During

Case History

We will ask you about your problem and how you think it started, as well as information regarding your past medical history and general health. Although some questions may seem unnecessary, all this information is important and helps us to make a diagnosis and develop a suitable treatment plan for you. All information you give us is treated in confidence and we will not discuss your case with anyone else without your consent.

Examination

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, 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 sufficiently whilst respecting your wishes.

We will examine your standing posture and take you through some gentle movements and special tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. We may also do other tests such as checking your reflexes and blood pressure. 

Diagnosis

We will discuss our findings with you and explain your diagnosis and treatment plan to you. We will answer your four most pressing questions:

1. What is the problem?
2. How can we help you?
3. How long will it take?
4. How much will it cost?

Usually you will be treated on your first visit but very occasionally treatment is not appropriate. In this case we would advise you on what to do next, such as returning to your GP for further tests or investigations.

Treatment

Every patient is different and treatment will vary accordingly. However treatment will often involve specific massage of soft tissues, (e.g. muscles, tendons & ligaments) gentle mobilisation of joints and high velocity thrust techniques to improve movement and promote healing. We may also use gentle cranial osteopathic techniques or medical acupuncture (with your consent).

We are working together with you and it is important you tell us if you find any treatment technique uncomfortable or painful; we have a broad range of techniques and will adapt our treatment to suit you.

After

We always suggest that you take it easy for a day or so after treatment to allow the body to recover. You may experience some stiffness and/or feel a bit tender following treatment. This is completely normal, but if you are concerned about anything, please call us.

As part of your personalised plan, we will advise you on your role in getting better. This may include exercises, advice on altering the way you do certain things, diet, home care (e.g. ice-packs) and the modification of activities as necessary in order to increase the effectiveness of treatment and to help stop your problem coming back.

Subsequent treatment

How many treatments you will need, and at what intervals, will be determined by what we find on examination and what you would like to achieve with treatment and also how quickly your body responds to treatment. This is an ongoing conversation as we work through your bespoke plan.

On your first visit we will advise you on the approximate number of treatments you will require. Obviously this will depend on factors such as your age, general health, work and lifestyle as well as the nature of your condition and how long you have had the symptoms. When we see you for your second appointment, we will have a much better idea of how your body reacts to treatment and we will regularly review your prognosis at future appointments.

If you are conscientious at following the after-care advice we give you, you will get increased benefit from treatment and probably need fewer sessions.

Many patients start to feel some benefit almost straight away, but if you have had your symptoms for a long time it may take a few treatments before you start to notice a difference. In some cases where the problems being addressed cannot be expected to resolve fully (e.g. old injuries and degenerative changes), we may recommend that you have treatment at regular intervals on a longer-term basis to help you reduce your symptoms and continue to do the activities you enjoy.

At Wimborne Osteopathic Clinic, the average number of treatments for our patients is just under four.