What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is an established system of diagnosis and hands on treatment in which a caring approach to the patient and attention to individual needs are of primary importance. In particular, it is concerned with the inter-relationship between the structure of the body – its muscles, ligaments and joints – and the manner in which the body functions. Osteopathy is a means of detecting and treating damaged parts of the body including those affecting the neuro-musculoskeletal systems.
Who is my Osteopath?
Sharon is a Registered Osteopath which is one of the 14 Allied Health Professionals in the UK. As Primary Healthcare Professionals osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). She has a BSc in Osteopathic Medicine obtained from Surrey Institute of Osteopathy (now known as Nescot) and is a member of the Institute of Osteopathy. She qualified in 2014 and has worked in North Devon since then at Combe Martin Osteopathy, the Tarka Clinic in Barnstaple and at Body Aware Pilates in Ilfracombe.
What should I expect?
Sharon will do her best to make you feel at ease during your first consultation and any subsequent appointments and tell you what is happening throughout. You should feel free to ask questions at any point during the consultation. It is quite acceptable to bring a friend or relative along to the consultation if you prefer to do so. Someone with parental responsibility should be present with a patient who is 16 years or younger.
On your first visit, and before examination begins, Sharon will discuss and record your current and past medical history in detail. It is essential that you inform her about any health condition or medication.
As the consultation progresses, you will then normally be asked to remove some of your clothing so that a series of observations and biomechanical assessments can be made to attempt to identify points of weakness or excessive strain throughout the body. If you are not happy to undress to your underwear then please bring or wear clothing that help us examine and treat the affected area (i.e. loose/stretchy shorts, leggings, vest top, etc). If you are at all uncomfortable with this please let us know – we can probably work around it.
How long will my appointment be ? What’s included?
The time allocated for an appointment is 40 minutes. This includes the time to:
- listen to the patient and obtain the information needed to decide what treatment is safe and appropriate
- provide the patient with sufficient information and explanations to allow them (or their parent) to give informed consent to treatment
- perform a physical examination
- provide treatment where appropriate
- provide advice which may include exercise prescription
Occasionally the appointment may be shorter if treatment is not deemed safe or appropriate or if a shorter treatment is all that is needed to achieve the best results. If the case history taking is complex or the advice and exercise part is extensive then there may be less time for hands-on treatment. All of this will be planned with a view to providing you with the best and safest possible care. Time is allocated after your 40 minute appointment for finalising notes and writing any referrals or letters that might be required. There is no extra charge for that time.
Is osteopathy safe?
Osteopathy is generally very safe. Osteopaths undergo a long period of training and are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Training prepares osteopaths to examine and screen for potential difficulties that indicate where certain techniques should not be used, thereby avoiding patients being exposed to unnecessary risk. They are also trained to identify ‘red flags’ that suggest serious conditions that need investigation before proceeding.
How much am I in control of what happens?
Fully. Consent is an ongoing process and is an absolute priority. This means your osteopath must explain and be assured that the patient understands and agrees to everything that happens during the appointment including the conversations held, examination and treatment techniques. If you are not sure about anything, you should ask; if you do not want your Sharon to use a particular technique then you can and should tell her.
Who can give consent?
The patient must be in a legal position to give consent. Definitions can get quite complicated but overall it means they must be able to:
- understand what is said to them
- retain the information
- weigh it up and make a decision
This implies certain levels of cognitive and language ability as well as a level of maturity. A translator must be present if language is an issue and someone with parental responsibility must be present for anyone age 16 or under to give consent (although there are some cases where 13 to 16 years olds are considered competent to give consent without a parent present).
What responses can I expect to osteopathic treatment?
Many patients consult osteopaths looking for relief from painful symptoms; some patients experience some initial aching for 24 to 48 hours after treatment but then start to gain relief from their symptoms. Research has been undertaken to look at common responses to manual therapy treatment and this has shown that local discomfort, tiredness, headache or stiffness can occur after treatment in approximately 10-20% patients.
Referrals, investigations and non-treatment
In certain circumstances, further investigations may be suggested which could include an x-ray or blood test. This will allow a full diagnosis of the problem to be made and will enable the osteopath to tailor a treatment plan to your needs. If further medical treatment or investigation is needed the osteopath may contact your doctor, with your permission. In some rare cases, after a thorough consultation your osteopath may advise that osteopathic treatment is not appropriate or should be postponed. In this situation the consultation along with advice and/or referrals is the correct and only service that can be provided. The consultation fee still applies and will not be refunded.
If you have any questions about the above or any aspect of your treatment please do not hesitate to call Sharon on 07828 17 400 or on 01271 883 563, or email her on sharon.beckwith@yahoo.co.uk.