What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathic medicine is a recognized system of treatment in the manual medicine field. It recognizes the important link between the body’s structure and the way it functions. Osteopaths use hands on techniques to treat joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissues and organ systems in a holistic manner that not only treats the site of your pain, but the original cause of your injury.
What Do Osteopaths treat?
Osteopaths treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries from spinal to joint injuries, as well as peripheral neuropathies/plexopathies e.g. sciatica, carpel tunnel etc., and headaches and sports injuries.
How effective is Osteopathic treatment?
According to a 2017 patient reported outcome study conducted by the British National Osteopathic Research committee, 89% of patients reported an improvement in their symptoms one week after osteopathic treatment and 93% reported improvement in symptoms at 6 week post treatment.
What will my consultation involve?
Over the 1 hour consultation you will be asked a series of questions regarding your pain or injury and your past medical history. After the practitioner completes the paper work you will be examined, which includes a postural assessment and movement assessment of the affected areas. When the practitioner reaches a calculated diagnosis you will receive a treatment tailored to resolve the cause of your problem.
Do I need to bring anything to my consultation or treatments?
As Osteopathy is a hands on approach you will be required to expose the area or areas of injury for examination and treatment. You are advised to bring shorts and a T-shirt.
How will I feel after treatment?
Some patients experience muscle soreness, aching and headache post treatment. In a study of osteopathy patients, 10-20% patients reported an increase in pain or symptoms, however, 42% of those went on to make clinically significant improvements compared to base line. Most muscle soreness, aching and headache post treatment resolved within 24 hours.
Licciardone, J., S. Stoll, et al. (2003). “Osteopathic manipulative treatment for chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. ”Spine 28(13): 1355-62 For a detailed report on risks associated with Osteopathic treatment follow this link
Is Osteopathy covered under my health insurance?
All of the major health insurance companies including VHI, Aviva, Laya Healthcare, GloHealth and St. Paul’s Garda Medical Aid cover Osteopathy. You will need to call your insurer for exact details.