The first visit

Your first visit will likely last between 45 minutes and 1 hour. During this visit the osteopath will compile a complete medical case history looking into your current complaint, assessing your present health, reviewing your past medical history such as illnesses, surgeries and accidents and that of your immediate family to assess for hereditary diseases.

Once the case history is complete you may be asked to remove some of your clothing and will be guided through a short series of movements to assess the mobility of your body. Other simple testing may be necessary such as to assess the function of nerves or special tests for specific conditions.

Once the osteopath has determined a diagnosis, treatment will follow in the majority of cases. In some cases, treatment may not be the most appropriate immediate course of action, for example where further investigation such as imaging is required. In this situation you will be referred to your GP.

Osteopathic treatment may involve rhythmic articulation of areas, deep massage or patient assisted techniques to stretch and relax muscles, manipulation of joints to improve movement, needling for pain management and muscular tension or a range of subtler techniques that allow the body to acknowledge and correct its own poor function. If relevant you will also receive exercises to strengthen or stretch areas of your body between sessions and lifestyle advice specific to you.

Subsequent visits

If you have visited the clinic within the last 5 years your treatment will last between 30 and 40 minutes. It will likely include a brief discussion about how you have been since your last visit and any new complaints that may have emerged, an osteopathic evaluation of your body and treatment.