OSTEOPATHY

Osteopathy is a holistic approach aimed to restore mobility, relieve muscles tension, enhance the blood supply to tissues and consequentially help the body to heal. It is focussed on the person’s health rather than on the disease and it uses a causal and non-symptomatic approach: the cause of the pain may be located far from the painful area and it is important to look for any functional alterations of the body that might lead to the manifestation of signs, symptoms, and pain of various kinds.

Osteopathy combines non-invasive manual techniques with exercises prescription to boost the effectiveness of the treatment itself. The techniques mainly used are joints manipulation and mobilization, massage, muscle stretching, and adjustments involving ligaments and connective tissue. According to this, Visceral Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy are a fundamental part of my practice. They are not a different type of Osteopathy, they are just other tools/techniques used by the practitioner to better address the patient’s issue. Click here to know more about the different styles of Osteopathy.

WHEN OSTEOPATHY CAN HELP?

Osteopaths might be famous for helping people to deal with back pain but it is effective for many other types of aches and conditions, from the head to the toes and everything involved in between. 

The most common conditions Osteopathy successfully treats are:

  • Back pain, neck pain, and trapped nerves (e.g. sciatica)

  • Hip, knee, ankle, and foot pain (including ankle strain)

  • Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain (including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel)

  • Muscles and ligaments sprain

  • Sport injuries

  • Osteoarthritis /degenerative conditions

  • Migraines and Headaches

  • Whiplash

  • Neuralgia

  • Scoliosis

  • Post-surgery rehab (rehabilitation)

  • Symptoms related to Pregnancy

Osteopathy can also be beneficial for other no-musculoskeletal conditions, they include:

  • Digestive problems

  • Rheumatic pain

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Circulatory problem

  • Menstrual pain

  • Anxiety/stress management

WHAT TO EXPECT

People visiting an Osteopath in the UK should ensure that their therapist is accredited by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and licensed to practice.

Overall, Osteopathy is patient-centred and an initial consultation will take place before any active treatment or management begins. You will be asked questions about your problem, your general health, and any other medical condition. All the information you will share is confidential and will be recorded in your case notes. The consultation will be followed by a physical examination: you will be requested to do some movements in order to observe your posture and mobility, as well as passive tests and orthopaedic evaluation, which will also be executed. After the assessment, you will be proposed a unique treatment plan to meet your needs. This will include a discussion about what the treatment will consist of, the number of sessions you are likely to need (this number may change and depends on the patient’s response to treatment), and some lifestyle adjustment and/or home exercises program you will be advised to do to recover faster.
If your condition requires further medical investigations or if Osteopathy is not the most accurate therapy for your problem you will be referred to your GP or another medical specialist. Most patients are likely to receive treatment during the first initial appointment.

During each Osteopathic appointment, you are likely to be asked to remove some of your clothing to better assess your posture and movements. You may bring shorts and/or a t-shirt with you if you feel more comfortable wearing them, but you can also ask a relative or a friend to accompany you and witnessed the entire visit.

Usually, each appointment lasts around 45 min, but I will be happy to arrange more time if needed.

IS OSTEOPATHY SAFE?

Osteopathy is generally considered a safe treatment, although you may experience minor side effects, which are usually resolved within 24/48 hours. They include:

  • mild to moderate soreness or pain in the areas treated

  • headache

  • fatigue and tiredness

In rare cases, serious complications may occur. For this reason, you will be explained the benefit and any potential risks associated with the treatment you will receive. The main rare, but serious, complications (e.g. fracture) seem to be linked to spinal manipulations, but it is important to understand these are not the only techniques used by Osteopaths: many alternatives can be chosen if the patient does not like that specific technique or if the physical assessment has revealed a contraindication for spinal manipulations themselves.

CAN I BOOK AN OSTEOPATHIC APPOINTMENT EVEN IF I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC ISSUES? 

Many people resort to Osteopathy when they are struggling with aches and pains. However, since Osteopathy is focused on the person's health rather than the disease, it could be, combined with other precautions (eg a healthy lifestyle, being active), a good tool to prevent the recurrence of previous symptoms or the onset of new issues. 

Our body is a magnificent and smart system: it adapts as much as it can to avoid pain and physical issues. However, an increase in stress, trauma, or a bad posture can trigger the onset of aches and discomforts. Osteopathy, used as a preventive approach, can improve the mobility of your body and resolved eventual demanding compensations implemented by your body but not yet transformed into pain and therefore prevent the onset of further issues.

This does not mean you should see your Osteopathy as frequently as you might do when you are dealing with a problem. One visit every 1/2 months might help you to keep the improvements gained and avoid any recurrence of the issue.

IS OSTEOPATHY SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?

Pregnancy produces the largest postural change that a woman’s body will ever undergo and Osteopathy is a safe and effective approach even during this important women’s moment. During pregnancy many physical, hormonal, and emotional changes take place and this can lead to several aches and pains. A pregnant woman may experience back pain, sciatica, pain in her pelvis, groins, ribs, or hips or she can also find little simple movements, such as walking, sitting, or turning in bed difficult or painful.

For this reason, Osteopathy can help to relieve some of the most common pain and aches experienced during pregnancy. Gentle techniques will be used to correct any postural unbalance and some advice for analgesic positions and relaxation techniques will be given to you for improving your quality of life and enjoying the pregnancy.

Osteopathy is completely safe at all stages of pregnancy. Moreover, a post-natal check may be important as well because it can help your body to recover from the birth's stress. Whether the delivery is natural or cesarean, an intense adaptation of the pelvis is observed and the Osteopathic treatment can help to ease the muscles’ soreness related to it, rebalance the pelvis and correct any postural compensation. Finally, it can also help you with aches and discomforts from breastfeeding and lifting your baby.