Bath Osteopath FAQs
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a well-established and recognised healthcare treatment, which can help with a variety of, predominantly, musculoskeletal problems.
Osteopathy focuses on you, the patient, and is a whole body (holistic) approach to diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injury, imbalances in your body and the resulting pain it causes.
Osteopathy not only targets treatment of an injured area but tries to find the root cause of problems, which may be distant and seemingly unrelated to the painful area.
Is Osteopathy safe and Regulated?
Osteopathic treatment is an extremely safe and natural approach to health care which works with the body's own health and repair mechanisms. Osteopathy is a recognised health profession, and has the same safeguards that you would enjoy if you visited a doctor or a dentist. All osteopaths in the UK are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). It is against the law for anyone to call themselves an osteopath unless they are registered with the GOsC, which sets and promotes high standards of competency, conduct and safety.
What do Osteopathic treatments entail?
At your first appointment and in any subsequent session(s), you may receive any of the below osteopathic treatments following the clinical assessment conducted by your osteopath.
- Manual therapy – A range of ‘hands-on’ techniques that may give relief from musculoskeletal pain, discomfort and may help tissues in the body.
- Clinical exercise programs – Activities and movement strategies for use at home, work or in other settings. Exercise may help you return to activities you enjoy, for example after an injury or surgery.
- Body function assessments - Movement, postural, positioning advice and ergonomic assessments.
- Therapeutic needling techniques - Such as dry needling, trigger point therapy or acupuncture.
- Patient education and advice - Lifestyle, stress management, diet or other factors that may influence your pain, injury or movement.
Is Osteopathic treatment painful? Will I be sore after treatment?
Generally Osteopathic treatment is gentle, andpatients are comfortable during and after the treatment. Some deep muscular and joint techniques, however, may be uncomfortable. Every individual responds slightly differently to treatment. Most will experience little or no discomfort after a treatment session. Some patients report discomfort after treatment for about 24 hours, which will then subside. We will give you advice on how to keep any short term discomfort to a minimum, and on how much activity you should expect to do in the days after treatment.
How long is my appointment?
Normally your first visit will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
During this time, our Osteopath Jasper:
- will take a full case history
- will ask for your permission to give you a thorough physical examination (this will include neurological and orthopaedic tests, if necessary)
- Will provide treatment and rehabilitation.
How many visits will I need?
This will depend on:
- your condition
- how severe it is
- how long you have had the condition
- how you respond to treatment
- how much of your osteopath's advice you follow.
After your first examination and diagnosis, how long any further visits last will depend on your condition and the treatment you need. The Osteopath will review your progress and update your treatment plan. They will discuss carrying out further investigations or referring you to your GP if your condition does not improve.
What do I need to know before my treatment with our Bath osteopath starts?
Treatment is very much a partnership between you and your Osteopath. Before your treatment starts, our therapists will explain to you clearly:
- what they found in the examination
- the treatment plan they propose
- the benefits and any significant risks associated with your condition and proposed treatment.
Do I need to tell my GP?
You do not need to let your GP know unless you want to. With your permission, we may send a report to your GP, with details of your condition and the treatment you are receiving. This is because your GP holds all your medical records, and it is in your interests for them to be complete and up to date
Do I have to pay for my treatment?
You will need to pay for your treatment unless you are covered by Private Medical Insurance (PMI). You will need to check if our therapists are recognised by your provider before booking.
