This really is the most frequently asked question!

Osteopathy, chiropractic and physiotherapy are all regulated health professions and practitioners of all three disciplines train to degree level and must maintain their clinical skills and professional standards. They are all manual therapies but are based on different beliefs and principles.

One of the principles of osteopathy is that the body seeks to heal itself and an osteopath will work with you to remove any obstacles to healing and, in this way, to restore optimal function. For more details about what osteopathy involves, see the osteopathy section.

Generally speaking, osteopathic treatment probably involves more work on the soft tissues and fewer thrust techniques than chiropractic. Physiotherapy tends to be more exercise led, with less hands on treatment. Physiotherapists also use more electrotherapy equipment (TENS, ultrasound etc) and the majority of physiotherapy is within the NHS.

However, I believe there are many areas of overlap and some patients find the approaches similar. Practitioners of all three disciplines vary in their approaches and post qualification training. If you have any questions or queries, then please contact us.  

So who should I see?

That really is down to your personal preference. Rather than worrying about the differences between practitioners, look for a therapist who you think will suit you. The aim of treatment will be the same, i.e. to get you better, but the style of treatment may be different. However, this can also be true between individuals within the same profession. You need to feel relaxed and trust your therapist. If you don’t, then you may not respond as well, or as quickly, as you otherwise would.

But most importantly of all, if you have a problem…do something about it now! It is better that you see an osteopath, a physiotherapist, a chiropractor or your GP than see no one at all!

The National Council for Osteopathic Research collates relevant research and information for patients and prospective patients. You can also find further information on the General Osteopathic Council the Institute of Osteopathy websites.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognises the benefits of osteopathy (as a manual therapy) as part of a treatment package in its guidance for the treatment of low back pain and sciatica in over 16s. The NICE guidelines for the treatment of osteoarthritis recommend the use of manual therapy and exercise and the guidelines for headaches recommend the use of acupuncture for the prevention of tension type headaches.

Yes. Osteopaths undergo rigorous clinical training. We are primary healthcare practitioners and your safety is our primary concern. In common with medical practitioners and dentists, all osteopaths are regulated by our own professional body, the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). To check if your osteopath is registered you can search the register on the GOsC’s website.

Rona and Katherine are both Registered Osteopaths. Students of osteopathy follow a four or five year degree course, during which they study anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, nutrition and biomechanics. Training includes a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.

We are trained to recognise any concerning symptoms (so called “red flags”) and will refer you back to your GP, or another healthcare professional, if we believe further investigations are indicated. The General Osteopathic Council sets the standards of osteopathic education and requires qualified osteopaths to update their training throughout their working lives, a process known as continuing professional development (CPD).

You will be asked to undress to your underwear so you can be examined. As osteopaths we are not just interested in the area giving you symptoms; we look for the root cause of your problem. This may involve examining areas of your body which are not giving you symptoms. Please wear appropriate underwear or shorts so that you are comfortable. We appreciate that you may be embarrassed about undressing – please don’t be.

You can bring a friend or relative with you if that helps you to feel more at ease. Once we have performed our examination and you are lying on the treatment table, we can cover you with a blanket. If you are concerned about undressing, please discuss this with us and we will work with you to ensure that we are able to examine and treat you whilst respecting your wishes.

There are some deep tissue massage techniques that can be quite uncomfortable, but the majority of the treatment shouldn’t hurt. We always check that any technique is within your tolerated levels and your osteopath will ask you to let her know if a technique is too uncomfortable for you.

There is a difference between “good pain” and “bad pain” and you can often tell the difference. “Good pain” is where you can feel like the technique is working into something tight and it feels like it is doing something good. Patients actually find this reassuring because they can tell we have identified the area causing their symptoms and, even though there is discomfort, they feel that the area needs to be worked on. “Bad pain” just feels wrong – and you shouldn’t experience any bad pain during treatment.

If anything in the treatment is too uncomfortable for you, then please tell us. If you are uncomfortable for any reason, then you will not be able to relax and any technique, no matter how useful, will not have the desired effect. If you are comfortable and relaxed, you will get better  more quickly.

You may feel some soreness or stiffness for 24-48 hours after treatment. We compare this to the aching you can get after doing a new activity and using muscles you never knew existed.

We aim to see new patients within 48 hours and do our best to see you on the same day if you need to see us urgently.

If you need an appointment at the beginning or end of the day, or an appointment with a specific practitioner, then you may need to wait a little longer, but we will always do our best to accommodate your wishes as quickly as possible.

If you require a same day appointment, it is helpful if you can ring us on 01202 888439 as early as possible so we can try to fit you into a cancellation slot or reschedule other commitments.

You do not need to see your doctor before seeing an osteopath. If further investigations are required we may write to your GP, but only with your consent.

Usually yes. We ask that you pay us directly and then claim the cost back from your insurers. Before coming to see us, you will need to check your private medical insurance policy to check whether:

• osteopathy is included
• you have an excess
• you need to be referred by your GP.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any BUPA or AXA/PPP patients.

Osteopath can be broken down into “osteo” and “path” (from Greek); osteo means bone and path means disease. An osteopath is someone who practises osteopathy which can be defined, in general terms, as a therapy which works on problems of the musculoskeletal system.

Many people think that we just work on bones and only treat backs and necks but we can (and do!) treat any joint or muscle in the body including necks, knees, shoulders, ankles and feet. We can also work on the viscera (the organs such as the digestive system, the liver or the lungs).

The term “osteopath” is a legally protected term and you can only call yourself an osteopath once you are registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).

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