Follow up osteopathic treatment

What is osteopathy? Osteopathy is a holistic approach to treating a  wide range of aches, pains and stiffness anywhere in the body.

Osteopathy assesses the patient from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint. The practitioner uses a highly evolved sense of touch to investigate the underlying causes of pain. He also needs it to determine tension and restrictions in the body. These, along with a detailed history of the patient, can help to establish a diagnosis. Osteopathic treatment aims to reduce tension and restrictions, thereby restoring balance and reducing symptoms of pain or stiffness.

A non-invasive, hands-on approach using muscle and soft tissue stretching, rhythmic joint movement or manipulation techniques help to achieve this. Those help to improve the range of motion of a joint or reduce tension in a muscle. These manual techniques are adjustable to suit the needs of the individual.

Symptoms can result from a previous injury, a childhood condition, poor posture, injury, ageing, poor health, stress and tension. The osteopath will observe asymmetry, misalignment and tension in the patient. Further, he will use this information to help restore proper function during treatment. Osteopathy concerns itself with treating the underlying or predisposing factors that have attributed to the patient's symptoms. So, some of the procedure is performed away from the site of pain.

Principles of osteopathy

A basic osteopathic principle is that the body can heal itself.  Therefore, the osteopath aims to help restore proper structure through soft tissue massage. Moreover, he uses mobilisations, manipulation of joints and other techniques. Restoring adequate structure helps return the body to normal function, leading to reduced symptoms.

Our osteopath treats each patient as an individual and gives the best possible attention. Moreover, he will create a personalised treatment plan for you. That plan will contain short, medium and long-term management strategies, such as exercises and general lifestyle advice.

On average, you'll need two or three treatments. However, for some patients, just one treatment can give complete relief. The number of treatments depends on the individual, the type of problem, and how long they have had it. We can discuss it once the diagnosis has been made.

The General Osteopathic Council regulates osteopaths. Besides, they undergo rigorous training and Continued Professional Development.

Allow a full hour for the initial consultation and treatment. For follow-up procedures, you may book a 30-minute appointment with an osteopath.

What to expect at your appointment with an osteopath?

During your first appointment, an osteopath will take a detailed case history. It will assist in making a diagnosis and allow a better understanding of your problem. Your lifestyle and physical stresses help aid a diagnosis. A review of your current health status is essential to help complete the picture and ensure that no underlying conditions exist that osteopathic treatment might aggravate after the appointment with an osteopath.

After the osteopath has taken your case history, you will have a structural examination. It is a visual and hands-on evaluation of the body while standing, sitting and lying down. It is, therefore, best performed with the patient in their underwear to allow a clear view of your structure.

You may choose to bring shorts and a sports top or wear a gown provided. You may ask to perform specific movements during your examination to assess the range of motion in the joints.

Examination at the appointment with an osteopath

After the investigation, the osteopath will discuss the findings and diagnosis, and treatment will begin. Soft tissue massage, mobilisations of joints, and manipulation are standard techniques we perform during the procedure.

Your comfort is essential and will guide the treatment after the appointment with an osteopath. Also, you may request a procedure modification to suit you for maximum comfort.

Treatment is a two-way process; therefore, communication is vital. Discuss this with the osteopath if something is uncomfortable or you are worried about any aspect of the procedure.

Your visit will conclude with recommendations for reducing symptoms between treatments and suggestions for activities, exercise, or lifestyle choices that will address any underlying imbalances to help further reduce symptoms and prevent future recurrence.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you need to cancel your appointment with our osteopath, please contact us before 5 PM the day before your visit. A late cancellation fee will apply.

Conditions treated by osteopaths.

An osteopath treats many conditions that present with aches, pains, or stiffness in joints or tendons at any site on the body. Musculoskeletal pain and injury are commonly referred for treatment, especially for neck or back pain patients. However, other conditions may benefit from osteopathy.
Besides, most people believe osteopathy only treats back and neck pain. It is, in fact, a holistic therapy that can treat a wide range of complaints about most parts of the body.

Common COMPLAINTS osteopath

Common complaints include stress, tension headaches, back pain, neck pain, whiplash, disc injuries, repetitive strain injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome,  arthritic pain, postural problems and much more. 
Call Gilly for advice on whether your specific condition will benefit from osteopathy. 
Shoulders can be prone to injury, and many structures in them can cause pain. Shoulder pain may result from direct trauma, sports injury, poor posture, repetitive actions, or other conditions, such as frozen shoulder or osteoarthritis.

Osteopath treats BACK OR NECK PAIN.

These are commonly treated conditions for which osteopaths may provide effective relief.

POSTURE RELATED PROBLEMS

Very few of us have good posture. So, this may be exacerbated by sitting at a desk for long periods. Unfortunately, a sedentary lifestyle is the most common cause of developing health problems. Those may include:

• scoliosis and sciatica,
• comfort eating and obesity,
• inflammatory of various body tissues,
• disruption of internal organs' functions,
• low motility of the intestinal muscles and the gall bladder,
• malfunctioning of most eliminating organs like kidneys and liver,
• fluid retention or lymph retention,
• cardiovascular system problems and heart diseases.

However, there is a way to prevent all of them. Contact us to book a comprehensive consultation and treatment at our facility in Holborn, London.

PROBLEMS RELATED TO REPETITIVE ACTION

Repetitive action can also lead to symptoms of pain, pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the arms and hands.