What is osteopathy?
Osteopaths are hands on practitioners who believe that for your body to work well, its structure of bones, joints and muscles must also be balanced and work well. Osteopaths use physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints and to relieve muscle tension. Osteopath treatment aims to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help stimulate your body’s own healing mechanisms. Osteopaths use a range of techniques and treatment methods but do not use drugs or surgery.
Osteopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) and was founded by an American physician called Andrew Taylor Still in the late 19th century. By 1911, the British Society of Osteopaths was formed and is now known as the British Osteopathic Association (BOA). The British School of Osteopathy is the oldest and largest osteopathic school in the UK with over 4,620 registered osteopaths.
How do osteopaths treat?
Osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance. One element of treatment is mobilizing and loosening the joints and their connecting ligaments through manipulation. Manipulation is when a practitioner uses their hands to place a gentle force through a joint. There are numerous manipulation techniques used by an osteopath the most common forms include cranial sacral and high velocity-low amplitude - thrusts. Muscle work is just as important and osteopaths will use massage along with muscle energy, stretching and myofascial release techniques to relax overstressed and tight muscles to ensure muscles & joints function smoothly together. During treatment an osteopath will not focus solely on your symptoms but will also identify and treat the parts of the body that have caused the symptoms. Most people who see an osteopath do so for help with back or neck pain, however osteopaths are also proficient in treating problems related to the muscles and joints in the extremities. As well as hands on treatment osteopaths will also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring. Osteopaths assess and treat people of any age from the elderly to the new-born and from pregnant women to sports people.
What to expect on your first visit to an osteopath
Before your appointment
Just before your first appointment you will be asked by the receptionist to fill out a form listing your details including your current complaint and your medical history. To help your osteopath and to get the most from your treatment it is important that you answer as much as you can. Taking a list of all your prescription medication along with the dosage quantities and frequency will be very helpful for your osteopath.
Medical History
Once your appointment has started your osteopath will take time to listen to you and ask questions to make sure they understand your medical history and your day-to-day routine. They will ask you about things like diet, exercise and what is happening in your life, as these may give clues to help their diagnosis. They will also ask you detailed questions about your complaint including the type of pain you are experiencing, when the pain happens and what aggravates or relieves the pain. Thorough questioning not only allows the osteopath to formulate an examination plan but it also provides an opportunity for them to triage your case and make sure that you don’t need medical attention.
Examination
The next part of your appointment will be a full orthopaedic and numerological examination which means an examination of how well your bones/joints and nerves are functioning. You will probably need to remove some clothing from the area being examined and will normally be provided with a gown to wear. Your osteopath will start by examining your posture as this can be thereason of or the stressor of your complaint. They will also want to assess the movements of the joints and will do so by gentle pushing and feeling around the joint line to see what hurts, where and when. Using touch, they will also try to find the muscle areas which are sensitive, weak or tight as this will help in identifying what’s going on. Specific joint tests and nerve tests including checking your reflexeswill be carried out. Your osteopath may also feel your pulse and take your blood pressure. The purpose of the examination is normally to recreate the pain from your complaint, this enables your osteopath to pin point what exactly is causing your pain and form a diagnosis. If they are unable to identify what is causing your pain they may refer you for clinical tests, such as x-rays.Sometimes if they feel that osteopathy is not appropriate for you and your complaint they will refer you to your GP or another specialist such as an orthopaedic surgeon who will investigate your condition further.
Diagnosis
Once your osteopath has diagnosed your condition they will formulate a treatment plan, working out what type of treatment to use and estimating how long your treatment plan will be. Before they start to treat you, they will sit down with you and discuss exactly what the examination revealed, your diagnosis and what they think your treatment plan will involve.
Treatment
Your diagnosis, age and fitness will dictate what type of treatment your osteopath will choose to use.This means treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and gentle manipulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain, improve movement and encourage blood flow. Sometimes, when they manipulate your joints you may hear a ‘click’. This is just like the click people get when they crack their knuckles and is a by-product of the treatment. Some soft tissue treatment may cause discomfort, your osteopath will tell you what to expect, and will want you to let them know if you are in pain. You may feel a little stiff or sore after treatment. This is a normal, healthy response to the treatment. Your osteopath will be able to advise you on whether to use ice or heat to limit post treatment soreness.They may also discuss exercises that you can do to improve your posture in your workplace and everyday life to help speed up your recovery and prevent symptoms recurring.
Average treatment times, prices and plans
How do I get osteopathic treatment?
You don’t always have to see your doctor before visiting an osteopath especially if you are paying for your own treatment, which most people opt to do. However, more and more health insurances are starting to cover complimentary therapies and some companies require you to attend your doctor first, so double check your policy before booking. Osteopathy is not widely available on the NHS but is in some areas, your GP or primary care trust will be able to tell you whether it is available in your area. Certain councils also run contributory funds to help out with a percentage of the cost. It is important that you attend a reputable Osteopath so check through the Clinic HQ directory to find your local recommended osteopath.
How much does osteopathic treatment cost and how long are appointments?
The costs of treatment vary from practice to practice and across the country so make sure you check before booking. In general, the first appointment lasts about 40 -50 minutes and the typical price range is from £35 to £50. Subsequent treatments last around 20 -30 minutes and will cost anything from £20 - £35 but again this varies across the country.
How many appointments will you need?
The treatment course will depend on the severity of your condition but your osteopath will aim to keep your appointments to a minimum. In the case of lower back pain, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that treatment should include up to nine sessions over 12 weeks. Treatments will typically be closer together to begin with whilst your pain levels are high and will space out as you recover. In some cases where you have a chronic long standing condition your osteopath may recommend that you attend for regular check-ups just as you would with the dentist.
Does osteopathy work?
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends osteopathy as a treatment for persistent lower back pain. There is also some evidence that it is effective in helping recovery after hip or knee operations. However there is no good evidence that osteopathy is effective as a treatment for any other health conditions. Serious side effects or complications are rare.
Associations and schools
To qualify, an osteopath must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 1,000 hours of training in osteopathic techniques. There are currently two osteopathic education institutes in the UK: The British School of Osteopathy in London and the European School of Osteopathy in Kent. All osteopaths in the UK are by law registered with and regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). Osteopaths are required to renew their registration each year to obtain an annual license to practice. As part of this process, the GOsC checks that osteopaths have current professional indemnity insurance, are fit to practice, and ensure that each individual has met mandatory continuing professional development requirements. It is an offence for anyone to call themselves an osteopath if they are not registered. You can check whether your osteopath is on the register on the GosC website.