So, you’ve been experiencing intense pain in your neck and back, and it’s led you to book an appointment with your local osteopath. You’re feeling anxious and apprehensive, as you don’t really know what to expect at your first osteopath appointment. But there’s no need to worry! In this blog, I will explain the different stages of an osteopathy treatment to give you a clearer picture of what awaits you on your first visit. With that in mind, please read on to make sure you are prepared for your osteopathy appointment, and to give yourself full peace of mind.
Before Your First Osteopathy Treatment
Prior to booking your first appointment with an osteopath, you should make sure that they are registered with the General Osteopathic Council, which is the regulatory body for osteopathy. This can be easily done by checking the General Osteopathic Council’s online register or by calling them directly on 020 7357 6655.
Additionally, before you rush in and book an appointment with the first osteopath you come across, you should carry out some research into the most suitable osteopath in your area. On request, registered osteopaths should be able to provide you with information about their qualifications, their practice and the treatments that they offer, plus anything else you want to know before your first visit.
So, you’ve done your research and you’ve booked your appointment. Now, it’s time for your first osteopathy treatment. At my practice, I approach first appointments with a three-stage process, which starts with a consultation and ends with a diagnosis and treatment.
Consultation
Generally speaking, your first visit to my osteopathic practice will last about an hour. The first 15-20 minutes of this hour will be used to help me, and you, get a better understanding of your problems, your medical history and your day-to-day lifestyle. In this consultation process, we will also discuss what you hope to achieve from osteopathy and any questions that you may have.
It’s important to remember that osteopathy is a patient-centred system of healthcare, which means that you should listen, ask questions and be completely open about the problems you are facing.
Examination
After a brief consultation, I will ask you to remove some of your clothing so that I can carry out a physical examination. If you are not comfortable with this, please do not hesitate to let me know. As part of this examination, I will ask you to make simple movements and stretches to study your posture and mobility. In some cases, I will also carry out further assessments that can involve testing reflexes and reactions, and orthopaedic testing.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The final stage of the treatment will be a diagnosis, which essentially involves an in-depth discussion about your problems and allows you to raise any concerns you may have. After the diagnosis has been explained and finalised, you will be presented with a treatment plan, which will explain the types of treatments that are suitable for you, the benefits of them and the risks that they could involve.
Osteopathy is a hands-on treatment, which involves a series of massaging and manipulation techniques. Therefore, it’s crucial that you are comfortable with the treatments that are being offered, and raise your questions and concerns if you aren’t. I may also provide advice on lifestyle changes, exercises and stretches that might aid your recovery.
If I feel that your problem is beyond my level of expertise, I will refer your case to an appropriate specialist.
Book Your First Osteopathy Appointment
This blog should have hopefully given you a better idea of how to find a suitable practitioner and the different stages of an osteopathy treatment. However, if you’re still unsure of what osteopathy involves, please contact me on 07542 666 022.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling more at ease and open to the idea of osteopathy, you can book an appointment on my website.
