What is osteopathy?
Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners, complementary to other medical practices including chiropractic and physiotherapy, and while there is some overlap osteopaths generally have a holistic approach and we also consider relevant social and psychological factors.
We treat the whole person and not just the area where symptoms are felt. This is because our experience tells us that often the cause of pain is another area or part of the body.
Osteopathy is based on the philosophy that your body functions more efficiently when it’s in alignment. Osteopaths have a highly developed sense of touch and we use our hands both to identify the source of pain and – with a variety of techniques – to manipulate, massage or stretch the affected area to help relieve pain, improve mobility or reduce swelling.
The techniques are not painful and osteopathy is safe for all ages, including babies. Patients sometimes report a clicking or popping noise, this is simply the sound of small gas bubbles popping within the joints. It doesn’t hurt.
All our osteopaths are registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Being registered with the General Osteopathic Council (G.Os.C) ensures that all osteopaths work to a strict code of ethics. Some of these include: Safety, honesty, competence, a caring approach, confidentiality, to be non-judgmental, professionalism in dress and manner, integrity and postgraduate training.