Most frequent questions and answers about Osteopathy:
Yes! Osteopathic examination and treatment is delivered by a registered practitioner with risk factors identified prior to any treatment is given! Your osteopath will explain possible risks of treatment and discuss any concerns you may have prior to commencing with treatment.
Osteopaths undertake an intense 4 – 5 year full time degree course with specific emphases on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, X- rays, spinal adjusting and soft tissues techniques. In addition to this, student osteopaths undertake 1,500 clinical hours under experienced supervision prior to qualifying.
The number of treatments varies with each patient and their individual health goals. Problems that you have neglected may require ongoing care for optimal function. Other acute problems may only require a few visits. In majority of cases visits become less often as your spine and body stabilises. But it is important to remember that each visit builds on the one before. Chronic cases may require months or even years of treatment.
After years of training, osteopaths become highly skilled in a variety of techniques to adjust and manipulative your body. Spinal and joint manipulation or adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction to adjust a joint that is not moving correctly. This helps restore function to a joint, improving mobility and reducing any pressure on adjacent nerves and muscles. Joint manipulation is often painless and very quick with minimal risk factors.
During a Joint adjustment it is very common to hear a “popping” sound. A common misconception is that the noise released is a result of bones or joint popping back into place. What this noise really is, is a quick release of pressure within a joint capsule resulting in a small release of gas (Nitrous Oxide).
Depending on the area of complaint, your osteopath may ask you to dress down slightly in order to conduct a proper examination. Patients are therefore generally advised to wear loose fitted shorts/sports leggings and a t-shirt/vest.
No. The osteopath evaluates each patient’s unique problem and develops an individual custom-tailored care programme.
Yes, most major private health insurers fund osteopathic treatment. Reimbursement will depend on the insurer and the plan you have chosen. Contact the helpline of your insurance company who will explain the best way to claim on your individual policy.
More and more people are consulting osteopaths in their later years. With concerns about over medications and side effects of drugs, safe natural osteopathic care is growing in popularity. Many people are told to put up with their pain due to their age. However, this is not always the case. Restoring better body and spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality and endurance.