An osteopath is a health care practitioner that uses a unique holistic approach to the health system by systematically examining a patient’s health history. Osteopaths are known for recognizing the important link between the structure of the body and its ability to function efficiently. Your body will be examined as a whole, including your skeleton, joints, muscles, connective tissue, nerves and organs – as it all acts as a universal unit towards the appropriate functioning of our body.
After getting a good understanding of a patients background (occupation, overall fitness and health), and a physical examination has been performed, your osteopath will then implement a treatment/management plan; which can include any of the following:
à Hands on techniques such as soft tissue massage, manipulation or stretching of the joints
à Exercise programs and rehabilitation
à Diet and lifestyle (nutritional) advice
à Dry needling
à Indirect techniques: organ manipulation
COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED BY AN OSTEO
– Low back pain: disc injuries or sciatica
– Neck pain: headaches, whiplash or nerve entrapment
– Sporting injuries/overuse injuries: shin splints/elbow pain
– Should pain
– Pregnancy related conditions
– Knee pain
– Foot and ankle pain
It’s important to understand that every osteopath is unique and treats in a variety of different ways, which is what makes the profession of osteopathy so successful, as every person and injury responds to certain treatments differently.
Olivia White
