Q: What conditions can Osteopathy help with?
A: The list of conditions that osteopathy can help with is long – back pain, backache, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, hip problems, knee problems, arthritis, shoulder pain, sports injuries, office related conditions, digestive problems, neuralgia are just some of the conditions we treat.

Osteopathy can help relieve any musculoskeletal problem, in adults and children of all ages. If you also have other health problems, your osteopath will advise you to seek appropriate medical guidance. It is possible to have osteopathic treatment as well as conventional medical treatment. The osteopath will be able to advise you on this.

Q: Is Osteopathy right for me?
A: Osteopaths can treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and treat people of all ages. Osteopathic treatment is tailored to each individual person’s needs and circumstances. If you are not sure about whether osteopathy would be right for you, call us and we can talk through your concerns.

Q: Do I need referral from my GP?
A: No, although you may chose to consult your GP as well. The osteopath might advise you to see your GP or might contact your GP, with your permission, if that is necessary.

Q: What will happen on my first appointment?
A: During your first appointment we take a detailed history of your current complaint and ask for a history of accidents and injuries as well as your medical history. We do this to check that osteopathic treatment is appropriate for you. It is often useful if you bring with you the names of any medication that you are taking. We then like to take you through a series of simple movements. This is because osteopaths like to look at how the body moves as a whole, and being able to see how your joints move together can often give us clues as to how the problem started.

After we have had a look at the problem and performed our examination we discuss our findings with you. We like all patients to know what their problem is, why it started, how we are going to help get it better and how long we think this will take. We normally have time to start treatment on the first visit.

Q: What should I wear?
A: The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and relaxed. An osteopath needs to assess how you hold yourself, and also needs to see your mobility in simple movements such as bending forward or back, side to side, and turning left or right. Osteopaths usually ask patients to undress to their underwear during examination and treatment, but if you prefer not to undress then wear something light such as a vest top and shorts. We are very respectful of a patient’s potential nervousness around visiting an osteopath for the first time and encourage patients to feel comfortable at all times.

Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: This depends on how long you have had the problem for. Pain that has been around for a few weeks can take 1-3 treatments to get better, where as an ongoing problem that you have suffering with for months or years can take longer before you start to notice the beneficial effects of treatment. We will always try and give you a prognosis of treatment sessions that you will need at your first

Q: If I am pregnant can I still have osteopathic treatment?
A: It is absolutely fine to have osteopathic treatment when you are pregnant, in fact, we highly recommend it. During pregnancy your back has to cope with a large amount of anatomical and physiological changes when your ligaments soften to help accommodate the baby. This is a time when old injuries can start niggling again or you can suffer your first episodes of back pain. Osteopathic treatment helps keep your posture in an optimum position to help prevent back pain and will also prepare your body for the birth.

Q: Is osteopathy covered by my health insurance?
A: Most health insurance policies do cover osteopathy; however it can depend on your specific policy. The best approach is to first check with your health insurance company too see whether you are covered for osteopathic treatment and if they require a letter of referral from your GP. We are registered with most health insurance companies in the UK such as PPP, BUPA, HSA, Aviva, CIGNA and many others. Most policies cover between 6-10 treatments.