My Osteopathy
I am always aware of two experts in the room whilst I consult with a patient. I am the expert on the body and the patient is the expert on himself or herself. I try to be acutely aware of a patient’s thoughts and feelings and try to give them what they think they want and what I think they need.
Osteopathy is about helping the body to work as well as it can. People are always asking how it differs from physiotherapy and chiropractic. In some ways it’s really not what you do but the way that you do it. However, I do think that Osteopathy is the best of all manual therapies. The four-year, full-time training is pretty full-on and extensive. It allows the practitioner to take a very open and broad view of the patient and from this perspective to focus in until they find the root of the problem.
For the body to function at its optimum, with ease and fluidity, to perform all you require of it, it must have coherent and coordinated movement and function of all its tissues and joints. For a variety of reasons the body can get out of kilter and barriers to the optimal functioning of the body can arise.
Every person is unique, as is their problem. I feel somewhere between an anthropologist and an archiologist when treating someone It seems like discovering a new tribe and culture when I treat a new patient, having to listen to the body and then find how to talk its language. Treatment is akin to a negotiation with the body to get it back on track. And once there you have to carefully uncover the history of the persons body, layer by layer.
Contrary to popular belief, osteopathy isn't just for backs. In fact almost any physical problem can be treated; hips, knees, feet, shoulders, elbows, hands, neck, headaches, migraines, stress, sleep problem, sinuses and more. Osteopathy is the best treatment for most physical problems. You don't have to be in pain to benefit. It increases general well being and achieves better balance in the body.
A full case history will be taken followed by clinical and structural examination in order to diagnose the problem and rule out any pathologies. Your sessions will be approximately 45 minutes. I mostly treat people in their underwear (I have seen everything from gold thongs to fabulous granny knickers! I am also more than happy to treat through an anorak if you’d prefer.)
I use all sorts of techniques to treat people. Structural, Cranial, Functional, Visceral etc. Look there are a lot of techniques! The majority of what I do is Osteopathic – making you work better! Old, young, green, pink, blue, you will all enrich my life in different ways, so do come along and see me if you think I might be able to help you.