Osteopathy what do they do

If you feel any pain during or after treatment, tell your osteopath. You may be given advice on self-help and exercise to aid your recovery and prevent symptoms returning or getting worse. In general, the first appointment will last about 45 minutes to an hour. Further treatments last around 30 minutes. Your course of treatment will depend on your symptoms. Page last reviewed: 09 August Next review due: 09 August It is worth asking the insurer if there is a limit per session or an overall limit for outpatient complementary therapies.

A chiropractor can also treat the back, but their focus is more likely to be on the position of the spine and joints, with the aim of improving nerve function and healing ability.

An osteopathic physician does not usually do this. A chiropractor will focus on a specific problem area, while an osteopath looks at the body as a whole. An Osteopathic physician is a medical doctor with specialized training in the fast-growing approach to healing and wellness.

Many people approach an osteopathic physician with back pain, but preventive treatment is also possible. This can lead to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems. Treatment involves gentle and subtle manipulation, especially of the muscles and soft tissues. The doctor may stretch or massage the muscle. If there are signs of a displaced disk or other serious condition, the osteopathic physician may recommend doing some imaging tests and direct the patient toward conventional treatment.

An osteopathic physician can help prevent problems by pinpointing potential sources of referred pain in good time. They may suggest dietary modifications and changes to workplace ergonomics, such as seating and desk position. These techniques can help improve posture and reduce pain. Learning to lift with the legs, or example, and to stretch before exercise can reduce injury. Preventing injury means more time keeping active, less time off work, and freedom to enjoy the benefits of healthful living.

This can make it harder for the body to function adequately, and reduce the ability to cope with pain. Osteopathy has been shown to reduce sleeplessness and insomnia resulting from chronic pain. Studies have shown that osteopathic treatment can reduce sleep apnea in infants under 4 months old, but further research is needed to confirm this. Osteopathic treatments can positively impact the nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic systems, to improve body function and overall health.

Some osteopathic techniques may enhance lymphatic health and bring about internal improvements in the body without needing invasive surgical treatment. As with all treatments, osteopathy can involve some risks. After treatment, it is common for a patient to feel stiff, rather like after exercising, for 24 to 48 hours.

Some patients may have a headache for a short while. It is very uncommon that you will see a physiotherapist that does not give you a home exercise-based programme. These exercises are aimed at reinforcing the benefits you have received in your treatment session and are an essential part of most treatment plans.

This does vary from one clinician to another; however, most physiotherapists will use exercises as an essential part of their treatment regime more often than osteopaths. During my osteopathic education, there was very little of this, and I feel this is a critical limitation of osteopathic training. Many osteopaths do learn rehabilitation techniques but later in their training through postgraduate education.

A significant body of research has now been established to show exercise therapy is a very important part of a treatment program for any back condition. Certainly, all of the physiotherapists at Complete Physio have extensive postgraduate training in both manual therapy technique such as spinal manipulation combined with rehabilitation and exercise.

Physiotherapists also have extensive training and are exposed to the management and treatment of patients after operations such as ligament reconstructions, arthroscopies and back surgery. Osteopathic training does not expose you to this. For post-operative rehabilitation, I would suggest you always see a physiotherapist. All of our physiotherapists have worked closely with orthopaedic surgeons for many years.

They have managed clients from day 1 post-operation, ensuring they are pain-free when returning back to full function. Whether that be walking, playing football or their chosen sport…. The noise is actually gas bubbles being released from the joint. Both physiotherapist and osteopaths use spinal manipulation techniques, these can be very useful for treating acute low back pain and neck pain.

The origins of spinal manipulation are osteopathic, so you are more likely to receive this specific treatment if you see an osteopath. Spinal manipulation formed a significant part of my under-graduate osteopathic training and can be a useful technique for acute neck pain and stiffness, e. Some physiotherapists will learn spinal manipulation as part of their postgraduate study. The key factor is that whoever you see for spinal manipulation, they must have extensive experience, and it is important you carry out some research beforehand.

As mentioned earlier, osteopaths often treat more holistically than physiotherapists. An osteopath may treat one part of the body to reduce pain in another.

For example, they may treat your right shoulder pain by treating on your left hip. Particularly if they are a naturopath and osteopath this combination is not uncommon. Furthermore, some osteopaths will treat your internal organs, these are called visceral techniques. Physiotherapists would not carry out such techniques and are more likely to treat the local area affected.

Both osteopaths and physiotherapists will specialise in certain areas as they develop their experience and progress their interests and career. Due to the variety of specialisms within the professions, I would advise that you enquire about the skills and experience of the individual clinician you plan to see. For example, at Complete Physio we have physiotherapists that specialise in:.

The reality is there are probably more similarities than differences!