Osteopathy is a holistic approach to the human body that uses a wide range of techniques and principles to treat the musculo-skeletal system and other functional disorders of the body.
Osteopathic treatment is not confined to only bones and muscles. It looks at the inter-relationships of all the body's systems, including the musculoskeletal, respiratory and digestive systems, bringing together all the pieces of a puzzle to diagnose and treat the whole person. Osteopathy aims to address the cause of your problem and not just the presenting signs and symptoms.
The gentle, holistic approach of Osteopathy makes it suitable to treat people of all age groups including infants, children, pregnant women, adults, the elderly and many more.
There are a broad range of Osteopathic techniques and each are chosen specifically for your individual complaint. They may include gentle joint articulation or manipulation, stretching, ligament balancing and cranial techniques. All techniques aim to restore balance and function to the body allowing it to be better able to deal with the problems it is experiencing.
A typical Osteopathic treatment will include a comprehensive case history, including your past medial history, examination and a hands-on treatment. You may be asked to undress to your underwear to enable diagnosis and treatment of the whole body. If you are uncomfortable with this please wear flexible clothing (for example a tracksuit).
You will also be given advice to help you further manage your condition. This may include stretches, postural advice, workplace ergonomics and dietary advice.