Borough Green Osteopaths |
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07816 336275 |
What is Osteopathy, and how can it help me?
Osteopathy is a type of manual therapy that recognizes the link between the structure of the human body and the way it functions - if something isn’t working quite right structurally, then this will impact on your body’s functionality. Osteopathy is a drug-free way of treating and preventing health problems; osteopaths focus on the body’s skeleton and joint function, along with the underlying muscles, soft tissue and internal organs. The fantastic thing about osteopathy is that we consider each person as an individual: there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach. We take the time to listen to your concerns and symptoms, and then utilize a highly-developed sense of touch to identify problem areas of the body, and work with you to correct these. Osteopathic treatment varies depending on the person and the diagnosis, but it continues to help people by returning the body to its natural state which creates optimal conditions within the body to facilitate the self-healing process.
What can osteopathy help me with? How much treatment will I need?
People of all ages, from new born babies to the elderly, can be treated with osteopathy. There are hundreds of osteopathic techniques and your osteopath will choose the one most appropriate for you and your condition. Most conditions can be treated, even after surgery. Osteopathy works by stretching, using mobilization techniques, as well as manipulating joints to achieve better mobility and functionality. We can help with a wide range of conditions, such as:
We tend to find that for lots of patients between 3 and 6 treatments are required to address their initial complaint. We also have many patients who come into the clinic periodically: this is great as a preventative measure that helps support wellbeing and general health. We also find that those patients who we see periodically have less health issues, and manage to avoid recurring problems with great success. Your osteopath will advise you if this is something you may need to consider in the long-term.
What makes those popping and cracking sounds?
Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. The popping and cracking sounds are caused by the tiny pockets of air, in the form of fluid which surrounds your joints, being released. This is also referred to as joint cavitation - and it’s perfectly normal & healthy. All in all, the release of the gas found in tiny pockets is not something to be worried about.
What do you mean by ‘self-healing’?
Your brain controls everything in your body, and for your body to work right it needs to be able to send messages around your body’s systems. The nervous system, cardiovascular system, muscular and skeletal systems, along with your organs, all receive messages from the brain. Any interference within these systems can affect these messages, and things can go wrong - and then those all-important messages don’t get delivered! Your body also needs a good blood supply to deliver nutrients around the body and tight muscles and poorly-mobile joints can interfere with this. Stress, whether it’s physical (such as poor posture or sitting too long) or emotional, causes your body to react in non-optimal ways. The joints and muscles stiffen up which will alter how your body works, leading to wear and tear. All of this will add up to have a negative effect on your health, sometimes leading to a number of health concerns. These include neck and back pain, headaches, poor digestion or bowel problems, tiredness and just general aches and pains. Symptoms such as neck and back pain or headaches, are your body’s way of telling you that things may be off-balance. The body is designed to heal itself, and if it can’t & the pain continues, then something must be stopping the healing process. Correcting the spine and freeing up tight muscles allows the body to heal itself naturally, and provides a long-term solution – without having to rely on long-term medication.
Is osteopathy safe?
Yes, it is one of the safest forms of healthcare in the world. All Osteopaths in the UK have to be registered with our governing body, the General Osteopathic Council. All of our osteopaths are registered and will identify any risks before any treatment is given, or refer to the appropriate person for the next course of action. Osteopathy has been proven to be remarkably safe, as it has now been recommended in the latest NICE guidelines and for GP’s to advise physical therapy such as osteopathy in the treatment of back pain. Due to the physical nature of treatment, your osteopath will explain possible risks of treatment and discuss any concerns you may have prior to commencing treatment. It’s possible that you may feel sore 24-48 hours post-treatment, but if you have any problems or questions please contact us directly.
What can I expect from my first visit to your clinic?
When you visit us for the first time, you’ll be welcomed into our clinic by our lovely reception staff. You will then have a private consultation with your osteopath, where we will take a full case history, including details about your medical history and the symptoms that are particularly bothering you. We then carry out a thorough examination, and you may be asked to remove your shoes & some of your outer clothing down to your underwear for this(if necessary). Part of this examination includes your osteopath asking you to perform a simple series of movements which help assess your body’s structure and functionality - rest assured, your osteopath will fully guide you through these. This process allows us to thoroughly assess the issue & your complaint, and begin to understand any possible causes or problem areas. If you are happy to go ahead, you will then receive a treatment consisting of soft tissue techniques, joint mobilization and manipulation.
Throughout this treatment, your osteopath will talk you through what we are doing and why. We actively encourage you to ask as many questions as you wish, and we are more than happy to take time to explain the treatment should you have any queries.
What happens after my treatment?
