What to expect
Medical Case History and Examination
Osteopaths are registered as Primary Healthcare Practitioners. With every new patient we take a full medical case history. Some questions may seem irrelevant but we must ask them in order to cover all systems. We will also cover daily activities, work, diet and sleep to name a few.
Assessment can range from simple movements, to checking pulses and blood pressure or power and reflexes.
On occasion we may refer you back to your GP for further testing or for imagine such as an MRI or X-Ray.
We will look at your posture and run through active ranges of movement taking note of any painful or pain-free movements. We will also passively assess joints, which is where we move the joints for you.
We will also use our sense of touch, to feel muscle tone, restriction and to help identify which ares may be sensitive.
This will assist us in creating a working diagnosis of your condition.
If we feel osteopathy is not appropriate for you, we may refer you to your GP or a specialist.
In order to facilitate a full examination of the spine or problem area, you may be asked to to undress to your underwear, so please wear something you are comfortable in, you are welcome to wear a t shirt and or shorts if you prefer.
Assessment can range from simple movements, to checking pulses and blood pressure or power and reflexes.
On occasion we may refer you back to your GP for further testing or for imagine such as an MRI or X-Ray.
We will look at your posture and run through active ranges of movement taking note of any painful or pain-free movements. We will also passively assess joints, which is where we move the joints for you.
We will also use our sense of touch, to feel muscle tone, restriction and to help identify which ares may be sensitive.
This will assist us in creating a working diagnosis of your condition.
If we feel osteopathy is not appropriate for you, we may refer you to your GP or a specialist.
In order to facilitate a full examination of the spine or problem area, you may be asked to to undress to your underwear, so please wear something you are comfortable in, you are welcome to wear a t shirt and or shorts if you prefer.
Treatment
We use a broad range of gentle techniques. Treatment varies between practitioners and patients, but techniques can include, soft tissue massage, joint manipulation, joint articulation, traction, muscle stretches and even dry needling.
Some patients don't like all of the techniques, will talk through them as we go along and if there is any technique you would prefer not to have, eg. manipulation (cracks and pops) or needling, then just say so and we can figure out a way around it.
Some patients don't like all of the techniques, will talk through them as we go along and if there is any technique you would prefer not to have, eg. manipulation (cracks and pops) or needling, then just say so and we can figure out a way around it.
Consent
A healthcare practitioner should only proceed with informed consent. We will ask for consent before commencing treatment. If there is anything you would like explained further, just ask. Osteopathic treatment, generally shouldn't be painful but there are some techniques or movement and can be uncomfortable, if this is the case please let us know.
After Care
As well as hands on treatment, we will likely recommend some stretches and/ or exercises to take home to help with your treatment. These will vary from case to case. We may also recommend icing, heating and/or elevating an injury as well a recommending desk set ups and sleeping positions.