What Is Osteopathy?

It's so common I get asked "what is an osteopath? It's something to do with bones, right?"

​

So, its a little bit more than bones. Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners (NHS Recognised) who are similar to the more well know Chiropractic and Physiotherapy. 

The term "Osteopath" is a protected term. Meaning that it is illegal for a person to call themselves an Osteopath if they have not passed an official 4 year Masters course. 

​

The Osteopathy Masters Course

The course (in Swansea University where I trained) involves completing 1500 hours in a couple of teaching clinics (including an NHS clinic in their final year of study), a 20,000 word Masters dissertation as well as many, many exams and essays.

During training, Osteopaths will learn about: 

- Anatomy and human biomechanics

- Physiology (What happens in your cells)

- Pathophysiology (Disease and Injury)

- Nutrition 

- Exercise rehabilitation

- Orthopaedic and Neuromuscular testing (The testing of your joints, muscles, nerves and organs)

Osteopaths must also pay to register with the General Osteopathic Council who oversee all Osteopaths to ensure and maintain a high standard of care. 

Osteopathy, in my opinion, is all about treating the person as a whole rather than solely treating a condition or injury. 

What will happen if I see an Osteopath?

​

So an Osteopath will look at the area that is causing you pain/discomfort as well as including other joints. So with a knee problem, we will look at the foot, ankle, hips and the lumbar spine (your lower back) to narrow down which structures may be the culprit. 

We will also ask you questions about your lifestyle including your job, hobbies, workout routine, past medical history and your family history. We do this because we want to find the root of the problem and manage it in the best way we know how. 

How do we treat?

Osteopaths treat exactly how they assess, with a whole body approach. We will also advise you on how you can change your lifestyle in order to help prevent the issue from happening again. 

Osteopaths use hands-on techniques including:

- Joint manipulation and mobilisation (gentle moving of your joints which may produce a click/popping noise).

​

- Neuromuscular Technique (advanced soft tissue massage). 

​

- Muscle Energy Technique (getting you to gently contract your muscles to help them ease). 

​

- Strain Counter Strain Technique (putting your muscles into a position of ease to help them relax).

​

All of these techniques to help reduce pain, increase flexibility or stability and general whole body function. 

Osteopaths are especially good at mobilising your nervous system in order to reduce the sensation of shooting pain, pins and needles, numbness and other symptoms of nerve pain such as Sciatica, Trapped Nerves and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 

Some Osteopaths also specialise in Visceral Osteopathy (mobilisation of your abdominal organs), Paediatric Osteopathy, Cranial Osteopathy and Sports Osteopathy. 

In summary, Osteopathy is a science-based manual therapy that aims to help with pain and function by addressing the structure and strength of the body. 

​

What do Osteopaths treat?

​

The Advertisement Standard Agency and Committee of Advertisement Practice currently accepts that osteopaths can claim to treat the following conditions based on the evidence they have seen to date: 

- Generalised aches and pains

- Arthritic pain

- Circulatory problems, cramp

- Digestion problems

- Muscle pains

- Sciatica

- Muscle spasms

- Neuralgia

- Fibromyalgia

- Inability to relax

- Rheumatic pain

- Minor sports injuries and tensions 

- Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise. 

- General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash.)

- Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) / migraine prevention

- Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences.