Osteopathy is a form of treatment that is used to detect, treat, and prevent health problems by massaging, stretching, and moving a person’s joints and muscles. If you need a dietician in Hampshire please see here.
Osteopathy is based on the concept that a person’s wellbeing depends on their connective tissue, ligaments, muscles, and bones functioning together smoothly.
Physical manipulation, massage, and stretching are used by osteopaths with the goal of:
- relieving muscle tension
- increasing joint mobility
- helping the body heal
- enhancing the supply of blood to tissues
A wide range of techniques are employed, but neither surgery nor drugs are used.
UK law regulates the health profession of osteopathy in the UK.
Although some conventional medical methods might be used by osteopaths, scientific evidence does not always form the basis of osteopathy.
Continue reading to find out what occurs when you go to an osteopath for a visit.
When osteopathy is used
Most individuals who visit an osteopath do it to receive assistance for conditions that affect joints, bones, and muscles, including:
joint and muscle pain associated with pregnancy, work, or driving
sports injuries
problems with the legs, hips, and pelvis
arthritis
elbow pain and shoulder pain
uncomplicated neck pain (in contrast to whiplash and other neck pain following an injury)
lower back pain
If you are pregnant, be sure to consult with your midwife or GP before you visit an osteopath. Also, ensure that you visit an osteopath who specialises in joint or muscle pain during pregnancy.
There are certain osteopaths who claim they can treat conditions that do not directly relate to joints, bones, and muscles, such as colic (excessive crying in infants), depression, digestive disorders, painful periods, migraines, and headaches.
However, there is not enough evidence to support that these problems can be treated effectively by osteopathy.
Does osteopathy really work?
It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that exercise and manual therapy be used for treating lower back pain without or with sciatica.
There is limited evidence suggesting that osteopathy can be effective or certain kinds of lower-limb, shoulder, or neck pain, as well as recovery following a knee or hip operation.
Currently, there is not any good evidence that osteopathy is an effective treatment method for health conditions that are unrelated to the muscles and bones (the body’s musculoskeletal system).
How to access osteopathy
Although osteopathy is not widely available from the NHS, your local clinical commissioning group (CCG) or GP should be able to let you know whether or not it is available within your local area.
Most people pay privately for osteopathy treatment. The cost of treatment varies, but a 30-40-minute session typically ranges from £35 up to £50.
It is not necessary for your GP to refer you in order to privately see an osteopath. Coverage is provided for osteopathic treatment by most private health insurance companies.
Individuals must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) in order to call themselves osteopaths and practice osteopathy.
During your initial osteopathy session, your osteopath will ask you questions about your general health, symptoms, and other medical care that you are receiving currently before conducting a physical exam.
An osteopath uses his or her hands to detect areas of strain, restriction, tenderness, or weakness within the body, especially in the spine.
You will most likely need to consent to remove some clothing from the part of your body that is going to be examined. The osteopath might also ask you to perform some simple movements.
Finally, you can discuss with the osteopathy whether or not your problem can be helped by osteopathy, and if so, what should be involved in your treatment programme.