Amber Laris
Chiropractor and Osteopath INFORMATION SHEET
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What To Expect From Osteopathic Treatment
steopathy is a manual form of physical therapy that aims to restore the body’s natural balance. It may involve massaging soft and connective tissues, articulating limbs, or the manipulation of muscles, joints and tendons. However, osteopathy is a gentle, non-invasive form of treatment that is part of an holistic approach to good health and should not cause undue discomfort. At the outset of your treatment your osteopath will ask you questions regarding your medical history (including any accidents or traumas), lifestyle and overall sense of well-being, as well as the more precise nature of your complaint. (If you have recently undergone x-rays or tests, it is advisable to bring this material to an initial examination.) Your osteopath may also wish to test your coordination and reflexes, and your blood pressure.
“Some people may be hesitant about undergoing osteopathic treatment as they are unsure precisely what receiving treatment from an osteopath is actually like.”
This will then be followed by a thorough physical examination that will explore your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Your osteopath may also want to test the flexibility of your arms, legs and back, and will also look carefully at your spine, perhaps examining your posture and balance. During an initial examination or subsequent osteopathic treatment sessions, you may be asked to remove your top layers of clothing to enable your osteopath to gain a clearer view of your body and the affected area. As a result of this examination, your osteopath will decide upon a personalised treatment plan and will share with you the process as well as the outcomes that can be expected as the treatment progresses, alongside an expected timeframe for the treatment. It might be that only a few osteopathic sessions are necessary, perhaps followed by an occasional check-up, or your osteopath may recommend a regular course of treatment. Your osteopath may also discuss with you at this time changes that you might be able to make to your lifestyle or working habits that will help to alleviate your condition or to prevent it from returning in the future. This may include being given some exercises to undertake at home, or resting the affected part of the body.
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