Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Osteopathy, Chiropractic, or Physiotherapy?
All three types of practitioner are well trained and controlled by their own registration bodies which exist to protect patients.
Perhaps the main difference between osteopathy and physiotherapy is the way we diagnose problems. Physiotherapists follow traditional medical approaches of compartmentalising illness and pain. Osteopaths also concern themselves with the immediate problem but also look widely to detect factors that helped cause it. This is what we term an holistic approach.
There are similarities between osteopaths and chiropractors but there are many differences too. Osteopaths apply their own methods of diagnosis, and therefore treatment, to each case. We tend to use some gentler, slower stretching techniques, as well as some more direct techniques such high velocity joint thrusting. Chiropractors tend to may make more use of the latter.
A good tip is to choose a therapist by personal recommendation. You will instinctively know when you have found the right practitioner for you.
Does treatment hurt?
It is very unusual for treatment to hurt. Not only do we carefully tailor our treatment plan for your needs but we gently introduce the techniques to ensure you find them comfortable. If something is not comfortable we urge you to tell us so that we can modify the approach used.
Some patients experience some mild discomfort after treatment, whilst others encounter rapid reduction in pain. As we are treating parts of the body that are sore in the first place they can be reactive and that’s why we take care not to over treat you. We will give post treatment care advice which will help reduce any discomfort you may experience. Should you require advice please don’t hesitate to telephone us.
What if I don’t want to be manipulated and having my joints cracked?
Don’t worry. Our treatment is gentle but should you have any concerns about the treatment we propose just let us know…we can select techniques that you are comfortable with.
Can we guarantee it will work?
We can guarantee to do our very best for you. We have trained hard and are well qualified to help you. Osteopathy is a very popular form of health care because patients often gain great benefit from it.
We cannot guarantee that it will work or we will cure you, but that is a good thing for us to say!
If you search the internet for information about back related pain you will encounter many web sites that promise cures. We have attended events and hear unregistered therapists promise to cure conditions. It is simply wrong for people do this and demonstrates one of the benefits of seeing a registered osteopath.
We don’t know of any doctor, surgeon or osteopath that can promise to cure a patient. Should anyone do this to you walk away as quickly as possible!
How many sessions of treatment will I need?
This depends on your problem and factors such as your general health and how long you have had the problem.
Occasionally some patients need just a single session of treatment but this is the exception. The majority need a short course of treatment. This is only to be expected given that problems often take months to develop in the first place. We can give you an idea of how many sessions of treatment you may require on your first visit after we have examined you thoroughly.
Can I bring a friend or relative?
Yes – if you wish, you can have someone present throughout your consultation and treatment.
Do I need to see my doctor first?
You do not need to see your doctor first. However, if you wish to gain reimbursement from an Insurance company please check with them first. Each company and policy is different meaning we cannot advise here.
Do you recommend regular check ups?
Yes, we think it sensible to gain an occasional osteopathic check to detect and deal with any structural imbalances developing in your body at an early stage.
Is there evidence to support osteopathy?
Yes, there is. Unlike drugs companies osteopaths do not have a huge research budget to fund expensive scientific trials. That being said some reliable evidence is available to support osteopathy. Two recent reports worthy of attention are shown below.
a) NICE clinical guidance 88. This researched best practice for persistent or recurrent low back pain, defined as non-specific low back pain that has lasted for more than 6 weeks, but for less than 12 months. It recommended a course of manual therapy such as osteopathy, with spinal manipulation, and acupuncture of up to nine sessions over a period of up to 12 weeks.
b) Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report
Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010, 18:3 doi:10.1186/1746-1340-18-3
This carried out systematic reviews of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and of widely accepted and primarily UK and American evidence-based clinical guidelines.
Amongst other things it concluded that spinal manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for:-
- acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain
- migraine and cervicogenic headache
- cervicogenic dizziness
- several extremity joint conditions, and
- acute/subacute neck pain
Massage is effective in adults for:
- chronic low back pain, and
- chronic neck pain
In addition a national osteopathic research centre has been set up in the UK to promote increased quality research. The National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) was established in 2003, to foster research and raise the profile of osteopathy research findings. Based at the Clinical Research Centre in the School of Health Professions at the University of Brighton, NCOR is funded by stakeholder groups: the General Osteopathic Council, the British Osteopathic Association, and all the UK osteopathic educational institutions.
What if I have concerns or a complaint ?
Please do talk to us directly as soon as possible. To lodge a complaint please use the complaint ‘button’ shown on this web which will provide further information.