new injury involving symptoms that are from a simple source, early assessment and treatment can greatly speed recovery within one or two sessions.
If your symptoms have been present for a long time or are severe, it may take several sessions to feel an improvement. Please remember that it might not be possible to undo overnight what has taken months or years to develop.
Another factor that interferes with progress is continuing the activity that caused the problem. Often this is unavoidable - lifting your child or carrying on your job, but the Osteopath will advise on how best to manage this.
Occasionally, it is advisable to undertake "maintenance" visits to enable us to ensure the previous problem is contained. Patients will be given advice, and often, exercises concerning these complaints in the hope that recurrence of the condition can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
After treatment, it is not advisable to partake in heavy exercise for 24 hours to give the tissues time to settle down.
6. What is the difference between an Osteopath, Chiropractor and Physiotherapist?
There are many small differences between the three professions and most of them are due to their evolution of practice. Historically, osteopathy was the first to be developed in 1874 and chiropractic branched off to form a separate profession in 1895. Although there remain many similarities in terms of the type of conditions treated, their philosophies now differ as a result of this separation.
In general, an Osteopath would be concerned with the function of the whole body, as well as its structure, taking into account the health of the spine and other joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves.
Chiropractors believed any vertical misalignment caused bony pressure on nerves, leading to problems not just in the surrounding muscles and tissues but also in other areas of the body. In treatment terms this can mean that Chiropractors may only require short sessions with quite focused and specific manipulation of the spine whereas Osteopaths prefer longer treatments with more work on muscles and, perhaps, a more gentle manipulation.
Physiotherapy has a less 'philosophical' approach to treatment than osteopathy or chiropractic. Its focus is very much on mobility and it is more closely aligned to traditional medical approaches due to its foundations in a hospital setting.
Physiotherapists also have a particular focus on remedial exercises and increasingly offer facilities for supervised exercise as part of an effective rehabilitation program.
General Questions
1. Do I need to be referred by my GP?
Although we get many referrals from GPs, nurses, midwifes, dentists and consultants, you do not need to see them first. If the Osteopath thinks there is something that needs to be brought to the attention of your GP, with your permission we will, write to or telephone them.
2. Can I claim on my medical insurance?
The majority of medical insurance companies now cover osteopathy. It is best to check with your insurers first, as individual policies may have exemptions. If you do have complementary health cover then you should be given an authorisation number, which should be given to the osteopath at your first appointment.