What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a manual therapy system that focuses on treatment to wide ranging musculoskeletal disorders. The most common of these disorders is low back pain, neck pain, shoulder, hip and knee as well as other treatments that are generally a common presentation to GP’s such as jaw pain, Headaches and even Asthma.

The aims and objectives on every consultation is to effectively relieve pain, restore joint integrity and mobility which will significantly improve the quality of life for many patients without the use of drugs or surgery.

The level of pain presented to osteopath depends on the type of onset, ie was it a sudden onset with or without trauma or a sudden gradual onset.

Quite often the case history will lead the osteopath to a significant rational theory to the problem which then is supported by relevant orthopaedic, neurological or other tests to determine a working hypothesis and diagnosis.

More often or not if a referral is not indicated than the focus tends to leans towards tissue damage to the body’s muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, discs, and nerves and how they relate to good body function and posture. Osteopaths use palpation as a form of diagnostic touch, very often physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance good vascular supply to aid tissue recovery. At the heart of osteopathic intervention is prevention strategy, ie advice and corrective postural advice and exercise rehabilitation so that patients take responsibility for their long term management and don’t become dependent on our help

Are Osteopaths Regulated ?

All Osteopaths practicing in the UK are required to be registered by law with the general osteopathic council (GOsC) which sets and promotes high standards of competency, conduct and safety. All osteopaths undergo at least four years of intensive training, in which time they study anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical medicine and manipulative therapy to an extremely high standard of competency and focus on osteopathic principles, orthopaedic physical assessment and diagnosis procedures and are expertly trained to evaluate the neuromuscular skeletal system.

Osteopaths are required by the GOsC to update these skills through on-going Continual Professional Development (CPD) every year. As part of this process the GOsC checks that osteopaths have current professional indemnity insurance, remain in good health and of good standing in the community (with no criminal record).

My personal registration number is 4823 which can easily be checked against the register if in any doubt and look out for the ‘I am registered kite mark’