About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a primary care profession, focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders, and the effects of these conditions on a patient’s general health.
Osteopathy is based on the principle that the body has the ability to heal, and osteopathic care focuses on strengthening the musculoskeletal systems to treat existing conditions and to prevent illness. Osteopathy is very effective at resolving aches, pains and injuries because it looks at the causes of a problem. It is an Osteopath’s aim to prevent a problem or injury from recurring by identifying and removing the original cause of the problem.
An Osteopath’s patient-centred approach to health and well-being means they consider symptoms in the context of the patient’s full medical history, as welll as their lifestyle and personal circumstances. This holistic approach ensures that all treatment is tailored to the individual patient.
In the UK Osteopathy is regulated by Government Statute, The Osteopaths Act of 1993. After many years often being misunderstood and marginalised, Osteopathy today is a well established and respected profession, with patients including Doctors, MPs and members of the Royal Family. All practitioners are trained full time (or equivalent part time) for four years, and are required by the regulator to update their skills (CPD, Continual Professional Development) every year. You can be assured that Osteopathy is very safe, and one of the most effective treatments available.
In May this year government organisation NICE – the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence – published guidelines on improving the early management of persistent non-specific low back pain. Their options for treatment include a course of manual therapy such as Osteopathy, including spinal manipulation of up to 9 sessions for up to 12 weeks.
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