First Time? What To Expect.

The first time doing anything can be quite daunting, even more so when it concerns your health. Here is a breakdown of what to expect during your first encounter with an osteopath. Whilst we have tried to cover all aspect, if you do have any further questions, feel free to call or email with any questions!

First and foremost the osteopath will take the time to understand their patient, and their unique combination of symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. This helps to make an accurate diagnosis of the causes of the pain or lack of function, rather than just addressing the site of the condition. From there, a treatment plan will be formulated on an individual basis in order to achieve the best outcome.

The first consultation will last roughly 1 hour, and will include questions regarding symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and general health. Following this, a physical examination is performed, often involving the osteopath touching the areas of the body where you are experiencing pain, along with asking you to go through various movements. It may be necessary to remove some items of clothing in order to see and touch the areas of pain. If you are uncomfortable undressing to your underwear, then you may bring a pair of loose fitting shorts and t-shirt/vest.
 
The osteopath will then make a diagnosis and discuss a course of treatment with you. This may involve a combination of visiting them a few times for manual therapy, some home exercises, or some lifestyle changes. The manual therapy aspect is intended to be as painless as possible, however, you may experience some discomfort during and after treatment. The osteopath will warn you if they think the technique may cause some discomfort, and will stop if you tell them you are feeling too much pain. 

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