OSTEOPATHY EXPLAINED
About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a hands-on system of diagnosis and treatment that has a holistic view of health. This means that osteopaths will look at the whole person and not just the part of the body that hurts. To help reach a diagnosis for your presenting complaint I may ask you questions about any other joint and muscle problems you may have, your current health, your work environment and your diet among other things.
During the treatment I will use a variety of techniques to help you. This can include any of the following:
• Joint articulations (moving a joint through its range of motion to increase and maintain the range of motion).
• Soft tissue and massage techniques.
• Various stretches from simple stretches to muscle energy techniques.
• Thrust techniques (a short, fast movement to a joint that increases joint mobility quickly. You may hear a pop during these techniques which is when a gas bubble is released from the joint fluid).
Typically, your session doesn’t end when I have finished treating you. I will speak to you about what you can do at home to help manage your symptoms. This might be exercises such as stretches or strengthening exercises, tips to help with relaxation, tips on how to set up your workstation to help prevent reoccurrence of your symptoms or use of hot/cold to help to manage your symptoms.
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Conditions I Treat
Arthritic pain
Cervicogenic headaches
Circulatory problems
Cramp
Elbow pain
Fibromyalgia
Frozen shoulder
joint pains
migraine prevention
muscle spasms
neck pain
neuralgia
Shoulder pain
sports injuries
tennis elbow
tension
rheumatic pain
sciatica
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Osteopathy as a Healthcare Profession
In the UK osteopathy is a regulated profession through the General Osteopathic Council. As such all osteopaths have to complete certain things to be able to register and practice as an osteopath. To qualify, all osteopaths have to complete a minimum four year degree course which includes a minimum of 1000 hours of patient facing, clinical contact time in the MSK field. The comprehensive training equips osteopaths with an in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, psychology, pathology and robust clinical methods and examination techniques for the cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological systems.
Once qualified and registered osteopaths have to do certain things each year in order to maintain their professional registration. This includes the following and is in line with other healthcare professions within the UK-
• Maintaining insurance for all treatment modalities used
• Completion of CPD activities each year to keep both knowledge and skills up to date
The majority of osteopaths work in private practice but some do now work within the NHS in some areas of the country. Unfortunately, this isn’t currently the case in east Kent. However, as osteopathy is now more recognised within the NHS we now have Allied Health Professional status which gives us the same status as physiotherapists and occupational therapists so this may change going forwards.
