Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners and it is therefore not necessary to obtain a referral from your doctor. You are able to simply call and make an appointment on a self-referral basis. Your initial consultation will last between 45 and 60 minutes, where your osteopath will take the time to explore your complaint and understand you as an individual .

The first stage will consist of a series of questions about your current complaint and past medical history. This information will help to guide examination and essentially help to form the diagnosis. This information is strictly confidential and will be held securely for seven years. Your osteopath may also use previous medical reports and x-rays to guide testing and formulate a diagnosis, if they are available.

During the examination stage, you may be asked to remove certain items of clothing but you will be asked to give consent during each stage of the process and have the right to refuse any examination or treatment that you are not comfortable with. Examination will consist of observation, palpation and special testing based on observed and or resisted movement. It is likely that your blood pressure and pulse will also be taken during your first appointment as well as other medical screening tests that may be deemed appropriate.

Upon reaching a diagnosis, treatment will likely commence form the very first osteopathy appointment and self-care advice such as nutritional recommendations, hydrotherapy advice and exercise prescription will be given. If a diagnosis cannot be reached, and symptoms cannot be explained, you may be referred to your GP for further tests. We will provide you with a detailed letter explaining our assessment and findings if this is the case.

Each treatment will start with a brief review of your symptoms and a reassessment to monitor your progress. Treatment will then consist of soft tissue techniques (massage), lymphatic drainage, mobilisations, spinal manipulation and or a series of exercises that you will be guided through. Though treatment can be uncomfortable at times, it is the goal of the osteopath to help alleviate pain and restore function.

During your initial consultation your osteopath will outline a treatment plan and discuss the expected duration of treatment. Each presentation will vary significantly, however, most patients are expected to need no more than 4-6 treatments initially, following which, your osteopath will discuss frequency of ongoing treatment with you if indicated.

However, it is usually advisable to make an appointment with your osteopath on a quarterly or biannual basis, for regular check-ups and maintenance treatments.

No! It is the goal of most osteopaths to get you out of pain as quickly as possible and treatment is often described as enjoyable. However, some techniques may be uncomfortable (for this we apologise), and you are encouraged to let your osteopath know if it is causing severe distress or discomfort so that techniques can be modified and an alternative approach can be taken. It is not uncommon for there to be an initial soreness or temporary worsening of symptoms after osteopathic treatment, though this should usually subside within 12-24 hours. This is known as a treatment reaction and often signifies the initial stages of healing. However, if this persists longer than 48 hours or causes you major distress, you should call your osteopath immediately to seek advice.

All information is strictly confidential between you and your osteopath unless it is thought that you or someone else may be at risk. All records, including contact information, will be stored confidentially for a minimum of 7 years.

Osteopathy is regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (G.OsC). Should you wish to make a complaint or voice your concerns about the behaviour of your osteopath or any aspect of your experience, you are encouraged to do so by contacting G.OsC at info@osteopathy.org.uk