Osteopathy offers safe and effective treatment for:

Back pain, neck pain, joint pains, headaches, sports injuries, sciatica, arthritic pains, postural problems, neuralgia, circulatory problems and much more. For a detailed list please see our link above.

Osteopathy is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2009) for the treatment of low back pain.

What happens on my first appointment?

Your first session will last for about one hour and you will be seen by a fully qualified and registered osteopath.

The osteopath needs to know about your health, past and present and you will be asked detailed questions about your complaint, medical history, general health and any medication you may be taking.

The osteopath will carry out a careful physical examination sometimes incorporating medical equipment to help with the diagnosis.

The osteopath will normally ask you to remove some of your clothing and perform a simple series of movements.

It is a good idea to wear shorts and a vest or t-shirt, or loose fitting clothing, in order to make the examination of your back or joints easier.

If you choose, you may have a friend or relative present during the appointment.

The osteopath will then use palpation to identify points of weakness or excessive strain in your body.

What will my treatment be like?

You will usually be treated lying on a treatment couch.

Osteopaths usually start any treatment by releasing and relaxing muscles and stretching stiff joints, using gentle massage techniques, rhythmic joint movements and muscle release techniques.

They may also carry out spinal manipulations. These are short, quick movements to joints in order to help restore normal joint function and mobility.

The osteopath may show you exercises to do at home and suggest ways you can improve your posture.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments needed depends on your condition.

If you have chronic low back pain for example, you may need several treatments.

For acute pain, one or two treatments may be enough.