Who can benefit

Everyone, from babies and children to the elderly! Sports people, mums-to-be or post-partum, manual and office workers all benefit greatly from regular osteopathic treatment. 

What tho expect at your first appointment

We will start by taking the full details of your present complaint(s), as well as any relevant past and current medical history (illnesses, medication, accidents, operations…). This is to understand the factors that have led to and/or maintain your current condition.

We will then proceed to a full examination. This will normally involve dressing down to your underwear, so that your entire body framework, including your posture and spinal curves, can be assessed. You will be asked to perform some specific movements. Depending on your symptoms, we might perform additional tests, such as assessing your strength and reflexes.

The final part will be the treatment, which is tailored to you, and will involve a range of appropriate techniques.

Appropriate exercises will also be discussed and demonstrated.

Timings

Adults and older children treatments last around 1h. For babies and young children (typically under 5), the first session also lasts for 1h in order to allow time for case history taking, and subsequent sessions are 30-40 minutes long.
The number of appointments required will vary with the condition and the patient, and this will be discussed at the first appointment, where a tailored treatment plan will be agreed. Most people will be pain-free after a short course of treatments (3 to 5). Other patients with long-term conditions find they benefit from regular maintainance treatment.

Additional Information

Please wear loose comfortable clothes, leggings and shorts are ideal. For babies, the first session will require dressing down to their nappy to carry a full neonatal examination.

If you are taking any medication, please bring an up-to-date list including dosages. If you have any report of medical investigations associated with your complaints (i.e. X-ray or MRI of your back) please bring it along as well.
Where appropriate, we will work alongside your GP/medical team, to ensure cross-discipline care.

Please remember that what is achieved inside the consulting room is only a proportion of the osteopath’s work. It is necessary for osteopaths to keep relevant notes, communicate with GPs, review hospital X-rays and scans and write reports and letters.

The complaints procedure can be available on request.