Your osteopath will discuss their recommendations for osteopathic care for you: this may mean a few visits to address the issue fully, periodic treatment as a preventative measure, or simply a ‘now and then’ treatment to ensure you stay feeling tip-top. Your osteopath tailors each individual’s care recommendation in line with what they deem to be the most helpful for you and your symptoms - we have your best interests at heart, and will always be honest about how we can help you. If we think osteopathy may not be the ideal care for you then we’ll point you in the right direction.
What can osteopathy help me with? How much treatment will I need?
People of all ages, from new born babies to the elderly, can be treated with osteopathy. There are hundreds of osteopathic techniques and your osteopath will choose the one most appropriate for you and your condition. Most conditions can be treated, even after surgery. Osteopathy works by stretching, using mobilization techniques, as well as manipulating joints to achieve better mobility and functionality. We can help with a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Back and neck pain
- Headaches
- Joint and muscle pain
- Sciatica and sciatic pain
- Arthritis and arthritic pain
- Sports injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel
- Pregnancy-related conditions
We tend to find that for lots of patients between 3 and 6 treatments are required to address their initial complaint. We also have many patients who come into the clinic periodically: this is great as a preventative measure that helps support wellbeing and general health. We also find that those patients who we see periodically have less health issues, and manage to avoid recurring problems with great success. Your osteopath will advise you if this is something you may need to consider in the long-term.
What makes those popping and cracking sounds?
Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. The popping and cracking sounds are caused by the tiny pockets of air, in the form of fluid which surrounds your joints, being released. This is also referred to as joint cavitation - and it’s perfectly normal & healthy. All in all, the release of the gas found in tiny pockets is not something to be worried about.
What do you mean by ‘self-healing’?
Your brain controls everything in your body, and for your body to work right it needs to be able to send messages around your body’s systems. The nervous system, cardiovascular system, muscular and skeletal systems, along with your organs, all receive messages from the brain. Any interference within these systems can affect these messages, and things can go wrong - and then those all-important messages don’t get delivered! Your body also needs a good blood supply to deliver nutrients around the body and tight muscles and poorly-mobile joints can interfere with this. Stress, whether it’s physical (such as poor posture or sitting too long) or emotional, causes your body to react in non-optimal ways. The joints and muscles stiffen up which will alter how your body works, leading to wear and tear. All of this will add up to have a negative effect on your health, sometimes leading to a number of health concerns. These include neck and back pain, headaches, poor digestion or bowel problems, tiredness and just general aches and pains. Symptoms such as neck and back pain or headaches, are your body’s way of telling you that things may be off-balance. The body is designed to heal itself, and if it can’t & the pain continues, then something must be stopping the healing process. Correcting the spine and freeing up tight muscles allows the body to heal itself naturally, and provides a long-term solution – without having to rely on long-term medication.
Is osteopathy safe?
Yes, it is one of the safest forms of healthcare in the world. All Osteopaths in the UK have to be registered with our governing body, the General Osteopathic Council. All of our osteopaths are registered and will identify any risks before any treatment is given, or refer to the appropriate person for the next course of action. Osteopathy has been proven to be remarkably safe, as it has now been recommended in the latest NICE guidelines and for GP’s to advise physical therapy such as osteopathy in the treatment of back pain. Due to the physical nature of treatment, your osteopath will explain possible risks of treatment and discuss any concerns you may have prior to commencing treatment. It’s possible that you may feel sore 24-48 hours post-treatment, but if you have any problems or questions please contact us directly.
What can I expect from my first visit to your clinic?
When you visit us for the first time, you’ll be welcomed into our clinic by our lovely reception staff. You will then have a private consultation with your osteopath, where we will take a full case history, including details about your medical history and the symptoms that are particularly bothering you. We then carry out a thorough examination, and you may be asked to remove your shoes & some of your outer clothing down to your underwear for this(if necessary). Part of this examination includes your osteopath asking you to perform a simple series of movements which help assess your body’s structure and functionality - rest assured, your osteopath will fully guide you through these. This process allows us to thoroughly assess the issue & your complaint, and begin to understand any possible causes or problem areas. If you are happy to go ahead, you will then receive a treatment consisting of soft tissue techniques, joint mobilization and manipulation.
Throughout this treatment, your osteopath will talk you through what we are doing and why. We actively encourage you to ask as many questions as you wish, and we are more than happy to take time to explain the treatment should you have any queries.
What happens after my treatment?
Your osteopath will discuss their recommendations for osteopathic care for you: this may mean a few visits to address the issue fully, periodic treatment as a preventative measure, or simply a ‘now and then’ treatment to ensure you stay feeling tip-top. Your osteopath tailors each individual’s care recommendation in line with what they deem to be the most helpful for you and your symptoms - we have your best interests at heart, and will always be honest about how we can help you. If we think osteopathy may not be the ideal care for you then we’ll point you in the right direction.