What Happens During Your First Osteopath Appointment

Osteopathy is an effective hands-on approach involving highly skilled diagnosis and treatment, supported by practical lifestyle advice to enable patients to maintain optimal physical health and return to daily and sports-related activities.

Osteopaths are highly competent healthcare professionals recognised by the NHS as fully qualified to diagnose and treat independently.

Osteopathy, a versatile treatment, is recommended for pain, stiffness, postural issues, and sports injuries. Furthermore, an osteopath can be seen not only to manage certain conditions but also to prevent injuries.

While there are numerous reasons why you may want to see an osteopathy, here are only a few of them:

• Osteopathic treatments release tension from your body and reduce pain and tension headaches.
• Osteopaths help to ease the stiffness in your joints.
• Several techniques used by osteopaths support your spine, especially with desk-based professionals. 

•  Osteopathic treatments offer quick yet lasting healing results without any medication. It improves blood circulation, leading to more power and quicker recovery.
• Osteopathy boosts your ability to move freely and without pain.

The Process: What Happens During the Visit

Case History and Discussion

A first appointment generally lasts about 50 minutes to allow the osteopath adequate time to listen, examine, diagnose and discuss the treatment :

Your osteopath will ask about you, including your symptoms, past and present health, and social history.

To start with, your osteopath will ask specific questions about your condition or injury. Then, they will inquire about you as a person, your work, hobbies, and family history. Your osteopath will then ask about your medical history, including any past injuries, medical conditions, illnesses, accidents, and operations. If you are taking medication, please have the names by hand to give to your osteopath. Rest assured, the information you provide will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and respect for your privacy.

The last discussion will revolve around your goals. You may want to get fitter, improve your posture, or return to your daily activities or sports. You may also have an event you are preparing for. This is when you can share your hopes and goals for the treatment.

An osteopath values your active participation in the treatment process. Your input is crucial in developing a suitable treatment plan. Therefore, being open and discussing anything you can remember or are concerned about is important. Remember, an osteopath is working together with you, not just for you. 

Physical Examination

The next step is a physical examination. This will include checking your posture and assessing the movement of your joints and muscles. The examination can also consist of various osteopathic, orthopaedic, neurological, and functional tests.

 An osteopath will also use their hands and a highly developed sense of touch called palpitation to examine the health of the tissue. These are done to understand better what is causing your problem and to ensure that you are safe to treat.

The osteopath will likely ask you to remove some of your clothing. Tell your osteopath if you are uncomfortable with this. You may also want to bring a towel with you. You can ask a friend or relative to accompany you and be present throughout your treatment.

Your osteopath will also check for signs of serious conditions they cannot treat and may advise you to see your GP or go to the hospital. They should provide you with a letter explaining what they believe to be the problem.

Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

Osteopathy specialises in diagnosing, managing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal and other related disorders.

Your osteopath will explain what they find (their diagnosis) and the potential causes of the issue. Then, they will discuss a suitable treatment plan. They will also explain the benefits and any risks of the treatment they recommend. It is important to understand and agree on what the treatment can achieve and the likely number of sessions needed for a noticeable improvement in how you feel.

Treatment

Treatment often begins during the first consultation. It is hands-on and involves skilled manipulation of the spine and joints, as well as massage of soft tissues.

The specific treatment at Encourage Movement consists of soft tissue techniques, such as stretching, articulation (taking the joints through their ranges of movement), rehabilitation management (both supervised and home programs) and some specialised techniques such as HVLA (manipulation as it’s commonly known), Active Release Technique, IASTM Technique, dry needling, to name but a few.

Your osteopath will explain what they are doing and will always ask your permission to treat you (known as consent). Any technique utilised during treatment will be discussed with you first. The focus will be not just on the area of pain but on overall wellness.

Ask questions anytime if you are unsure what you have been told or have any concerns.

Post-Appointment

Because of the physical nature of the treatment, it is not unusual to sometimes feel sore in the first 24 to 48 hours after treatment. Your osteopath will explain any likely reactions that you could expect. If you have any concerns, it is important to contact the osteopath and ask for their advice. It may require more than one visit before your problem is resolved. The osteopath will review your progress at each subsequent visit and seek your consent to any changes to your treatment plan.

As part of your management, you will be asked to participate actively in your treatment through a prescribed home exercise regime. These exercises will be shown to you during your follow-up sessions, and you are welcome to take photos or record them. 

Conclusion

Osteopaths believe everyone can benefit from a tailored, whole-person approach to health.

An osteopath will take the time to help you stay healthy and mobile, using expert hands-on treatment, exercise, and health advice. They can also support mothers and babies, keep the elderly active and mobile, aid recovery from muscle and joint injuries, or contribute to the management of chronic long-term conditions

Open communication is vital to a successful experience. A highly trained healthcare professional osteopath will take time to understand your individual history and circumstances, examine you, and assess your unique physiology. The successful experience is based on both ways engagement and trust.

Osteopathy is one of the most natural approaches to health. Its treatment encourages the body’s own healing mechanisms, offers advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promotes health and prevents symptoms from recurring.