Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners and treat patients of all ages from newborns to the elderly and pregnant women to athletes. Osteopathy is a recognised system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions, emphasis is placed on the structure and function of the body working together to function smoothly.

Mechanical faults can occur due to injury, illness, stress, poor posture and other factors; it is unique for each individual. Injuries may be held in the body long after the actual trauma or stress, or built up gradually over time; if these problems are left untreated it may cause compensatory strains to be created or persistent symptoms of pain. Osteopaths evaluate the balance between the mechanical functioning of the body against the demands placed on it.

Osteopathy is a healthcare profession that uses a patient focused, physical approach to restoring, maintaining and promoting physical and psychological well being. Osteopathic treatment does not just target the symptoms but treats the areas of the body causing the symptoms. This is known as a holistic approach and believes the body works as a unit, it will run better if all aspects are working together smoothly. Osteopaths concentrate on diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitating or correction and future prevention of musculoskeletal disorders without using drugs.

As part of the examination process, you will be asked to undress to your underwear, so please wear something you feel comfortable in. Please feel free to bring vest tops and shorts if this would make you feel more comfortable.

Yes. You can bring someone along to be present throughout your consultation and treatment(s).

Some techniques may cause some discomfort during treatment or for a short while afterwards, this should subside quickly, the osteopath will want to know if you are experiencing pain during the treatment. This is a normal, healthy response to the treatment. If your muscles are tense, and have been that way for a while, it may be uncomfortable to have them stretched and subsequently relaxed, therefore you may feel a little sore or stiff after treatment. Many patients report feeling looser and more comfortable directly after treatment however it is a good idea to take it easy after treatment for up to 12 hours to allow the body to readjust.

If you have any concerns then please discuss this with the treating osteopath, they will be able to provide you with information on how to reduce the symptoms. If you have any concerns over a reaction to treatment please contact the clinic to talk to the treating osteopath for further advice, if necessary please leave a message and an osteopath will respond as soon as possible.

No. You do not need to see your GP before making an appointment. If you are paying for your treatments through private health insurance you may need to visit your doctor first, please contact your health care provider for further information. However if we feel we need additional information on your medical history, or further investigations are required, we will ask for your permission, and written consent, to contact your GP.

We are registered providers for some major private health insurance companies.

Please contact your health care provider for further information as some may require you to visit your doctor first.

The number of treatments you need depends on the condition and person we are treating. We aim to keep the number of appointments to a minimum. Your osteopath should be able to give you a rough idea at your first visit as to how many treatments you require and over what length of time.

We expect to see improvements after 1-2 sessions but more involved cases such as spinal disc injuries may take up to 6 sessions to relieve the majority of symptoms. As soon as your progress appears to be sustaining between treatments, you will be advised to contact the osteopath only if your symptoms return.

For an osteopath to practice they must attend and qualify from university, they must study for four to five years where they receive an undergraduate degree. The degree is similar to a medical degree and focuses on anatomy, physiology, musculoskeletal medicine and practical clinic skills.

To qualify students must undergo more than 1,000 hours in the university clinics transferring the written knowledge into practical skills.

Osteopaths must by law register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and it is an offense for anyone to call themselves an osteopath if they are not registered. Osteopaths have been regulated by statute since 1993 and are individually covered by professional indemnity insurance alike to doctors.

GOsC website: www.osteopathy.org.uk

Sometimes the osteopath may ask you to carry out a few stretches or exercises at home to enhance the treatment received. This may include advice on; posture, sporting activities and ice/heat treatments to continue between treatments to help reduce symptoms further.

First please talk to the osteopath concerned to see if the issue can be resolved. If you are still dissatisfied contact the General Osteopathic Council by:

Email: info@osteopath.org.uk
Phone: 020 7357 6655

In writing:
The General Osteopathic Council,
Osteopathy House,
176 Tower Bridge Road,
London SE1 3LU

Osteopaths treat a wide range of conditions, however we are generally thought of as back pain specialists. We do treat many patients with back pain as well as other areas of the body such as neck pain, sporting injuries and postural problems.

We are currently permitted by the ASA to advertise treatments for the following conditions*:

• General aches and pains
• Joint pain such as hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis
• Elbow and shoulder pain such as frozen shoulder and tennis or golfers elbow (epicondylitis)
• Arthritic or rheumatic pain
• Acute and chronic back pain including lumbago
• Mechanical neck pain
• Headaches
• Sciatica
• Minor sports injuries and tensions arising from sporting activities,
• Circulatory problems
• Digestion problems such as IBS
• Cramp
• Muscle spasms
• Neuralgia
• Fibromyalgia
• Inability to relax

Osteopathic treatment provides additional support to standard medical treatment.

* Recent changes in the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) means osteopaths can only advertise treatment of conditions for which there are existing high level research or gold standard proof e.g. double blind trials. This is problematic for Osteopaths who tailor personal treatment programmes for each individual patient. Double blind trials require large amounts of funding up to £600,000 and are generally unsuitable ethically and technically to Osteopathic treatment approaches. Funding is limited as we are not provided with Government funding and large amounts of medical funding is provided by drug companies who have little interest in funding drug free treatments. Although we as a profession do not have a large number of double blind research studies we have a growing patient base who say we have helped them successfully treat a wide range of conditions not mentioned on the limited ASA list, this is assessed by results noted in case studies, qualitative research and personal testimonials.

If you have any further questions please phone us to discuss this further on 0118 969 6811 / 07792580402.

Osteopaths treat patients of all ages from newborns to the elderly and pregnant women to athletes. Osteopathy is a healthcare profession that uses a patient focused, physical approach to restoring, maintaining and promoting physical and psychological well being. Osteopathic treatment does not just target the symptoms but treats the areas of the body causing the symptoms. This is known as a holistic approach and believes the body works as a unit, it will run better if all aspects are working together smoothly. Osteopaths concentrate on diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitating or correction and future prevention of musculoskeletal disorders without using drugs.