Treatments

Your consultation and clinical examination

Your consultation will involve a detailed assessment in order to make a clinical diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment. I will spend time talking to you to get a verbal case history asking about the problem you are presenting with, how it came about, and how it is affecting your life, together with questions about your general health and lifestyle. I will also look at any test results, x-rays or MRIs and scan reports you may have related to the issue so please bring these with you if available.

I will then make a clinical examination during which it may be necessary for you to remove some clothing (sometimes down to your underwear) to allow me to make a visual assessment of your posture and movement. Please bring shorts and a vest top if you would rather and you are welcome to bring someone with you into the examination room if this puts you at ease. I will perform any necessary clinical tests such as taking blood pressure, assessment of the integrity of the nervous system, orthopaedic tests of joint mobility, and hands-on assessment of soft tissue tensions.

I will explain my diagnosis and discuss a course of treatment with you. If it appears that further investigations are necessary, I will refer you to your GP for x-rays and other appropriate tests or for referral to a specialist for a second opinion.

Treatment

As an osteopath, I use my hands both to investigate the underlying causes of pain and to carry out treatment using a variety of manipulative techniques. These techniques can be similar to massage-type movements but are directed to specific tissues, or can be movements to encourage mobility of joints, or very gentle minimal movements to address tensions of the underlying soft tissues.

I will often give advice about lifestyle and postural changes that may help your condition and discuss exercises that can allow you to help yourself.

You should allow up to one hour for your initial consultation and 30 minutes for subsequent treatments, although please bear in mind individual sessions may vary according to the complexity of the problem. The number of treatments and spacing between treatments will vary depending on the presenting problem.