Modalities: Osteopathy

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy was developed in the 1870's in America by Dr Andrew Taylor Still. It is a 'whole body' system of manual therapy that treats each individual uniquely, based on biomechanical principles and a wide range of manual therapy techniques.

Osteopaths are primary care practitioners. This means no referral is required to make an appointment to see one. As such, Osteopaths are trained to be able to recognise conditions which require medical referral.

Osteopathy is a specialised, hands-on approach to the body. While treating the musculo-skeletal system, osteopathy also addresses the circulatory, neurological, visceral and endocrine systems. It assists the body to achieve optimal functioning within the boundaries of ageing.

Osteopaths treat people of all ages, from newborns right through to the elderly with all ranges of mobility and restrictions/injuries.

Osteopaths primarily use touch (palpation) as the tool for diagnosis and treatment of a patient. Patients may experience a wide range of different manual therapy techniques during treatment, dependent on what condition is present in the body as well as which technique would be most effective on the individual.

In osteopathic treatment, some patients fully recover after only one consultation; others have a period of regular treatment and then space treatments further apart as they improve.