Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body, and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.

To an osteopath, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. So osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.

At your first Consultation you will be asked to fill in a registration form.

Your Osteopath will greet you in the waiting room and invite you in to their private treatment room.

There your osteopath will go through a detailed medical history including the current problem as well as any previous injuries, illnesses and operations you may have had. You may think some of the questions are irrelevant to what you have come to see us about. We like to build a big picture of you, your health and your lifestyle. This will help us form a treatment plan but also may give clues as to factors that are creating barriers to your own natural healing. Problems with one area of your body can create changes elsewhere. Also some treatment techniques may be less suitable depending on your history.

If considered appropriate we will then ask you to take off some of your outer clothes. We suggest wearing or bringing comfortable modest clothing such as shorts, or lycra with sports bras or cropped tops that will allow us to examine your spine and posture more easily.

The osteopath will ask you to go through some simple movements and will use their hands to feel your muscles, spine and other joints for tone, tightness and mobility. They will also perform any relevant clinical tests such as reflexes and blood pressure amongst others.

Subsequent consultations will look to expand on the initial consultation. You will be asked how your condition has been in the interim period. Questions will be asked to gather any further information needed as well as any further or repeated clinical tests and examinations. Again, it is likely your osteopath will ask you to take off some of your outer clothing to enable us to better assess and treat your spine, joints and muscles so please wear clothing you feel comfortable in. There is usually more time for treatments in these consultations and often some specific exercises or changes may be suggested.

Our charges are £75 per consultation.

We ask that all payments be made at the time of consultation by card, cash or cheque. Alternatively you can pay online via BACS to

ARB Osteopathy ltd

S/C 402534

Account 62883015

Please ensure you put your name and invoice number as reference

For patients with Private Health Insurance please see the Health Insurance question

We are Recognised Providers for all the major insurance companies and accept all patients who have insurance cover.

Patients will be expected to pay for their appointments at the time of their consultation and can forward the receipt of payment to their Health Insurance Provider for recompense.

Please ensure you ask your osteopath or our reception team at time of your payment if you require a receipt, and ensure we have your correct and current email address.

If you wish to discuss this further please contact our team.

For patients insured by BUPA UK only we are obliged to claim via their online consultation portal. There is a surcharge to cover our administration costs for these patients. Please ensure we have your current Membership Number and Claim number to help us process these claims most efficiently. If you are unsure please provide these to our reception team

We regularly refer our patients to well qualified, good local Pilates and Yoga instructors.

Pilates looks at using exercise to help develop ‘core’ strength and in doing so helps initially strengthen postural muscles and then the prime movement muscle to allow you to carry out whatever physical activity you are trying to achieve. Within this there is often some flexibility work.

Yoga also looks to achieve similar results using various body postures. These postures specifically target various muscles and joints to enable them to be flexible and strong.

Both Pilates and Yoga can compliment our treatments and we can refer you to local providers if you so desire.

Ice treatment

Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries. If you have had a recent injury where swelling is a problem, you should be using ice. Ice packs can help minimize swelling around the injury, reduce bleeding into the tissues, and reduce muscle spasm and pain.

Ice packs are often used after injuries such as ankle sprains. Applying an ice pack for 5-20 minutes and often for the first 48 hours will help minimize swelling. Reducing swelling around an injury will help to control the pain. Ice treatments may also be used for chronic conditions, such as overuse injuries in athletes. In this case, ice the injured area after activity to help control inflammation. Never ice a chronic injury before activity.

You can make ice packs with packs of frozen peas that can go in and out of the freezer or ice cubes in a plastic bag or wet tea towel. Never place ice directly on the skin and keep the pack moving to avoid ice burns. Never treat with ice for more than 30 minutes, and remove the pack immediately if the injury appears bright pink or red.

Don’t use ice packs on the left shoulder if you have a heart condition, and don’t use ice packs around the front or side of the neck.

Heat Treatment

Heat treatments can be used for more chronic conditions. It helps relax and loosen tissues and stimulate blood flow to the area. Use heat treatments for conditions such as overuse injuries before participating in activities.

Do not use heat treatments after activity or after an acute injury. Never use heat where swelling is involved because swelling is caused by bleeding in the tissue, and heat just draws more blood to the area.

Hot water bottles,heat pads, or even a hot, wet towels can be used. Be very careful to use a moderate heat for a limited time to avoid burns. Never leave heating pads or towels on for extended periods of time or while sleeping.

Precautions

Don’t use cold or heat packs:

• over areas of skin that are in poor condition

• over areas of skin with poor sensation to heat or cold

• over areas of the body with known poor circulation

• if you have diabetes

• in the presence of infection

This is a common question from many people and there are quite obviously similarities between the professions. They are all physical/manual therapies and often use techniques that may seem similar. The philosophical basis of the evaluation/treatment and as such what we are trying to achieve is very different. Physiotherapists tend to reduce problems to a single tissue that is injured. Chiropractors reduce problems to spinal segments that are ‘out of line’. Osteopaths look more at the entire structure and therefore function in the body. This allows us to find dysfunction that may result in pain and or injury.

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