Osteopathy focuses on the biomechanics of the human body’s muscles, tissues and bone movement, and is a complimentary form of treatment that can be used alongside other forms of pain management.
Practitioners work with a hands-on approach, as highly trained professionals, they are experts in the musculoskeletal system. Using a range of technique varying from massage, muscle release techniques, stretching of restricted tissues and joint articulation and joint manipulation.
Treatments offerd by OsteoVision include:
What is osteopathy?
An osteopath can be considered as a specialist in musculoskeletal pain who treats minor to major soft tissue and bony injuries.
An osteopath is capable of treating all joints and soft tissues in the body: fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet and obviously the spine.
An osteopath will look holistically at the entire body. They will look at your problem and relate this to the way the whole body moves and functions as a whole.
Treatment then uses movement of the human body to help restore normal function and help the body the heal itself.
Pricing:
Osteopathic initial consultation
An initial consultation at the Clinic typically lasts around one hour.
It will involve taking a detailed case history, both examining and treating you, and carefully explaining to you a diagnosis and prognosis so you understand your problem and feel in control.
During your consultation, a complete case history is taken that will detail your past and present medical history. This includes information that may even seem
unrelated, such any medication that you are taking long- and short-term, among other factors.
1. Case history and background
During your consultation a complete case history is taken, detailing your past and present medical history. The information collected include information that may even seem unrelated yet relevant for making a diagnosis. Other information captured include medication that you are taking long and/or short term, any previous operations that you have had performed, previous accidents and your general activity levels and overall health and vitality. Issues that predispose you to your problem, such as your profession (for example if you sit at a computer), daily habits or recreational sports that you participate in, will be discussed and factored in so that we can build up a complete clinical picture.
2. Movement tests and treatment
The examination process may involve taking your blood pressure and undertaking a range of neurological, orthopaedic and diagnostic tests which help to form our diagnosis.
We will then assess your posture and undertake movement tests so that we can see how a joint or limb is functioning in relation to itself and the rest of the body.
Treatment includes manual therapy, manipulation therapy, gentle repetitive movements and a range of stretching and soft tissue techniques. These techniques should not cause you any undue discomfort. We will take all precaution should you present in a great deal of pain and make you as comfortable as possible.
3. Prognosis and recommendations
Osteopathy involves a whole body assessment and approach in deriving a full diagnosis.
After treatment, we will give you recommendations for further treatment and rehabilitation. This could include exercises, diet information, referrals if necessary and pain relief. We can email exercise videos or provide printouts. We will also carefully point out things to avoid so you don’t exacerbate your problem.
If you would like to discuss your presenting symptoms feel free to call us on 03303 904 300 and initiate a brief, informal consultation. Remember, you don’t have to ask your GP and you can come to see us whenever it suits you.
Osteopathic Follow Up treatment
An osteopathic follow up treatment at the Clinic lasts 30 mins.
We will have a brief consultation to see how you have been since your last TT, if there are any new issues to address and what helped elevate your symptoms. You will be assessed and explained your diagnosis if it had changed from your previous visit. You will have further treatment which is more directed to presenting symptoms.
Adjunctive Therapies:
Aromatherapy Massage
Dry-needling (modern acupuncture)
Dry-needling, or modern acupuncture, is a useful adjunct to Osteopathic treatment as it helps to reduce muscular spasm and tension by addressing the ‘trigger points’ (hypersensitive, knotted, tight points) in the muscle. This is beneficial in treating acute pain symptoms and chronic symptoms. It is particularly appropriate when patients are suffering from muscular or ligamentous strain, arthritis, nerve irritation or discal or facetal neck or back pain.
Often acute injuries caused by trauma or repetitive strain, lead to local inflammation from the damaged tissues and protective guarding of the muscles in the area which aims to reduce the chance of further damage. This muscles tension and inflammation reduces circulation and therefore limits both the oxygen supply in and the waste product disposal out of the area. Prolonged reduction in oxygen levels stimulates the production of cells which create fibrosis or scar tissue which, in turn, limits the mobility of the muscle(s)and associated joints and causes nerve irritation or compression. This ultimately results in changes in the function and gait of the body.
Inserting a needle in to these ‘trigger points’ or tight, knotted parts of a muscle helps to create a break in the reinforcing dysfunctional muscle cycle and therefore decreases muscle contraction, nerve irritation, pain levels while improving flexibility. For example, acupuncture to the upper neck muscles often helps reduce headache and migraine symptoms and to the low back can help with symptoms relating to sciatica, leg and low back pain.
After a treatment involving dry-needling, the patient may be achy and sore for anything up to 48 hours with occasional bruising. The application of ice and stretching is often recommended to reduce these symptoms.
It should be noted that dry-needling is not the same as acupuncture. Dry-needling is based on Western medicine and principles while acupuncture originates from traditional Chinese medicine. While the use of needles is the same, the intention and actual treatment process may be quite different.
Treatments offered by OsteoVision include: