Your first consultation will last approximately 40 minutes. Your practitioner will begin by taking a full case history about your presenting symptoms and past medical history. He will then proceed with an osteopathic assessment as well as specific medical and neurological screening if necessary, and come to a diagnosis. The diagnosis and treatment plan will be thoroughly discussed with you to give a full understanding of what the treatment will involve.
Your osteopathic treatment will generally involve a combination of gentle manipulative techniques and joint adjustments, massage of the soft tissues and cranial osteopathic release. All the above techniques are aimed to restore mobility and function of the joints and affected tissues.
In general osteopathic treatment should not be painful. However in conditions where tissues have been chronically affected resulting in persistent tightness and stiffness, or in acute conditions, the patient may feel mild discomfort during certain specific techniques. Nonetheless your practitioner will always and only work within your tolerance level if any discomfort is to be felt.
Following treatment, the body is lifted from lesion patterns, chronic tissues and compensations regain their mobility, resulting in a change in function of the body systems. Thus patients commonly report feeling a sense of weightlessness and tiredness, and it is advised to rest in the hours following consultation.
Similarly depending on the chronicity of the patterns, patients may feel sore for a period of up to two or three days after treatment, until the body has accepted and adjusted to the changes in the tissues.
Generally most complaints necessitate 3 or 4 treatments, however will vary greatly depending on your condition. After your initial osteopathic assessment your osteopath should be able to give you an estimation of the number of treatments you may require.
During your first consultation, your practitioner will need to make a full osteopathic assessment. You will be asked to undress where appropriate so your Osteopath can examine the affected area. We therefore advise that you wear appropriate underwear, if you feel uncomfortable feel free to bring a pair of shorts with you to the appointment or a gown can be provided on request.
Most major insurance companies cover Osteopathic treatment. Please check with the clinic first to ensure that you insuance company is accepted.