Osteopathy
1. What is osteopathy?
2. Does treatment hurt?
3. Will I feel better straight away?
4. Can osteopathy damage my back?
5. How long is a treatment?
6. How many treatments will I need?
7. What conditions does osteopathy treat?
8. What age range does osteopathy treat?
9. How is osteopathy different from Chiropractic?
10. How is osteopathy different from Physiotherapy?
11. Can I claim for my treatment on my medical insurance?
1. What is osteopathy?
The maintenance of good mechanical function is essential to good health. Problems in the framework of the body can disturb the circulatory system or nerves to any part of the body, and affect any aspect of health. Thus mechanical problems can lead not only to aches and pains in joints and muscles, but also to disturbances in the internal organs and the way they work. Osteopaths work to restore the musculoskeletal system of the body to a state of balance and harmony.
2. Does treatment hurt?
Techniques used by osteopaths should not hurt you at all. If techniques do hurt, tell your osteopath, so they may adjust their technique. Sometimes, if your tissues are very inflamed due to injury, treatment may seem a little sore because your tissues are so inflamed and tender.
3. Will I feel better straight away?
The answer to this question depends on the condition the patient presents with. It is possible to leave an osteopathic treatment pain free, but this is very rare as the majority of patients present to an osteopath as a last resort, after having been in pain for a long time. The earlier you visit your osteopath, the quicker they can get you better.
4. Can osteopathy damage my back?
Applied correctly, osteopathic techniques cannot harm you. Ensure that your osteopath is registered with the General Osteopathic Council, and you will know
you are in safe hands.
5. How long is a treatment?
Treatment time varies from Osteopath to Osteopath. The majority of Osteopaths in the UK will take 30-45 minutes for the first treatment, and 20-30 minutes for follow-up treatments.
6. How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments required depends entirely on the condition. When you attend for your initial assessment, your osteopath should be able to give you a guide as to how many treatments you need. In cases such as osteoarthritis, people may visit their osteopath several times a year for maintenance treatment, whilst others who present with simple back pain may only need 1 or 2 treatments.
7. What conditions does osteopathy treat?
Osteopaths treat the whole person, not just the condition. Using the principles of Osteopathy, a wide range of conditions can be treated, including:
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Back and neck pain
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Joint pain
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Headache and migraine
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Digestive disorders
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Period pain and irregularity
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Recurrent infection
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Sinusitis
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Asthma and chest complaints
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Stress, depression, and fatigue
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General ill health
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Childhood problems (see section on Cranial Osteopathy for children)
Conditions that indicate cranial osteopathy rather than the traditional osteopathy include the following: difficult births for babies, the crying sleepless baby, childhood asthma, children with poor concentration or stress related problems, menstrual pain, sciatica, jaw malalignment, certain digestive and abnormal pain from arthritis - to name but a few.
NB. as with any form of physical treatment cranial osteopathy is ineffective in irreversible pathological disease states.
8. What age range does osteopathy treat?
This type of treatment is suitable for everyone, from newborn babies to the very elderly, as it is extremely gentle.
9. How is osteopathy different from Chiropractic?
The fundamental philosophy behind chiropractic is that all dis-ease within the body has its origin within restrictions of the spine, preventing correct
neurological and circulatory supply to the organs and muscles of the body Chiropractors therefore work to release restrictions found within the joints of the body.
Osteopaths work to release the restrictions within the joints of the body as chiropractors do, with the same philosophies as chiropractors do, but also work very much with muscles, addressing the influence that muscular dysfuntion / tightness /imbalance can have the functioning of joints.
10. How is osteopathy different from Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists work very similarly to osteopaths, but their emphasis lies in addressing muscular imbalance through exercise prescription. The emphasis a physiotherapist places on treatment depends on the individual physio. NHS physio's tend to work a lot more with exercise prescription due to time constraints, whereas private physio's work with a lot more 'hands-on' techniques.
11. Can I claim for my treatment on my medical insurance?
Whether or not you can claim back your treatment costs depends on the osteopath and the insurance company. Some insurance companies require osteopaths to have been qualified for a certain number of years before they will pay for treatment, others do not.
