What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy has recently been classified as “a healthcare profession that utilises a patient focused, physical  approach to restoring, maintaining and promoting physical and  psychosocial well being”

For Osteopaths the quick answer is that Osteopaths treat patients with a whole spectrum of complaints. Osteopathy can be used to treat mechanical musculoskeletal, circulatory and digestion problems affecting the body. The concept of Osteopathy is that we treat the patient as a whole to aid them in recovery and recuperation, or on a maintenance basis to promote ongoing optimum health.

Osteopathic treatment uses hands on techniques to affect the muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, tendons and joints of the body. This is done not only to treat the tissues giving pain but also to identify and release any underlying strain patterns.

Osteopathy can also be used for treating babies, children, pregnant women and those who need a gentle approach. One of the ways people like this can be treated is using Cranial Osteopathy.

Some of the things Osteopathy can be used to treat:

• Generalised aches and pains
• Back pain
• Sciatica
• Mechanical neck pain
• Shoulder and Elbow pain and dysfunction (inc. Frozen Shoulder and Tennis Elbow)
• Neuralgia
• Muscle spasms and cramp
• Joint pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Pelvic, hip and knee problems (inc. aiding in the management of Osteoarthritis)
• Plantar Fascitis
• Migraines and Headaches (especially Cervicogenic)
• Problems arising from tension e.g. inability to relax
• Rheumatic and Arthritic pain
• Circulatory issues
• Lumbago
• Minor sports injuries and sports related tension

This list is by no means exclusive and if you have any queries about whether osteopathy can help you please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone.