Frequently Asked Questions
Please see below a list of frequently asked questions relating to the treatments offered at CH Osteopathy. If you have a question that is not shown below, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What are Osteopaths?
Osteopaths are healthcare professionals who are specifically trained in diagnosing health issues. In the UK, the osteopathic profession is regulated by the General Osteopathic Council and osteopaths are trained to degree level, taking a minimum of four years, including over 1000 hours of contact time with patients at undergraduate level.
What will happen in my first appointment?
At the start of your first osteopathy appointment, we will ask you questions about your medical history and lifestyle, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing. This is very important as it will help us to make an accurate diagnosis and form a treatment plan specific to you.
We will then need to examine the area(s) of your body causing you discomfort. We will be looking for any tightness in the muscles and stiffness in the joints and may need to touch these areas to identify problems but we will explain what we are doing as we go along. If you feel uncomfortable with any part of this, you have the right to ask us to stop at any stage, without prejudicing your future treatment.
After examining you, we will make a diagnosis and discuss a course of treatment with you. If we think your symptoms need further investigation, it may be necessary to refer you to your GP or another appropriate health professional before we carry out any treatment on you.
What does osteopathic treatment involve?
Osteopathic treatment involves a range of gentle hands on techniques that focus on releasing tension, stretching muscles and mobilising joints. We may advise you to do some exercises or stretches that you can do at home and give you some helpful advice designed to help you relieve or manage your pain, keep active and maintain the best of health.
Is treatment painful?
Osteopathic treatment is usually a very gentle process and we will work very hard to make your treatment as painless as possible, but you may experience some discomfort during and after treatment. Following treatment, you may experience some mild soreness in the area of the body that was treated - this will normally resolve within 48 hours. If you experience serious or unusual symptoms after treatment, please contact us straight away for advice.
What happens with my records?
Notes are recorded and stored electronically. These will be treated as confidential in accordance with the standards of practice set out by the General Osteopathic Council and the General Data Protection Regulation.
What should I wear?
As with any healthcare appointment, it may be necessary for us to ask you to remove some clothing. This is so that we can see and touch the areas of the body causing you concern. We want you to feel at ease, therefore if you feel uncomfortable undressing to your underwear, you are more than welcome to wear shorts and a t-shirt/sports bra etc.
Can I bring someone with me?
It is absolutely fine to bring someone with you to your appointment.