Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a system of diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems, such as back, neck, and joint pain. It looks at the structure and function of your whole body. Osteopathy is based on the idea that your general health and wellbeing depend on your skeleton, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues all working together smoothly.

About osteopathy

Osteopathy is a type of manual therapy. It has a wide range of uses, but can be particularly helpful for lower back pain, posture-related pain, arthritis, and sports injuries.

Your osteopath will manipulate and move your joints and soft tissues to get your body back to a state of balance. The aim is to:

• release muscle tension to help you move more easily
• relieve pain
• improve your tissue’s blood flow and nerve supply
• help your body heal

The practitioner will use a wide variety of hands-on techniques, such as:

• touch
• physical manipulation
• stretching
• soft tissue techniques, such as massage
• skilled hand movements

Your osteopath may also suggest some self-help measures and give you advice on exercises to help your symptoms get better.

Most people arrange treatment with an osteopath themselves, by booking a private appointment.

Osteopathy procedure

Finding the problem

A first appointment with an osteopath will usually take around 45 minutes to an hour. Your osteopath will ask you about:

• your pain and other symptoms
• your health in general
• any medicines you’re taking
• any other treatment you’re having

They’ll probably ask you to remove some clothing so they can examine you. If so, you should be given a gown or a towel. If you wish, you can ask for a friend or relative to accompany you.

Your osteopath will look at your whole body in relation to your pain. Pain or stiffness in one part of your body may be linked to muscles and nerves in another part of your body. Your osteopath may ask you to do some simple movements and stretches. They’ll also feel around your joints, ligaments, and tissues with their hands. This is called palpation.

Informed consent

Your osteopath will talk to you about what they found when they examined you before they go ahead with any treatment. They’ll explain:

• what their diagnosis is
• what osteopathic treatment they recommend
• the benefits and risks involved with the treatment
• how many sessions you’re likely to need
• what this will cost

Be sure to ask your osteopath if you have any questions. It’s important that you fully understand what’s involved in your treatment because you’ll be asked to give your consent for it to go ahead.

Osteopathy techniques

Your osteopath will use manual techniques to try and reduce your pain and associated inflammation to help the healing process. Osteopathy techniques aim to increase the movement in your joints and relieve muscle tension.

The main techniques your osteopath may use include the following.

• Soft tissue techniques. This is when your osteopath directly applies pressure to soft tissues. It aims to reduce tension and relieve pain.
• Articulation. In this technique, your osteopath will move your joints through their natural range of motion.
• Stretching. This can help to relieve stiffness.
• Manipulation. In manipulation, your osteopath will make a quicker thrusting action with their hands at a particular point of your spine. You might hear a ‘popping’ or ‘cracking’ sound when they do this.

Other techniques that an osteopath may use include the following.

• Muscle energy technique. In this technique, your osteopath will ask you to push against them, while they apply force back. This aims to increase the range of movement in the affected joint.
• Functional technique. This is where your osteopath will gently move your joints into positions that reduce your tension and pain, before gradually working them back to the original position.
• Counterstrain. This involves your osteopath slowly moving you into the position that causes you the least pain. They’ll hold you in this position for a short time while they monitor ‘tender points’ – areas on your body that cause your pain.
• Still technique. This is a form of articulation. Your osteopath will push your joint close together or keep a pulling force on it while they move it through its full range of motion. The additional forces help increase your range of movement and can result in a release of tension similar to manipulation.

Your osteopath may also give you advice on:

• improving your posture
• which types of exercise you can do to help with your pain
• general health advice

Aftercare for osteopathy

Osteopathy is generally a gentle treatment. But you may feel a little sore for a day or two afterwards. If you’re worried about anything, contact your osteopathy clinic for advice.

You may need more than one appointment. Your osteopath will assess you at each session and discuss whether your treatment plan needs any changes.

Your osteopath may suggest some exercises and other self-help measures that you can do at home to help ease your pain. Doing these regularly may help to stop your symptoms from coming back.

Side-effects of osteopathy

You may get some side-effects from osteopathic manipulative therapy. These usually aren’t serious and only last for a short time. You may feel some soreness or discomfort in the area in which you received the treatment. Drinking lots of water and getting as much rest as possible may help to relieve any discomfort.

If you experience any serious or unusual symptoms, it’s important to contact your osteopath or GP straightaway.

Alternatives to osteopathy

Osteopathy is one type of manual therapy. Other types of manual therapy take a slightly different approach to managing pain and improving movement. Other manual therapy practitioners include the following.

• Physiotherapists focus on restoring movement and function to your whole body after you’ve been affected by illness or injury. They’ll usually use exercise and manual therapies to help you manage pain and aid your recovery. You’ll be encouraged to take an active role in your treatment by doing specific exercises at home.
• Chiropractors are interested in how problems with your bones, muscles and joints affect your nervous system and general health. Their focus is on the manipulation of your spine – but they may use other techniques too.

Each manual therapy can be done in lots of different ways. This will depend on each therapist’s continued professional development route and experience. Your osteopath will be able to discuss different treatment approaches and make sure you’re comfortable with the suggested techniques.

You can choose which type of practitioner you see. But if you would like NHS treatment, you’re most likely to be offered physiotherapy because the other services aren’t often funded. If you’re going to book private treatment, it can be worth contacting a few different practitioners to discuss your own circumstances. If you have health insurance, contact your insurance provider to see what they cover.