What is osteopathy?
OSTEOPATHY
WHAT DO WE DO?
Osteopaths are highly qualified allied health professionals who offer patient-centred approaches to healthcare We understand the important link between the structure of the body and the way it works, or as we like to say, the way it functions. And no, Osteopathy doesn’t just involve the bones! We look at how your skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as one system and how they support your body and enable you to live the life you want to live and do the things you want to do.
We also pay lots of attention to your medical history, as well as social, psychological and environmental factors that may be contributing to your pain or problem in order to develop a personalised plan to help you manage your pain, move more comfortably and perform at your best.
WHAT DOES AN INITIAL APPOINTMENT AT EUREKA OSTEO LOOK LIKE?
Case history
To begin with we will ask about your current complaint & symptoms. We will then delve into your medical history to determine if you have any other illnesses or conditions and/or previous injuries. We ask about any medications you are taking, about your job, family and lifestyle. Sometimes patients wonder why we ask all these questions and think they might not appear be directly related to the problem they walked in the door with but they are often really important in getting to a diagnosis. This can influence whether or not we might be able to help you or need some scans or x-rays, or need to be referred to your GP or specialist for some other investigations.
Physical examination
Osteopathy considers the whole body in everything we do including the assessment. We will look at the area that is troubling you, as well as other parts of your body. For example, if you have a sore neck, we will also look at your back, shoulders, upper limbs and head, and often your whole body.
The examination may include active & passive movements which involves the patient or practitioner carrying out movements & stretches to help assess the area of concern. We often do some resisted movements, ask you to demonstrate the painful movements or positions, and show us where it is you feel the pain. We will assess the health of your joints & soft tissues by feeling (known as palpation) the area of concern and other parts of the body not at the site of pain. We also complete some other clinical tests which can help determine the diagnosis such as orthopaedic or neurological tests.
Once these have been completed, they help to form a working diagnosis & determine a plan for treatment and management.
TREATMENT
Your osteopath will then suggest and discuss a treatment plan they think will best meet your needs and help to resolve the problem. This treatment plan may involve a mix of hands on treatment, supervised exercise, home exercise or lifestyle modifications and other advice. This may be carried out over a number of sessions, depending on your response to treatment and progress. Your osteopath will give an idea of how many sessions are recommended for you and over what timeframe.
We use a range of approaches to help you including manual therapy (mobilisation, stretching, massage and manipulation, and can vary from firm to very gentle.). We always want to know what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past, and what you’re comfortable with before we begin, so your preference will always be considered carefully when we recommend a treatment plan. Depending on your practitioner and preference for particular styles of treatment, your osteopath will work with you to find what works best for you.
Osteopathy also involves education, exercise therapy and programs, equipment prescription & lifestyle advice. If you would like further information, have a browse through our website and read some more.