About Osteopathy Treatments
What is Osteopathy?
“Recognised as part of the NHS Allied Healthcare Professions, osteopaths are autonomous primary healthcare professionals, able to act independently without oversight from a doctor, and are fully qualified to diagnose and treat independently”
~ The Institute of Osteopathy
(Quality in osteopathic practice report, 2018)
Osteopaths take a broad, holistic view of patients and appreciate many factors beyond the area of pain. Symptoms are carefully considered in the context of the patient’s full medical history, as well as their lifestyle and personal circumstances.
Osteopaths train for a minimum of 4 or 5 years and they are required to complete over 1000 hours of supervised clinical practise. Osteopathic training equips osteopaths with an in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and robust clinical methods examination techniques for the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological systems and the abdomen. All Osteopaths in the UK must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), who regulate the practice of Osteopathy in the UK, ensuring that all Osteopaths are appropriately trained, insured and keep up to date with continued professional development.
What can osteopathy treat?
The most common conditions Osteopaths see and manage relate to low back pain and neck pain, both of which Osteopathy is recommended alongside exercise by government guidelines.
Although Osteopaths are most commonly known for treating spinal pain, we can also help manage many other complaints related to joint and muscle injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, hip, ankle and foot.
Some examples of conditions that people seek osteopathic treatment for include:
- ‘sciatica’
- arthritis or joint pain
- frozen shoulder
- tennis elbow
- trapped nerve
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- plantar fasciitis
- headache related to/originating from the neck
- pregnancy related back pain etc
Please do not hesitate to contact Andreas if you have any specific questions regarding conditions you are seeking to help manage.
The osteopathy techniques used will depend on your presentation and your preferences.
Your treatment may include:
- direct and rhythmic movement techniques
- strength and stretch methods for muscles
- soft and connective tissue techniques
- neuromuscular therapy
- joint manipulation
- techniques to encourage fluid flow and tissue repair
- medical acupuncture
- indirect, gentle, harmonic approaches
What Andreas’ patients say
Just to say a big thankyou for all your help treating all my aches and pains and various sports injuries, including a very stubborn shoulder tendinopathy. You have treated them all very successfully with great knowledge, professionalism and kindness. I am now back to playing tennis, swimming, cycling and skiing all pain free!
I have been seeing Andreas for several years and his treatments are exceptionally thorough (do not expect soft music and lots of pampering). He identifies and works on the areas that need work in a given session, and is very flexible in his approach. I have enjoyed his introduction of new techniques and his diagnostic ability has developed greatly. I have great confidence in Andreas, and have benefitted tremendously both in the short term and the long term to alleviate pain and to get the body working fully when it has been restricted by injury.
Did you know?
Amongst osteopathic patients, 96% expressed confidence in osteopathic treatment and advice
~ General osteopathic Council commissioned You Gov Public Perceptions Survey (April, 2015)
89% of osteopathic patients reported an improvement in their symptoms one week after treatment
~National Council of Osteopathic Research Patient Reported Outcome Measures, data collection study (2006)
96% of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their osteopathic care
~University of Brighton, 2009-2010 (commission by General Osteopathic Council).