Written by Georgie Nesbitt
Myths about Osteopathy
1: “I’ve been told it will make my pain worse…”
This is one of the most common myths about Osteopathy which is simply not true. There are numerous people out there who avoid Osteopathy in the fear of making their pain worse and, although we aim to ease your pain through treatment it is inevitable that you may feel some soreness or aching after your appointment. This is simply because we are moving your body in ways they have not been moved before and it will take some time for your body to adjust to these alien movements. Common symptoms reported by our patients following their treatment are an increase in tiredness and soreness. Thankfully, these symptoms vanish within 24-48 hours after visiting the clinic and our patients often wake up feeling miles better than when they came in. Here are some tips and tricks for after-treatment care:
- Drink plenty of water!
- Keep moving!
- Get plenty of sleep!
- Apply hot or cold treatment to the sore areas
2: “It’s only cracking peoples backs right?”
Manipulation is ONE of the many forms of treatment our Osteopaths use to help ease your pain. This form of treatment can occur most places in your body – not just the back. During osteopathic manipulation, you may hear or feel a ‘cracking’ or ‘popping’ noise coming from your body. This noise is the sound of air bubbles escaping from the facet joints (so there is nothing to be frightened of!). Some people really enjoy this form of treatment; however, others dislike the audible ‘pop’ or ‘click’. In this circumstance your osteopath will use other forms of practice to ease your pain such as; muscle stretching, joint mobilisation, soft tissue massage along with many more!
3: “Once I start going to the clinic, I have to keep going back weekly”.
This statement is only true in a few cases. Everybody has different needs and different treatment plans when it comes to osteopathy and so there is no written rule on how frequently you should come back. Generally during the first few stages of treatment, our osteopaths would recommend seeing them either weekly or fortnightly, then as things progress you can see them less frequently. Lots of our recovered Patients generally see us every few months to ensure things are still on track and they have not slipped back into their old ways! So, it really depends on your bodies needs and how quick you wish your recovery time to be as to whether you attend the clinic on a weekly basis. But, after the first consultation your osteopath will recommend the frequency you come into the clinic. You will also receive a personalised exercise and stretching programme which you are recommended to complete every day between appointment dates to assure a healthy and happy body!
4: “It’s too expensive!”
In comparison to seeing your GP, osteopathy will undeniably seem expensive. But this is because seeing your GP is completely free – this is of course amazing in most circumstances when people are receiving the care they need. However, there are extensive waiting lists that follow with free health care which results in long periods of time waiting before you can organise appointments and even longer waiting periods before receiving the treatments and information you require.
This is where Solihull Osteopathic Practice can step in! We can arrange appointments over the phone or virtually to see you within a few days or a few weeks (depending on the Osteopath).
Here at Solihull Osteopathic Practice Initial Consultations, lasting an hour long, range from £56-£65 (depending on the Osteopath) and follow up appointments, lasting half an hour, cost between £49-£55. In these we take full case history, examination, and testing, explained diagnosis, treatment and personalised at-home stretching and exercise programmes.
Most private health insurers in the UK cover Osteopathic treatment so ensure to consult them if you are wanting to book an appt. with cover. (You may need a referral from your GP before claiming your treatments).
5: “Osteopathy is a new form of practice and has little evidence to show it helps”.
Osteopathy is recognised by NHS England as an allied health profession. Contrary to what some people believe, osteopathy is not a ‘new form of practice’. Osteopathy dates back to 1874 when it was founded by Dr Andrew Still and it has been progressing ever since. Therefore, having hundreds of years of evidence to support its practice.
Many people also believe that Osteopaths are not registered health professionals, despite being recognised by the NHS. To become a registered osteopath, one must train at degree level attending either a Bachelor’s or Masters of Science. Courses typically last four to five years and are a combination of academic, research and over 1,000 hours of hands-on patient-facing clinical training.
Booking an Osteopath Appointment
At Solihull Osteopathic Practice, we pride ourselves on offering quality and professional support to help everyone who comes to us achieve optimal health. Our practice operates in a safe and clean environment, offering osteopathy techniques and a holistic approach to wellbeing, to deliver the best results we possibly can for you.
If you are looking for pain relief or other osteopathic services, you can book your first appointment with our team today by calling 0121 705 4499.
Written by Georgie Nesbitt