What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a holistic system of healthcare that assesses, diagnoses and treats a wide range of health problems. Its main emphasis is to alleviate symptoms arising from problems that can affect the body’s structure and function. Osteopaths believe that the pain and disability that we suffer can be the result of changes to the normal function of the body’s mechanics affecting joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves and connective tissues.

Osteopaths work with the above tissues and structures of the body to relieve muscle tension, improve joint mobility, improve circulation and lymphatic drainage, thereby restoring balance, health and function.

Osteopathy is a natural, manual therapy, which uses a variety of ‘hands-on’ techniques such as soft tissue massage, stretching, joint articulation, manipulative techniques and muscle energy techniques. Alongside treatment, exercises are often prescribed and advice given to encourage the body’s natural self-repairing mechanisms, aiding recovery, promoting health and preventing reoccurrence of symptoms.

Osteopaths are often assumed to mainly treat ‘bad backs’ but are trained to assess and treat people from top to toe and of all ages and types: from new born to elderly, from pregnant women to athletes.