What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a unique system of healthcare which addresses health through the diagnosis and treatment of the body structures including muscles, joints, ligaments and bones.

Osteopathy is both a Science and a Healing Art

Osteopaths are highly trained healthcare professionals with an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology. We understand how the body behaves both in health and in disease.

Key to osteopathic thinking is that the structure and function of the body are intimately related. When the structure of the body is out of balance this can impact on its normal healthy function.

Osteopathic principles recognise that the body works as a whole to maintain a state of dynamic balance. A healthy body is able to adapt to the stresses and strains of daily life and to recover from injury and trauma. When the body struggles to compensate an osteopath will seek the cause of the problem. Gentle osteopathic treatment will support the innate health to restore balance to the body and to bring relief from pain and other symptoms.

Osteopathic Diagnosis and Treatment

Osteopaths are qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues. In addition to conventional diagnosis, we use a refined sense of touch, developed through years of practice, to precisely read the body for normal healthy function or dysfunction in joint mobility, tissue quality and body rhythms. Osteopathic manipulative therapy is gentle and non-invasive. Aims of treatment are to improve blood, nerve and lymphatic flow, reduce pain and inflammation and restore movement.

Osteopathy at Wrington Vale Osteopaths

At Wrington Vale Osteopaths we treat people from all walks of life and of all ages from new-borns to elders.

At your first appointment we will take a thorough case history and carry out a hands-on examination, including any necessary orthopedic or neurological testing, to find which tissues are causing your pain and to diagnose the cause of your problem. We are interested to understand how your unique body pattern, life events and health issues may be contributing to your current symptoms.

Our treatments are individually tailored to suit you and your needs. We use a range of approaches including soft tissue massage, myofascial release, articulation, manipulation, cranial and biodynamic osteopathy. In addition to hands on treatment we may offer some prescribed exercise, or advice on posture, ergonomics or nutrition.

If Osteopathy is not appropriate for your condition or if we feel you need a specialist medical opinion, we will refer you to your GP.

Conditions We Treat

Osteopathic therapeutics focus on resolving any musculoskeletal dysfunction that may be impeding health. Specific conditions which can be helped by osteopathic treatment include:

Arthritic pain
Circulatory problems
Cramp
Digestion problems
Fibromyalgia
Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences
Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic)
Joint pains
Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise
General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
Generalised aches and pains
Lumbago
Migraine prevention
Minor sports injuries
Muscle spasms
Neuralgia
Tension and inability to relax
Rheumatic pain
Sciatica
Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)

Training and Regulation

Osteopathy is a regulated and recognised healthcare profession. The rigorous training to qualify as an osteopath requires 4-5 years full time study including a minimum of 1000 clinical hours with patients. Osteopaths in the UK are registered and regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. They are required to maintain high standards of professional practice and to keep knowledge up to date with a minimum of yearly continuing professional development.

At Wrington Vale Osteopaths all our practitioners are passionate and dedicated to expand and broaden their understanding and skills with regular and on-going study.