FAQ’s


How long is each session?

How Long Is Each Osteopathic Treatment?The first consultation is 60 minutes. Subsequent treatments are 60 minutes (40 for children). My treatments tend to be longer than many other osteopaths because I use the time to effectively employ as many treatment modalities as is necessary. I also find it helpful to create an oasis of relaxation within the clinic environment.

 

How much does each appointment cost?

Consultations for adults and children cost £70 and will last one hour.
Subsequent treatments are £70 for adults and £50 for babies and children. I also do a postpartum treatment for mother and baby for £100.

 

What happens during the first treatment?

The first consultation lasts one hour and will involve taking a thorough case history, beginning with the symptoms you are suffering from, when they began and how they are impacting your life.

This will be followed by questions about your general health, past operations and hospitalizations and dental treatment (especially extractions and orthodontic work). It is also important to get a picture of the stresses in your life, be they physical, mental or emotional.

Next you will have an osteopathic and orthopaedic examination. On the first visit this will involve undressing to your underwear for a standing examination of your posture. You may be asked to perform gentle movements of the spine and relevant joints in order to assess their biomechanical function. This may be followed by relevant clinical tests, such as taking blood pressure or reflexes. Then you will lie down on the treatment couch, where I will gently assess the general health of your tissues and ascertain strain patterns.

Based on this information, a diagnosis will be arrived at and discussed. This will be followed by development of a treatment plan which will take into account the circumstances of each patient on an individual basis. The diagnosis, prognosis and explanation of the treatment will be discussed with you at each level.

What is cranial osteopathy?

Cranial osteopathy is a gentle and effective technique that involves very subtle manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses throughout the body.

Most people have been exposed to physical trauma at some stage in life. Whilst the body may have been able to absorb the effects of a fall or accident at the time, an overall physical reaction does occur. Symptoms sometimes present years after the incident, as is often the case of whiplash.

Cranial osteopathy is also an effective treatment to help alleviate the symptoms caused by migraines, headaches and TMJ dysfunction, especially following extensive dental work or teeth extractions.

It is gentle enough to be suitable for patients of all ages, from newborn babies to the very elderly or infirm.

 

What is the difference between osteopathy, chiropractic and physio?

What is Osteopathy?Osteopathy is a holistic form of manipulative treatment that addresses mechanical problems by removing restrictions to the healthy function of the musculoskeletal, visceral, blood, lymphatic and nervous systems. Cranial osteopathy is a refined and gentle type of osteopathy that utilizes the more subtle end of the treatment spectrum. Chiropractors work in a similar way to osteopaths, but they tend to use vigorous manipulations more often, and their treatments are usually shorter. Physios work on specific areas following injury or operations. They often utilize machinery in their treatment, and excel in prescribing rehabilitative exercises.

 

How many times (how often) will I have to come?

That depends on the individual and how long you’ve had the problem. Some people respond quite quickly whilst other require a few treatments to feel the full benefit. Once satisfactory improvement has been achieved it is often useful to book a few“maintenance” treatments throughout the year to maintain optimum health.

 

Is treatment advisable if I’m pregnant?

Osteopathy can be very helpful during pregnancy to help your body cope with the strains put on your back and other joints due to shifting posture, centre of gravity, and lax ligaments. Treatment can also help the pelvis prepare for birth, and regain structural balance following it.

 

Can osteopathy help babies and children?

Can osteopathy help babies and children?Birth is one of the most stressful experiences we will ever experience, and babies’ heads often retain moulding from the pressures exerted in the process. This can cause the baby to be irritable and unsettled or effect sleep and feeding patterns. Osteopathy can help to relieve tension in the head and thorax and help the baby to settle.
As a child grows the effects of the retained moulding in the head can contribute to postural, behavioural and other health issues.  Osteopathic treatment for babies and children is gentle, safe and effective.

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