OSTEOPATHY
INDIVIDUALISED CARE FOR PAIN, INJURY AND MOVEMENT
Osteopathy is a form of healthcare focused on the musculoskeletal system — including the muscles, joints, connective tissues and nervous system — and how these influence the way you move and function.
My approach is individualised rather than formulaic. I take time to understand what is happening, what may be contributing to it, and what you would like to be able to do more comfortably.
This means looking beyond the painful area alone. Your assessment may consider your movement, strength, mobility, previous injuries, work and daily activities, exercise, recovery, sleep and other relevant aspects of your health.
Treatment is then tailored to you and may combine hands-on osteopathic treatment with movement, rehabilitation and practical strategies to help you manage your condition between appointments.
WHAT CAN I SEE AN OSTEOPATH FOR?
People come to see me with a wide range of musculoskeletal problems — from a new injury or sudden episode of pain to conditions that have been present for months or years.
These commonly include:
Back and pelvic pain
Lower back pain, stiffness, recurrent back problems, sacroiliac and pelvic pain, and pain associated with prolonged sitting, work or activity.
Neck, shoulder and upper back pain
Neck stiffness, shoulder pain, muscular tension, restricted movement and problems involving the upper back, ribs and shoulder girdle.
Hip, knee and lower-limb problems
Hip and groin pain, knee problems, ankle and foot pain, and changes in movement following injury or surgery.
Headaches and jaw pain
Musculoskeletal factors associated with some headaches, neck-related headaches and jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.
Sports and exercise-related injuries
Muscle and tendon injuries, joint problems, overuse injuries and difficulties returning comfortably to sport, training or other physical activity.
Persistent or recurring pain
Pain is not always explained by one injured structure. When symptoms have persisted for some time, there can be multiple contributing factors. Assessment can therefore involve looking at movement, tissue sensitivity, previous injury, strength and capacity, lifestyle demands and the way the nervous system responds to pain.
Postural and work-related problems
Pain or stiffness associated with prolonged sitting, computer work, repetitive tasks, manual work or other sustained physical demands.
Recovery following injury or surgery
Where appropriate, osteopathic care and rehabilitation can form part of a broader recovery plan alongside your GP, specialist, physiotherapist or other treating practitioners.
You do not need to know exactly what is causing your symptoms before making an appointment. Working that out is part of the assessment process.
WHAT HAPPENS AT YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT?
Your first consultation begins with a detailed discussion about what has brought you in.
I will ask about your current symptoms, how they started, what makes them better or worse, previous injuries and relevant medical history. Just as importantly, I want to understand how the problem is affecting you — whether that means difficulty sleeping, working, exercising, surfing, looking after children or simply moving through everyday life comfortably.
Assessment
Depending on your presentation, I may assess things such as:
-
movement and range of motion
-
joint and spinal mobility
-
muscle and soft-tissue function
-
strength and movement control
-
neurological function
-
posture and movement patterns
-
relevant orthopaedic or clinical tests.
Assessment is not limited to the exact location of your pain when another area may be relevant to how you are moving or loading your body.
If you have previous imaging, specialist reports or other relevant medical information, you are welcome to bring these with you.
Treatment
If osteopathic treatment is appropriate, treatment will usually begin at the first appointment.
This may include a combination of soft-tissue techniques, joint mobilisation, stretching, muscle energy techniques and other osteopathic manual techniques selected according to your presentation, preferences and clinical needs.
Treatment should always make sense in the context of your assessment. I will explain what I am proposing and why, and you can ask questions or decline any part of the examination or treatment at any time.
MORE THAN HANDS-ON TREATMENT
Hands-on treatment can be useful, but I don't see it as the whole picture.
My background spans osteopathy, rehabilitation and Clinical Pilates, with many years of experience teaching movement. This allows me to integrate manual treatment with rehabilitation where that is likely to be helpful.
Depending on your needs, this might involve working on mobility, strength, coordination, breathing mechanics, movement confidence or gradually rebuilding your capacity for the things that matter to you.
For some people, treatment may initially be the main focus. For others, exercise and progressive rehabilitation become increasingly important. Often it is a combination of the two.
The aim is not to make you dependent on treatment. It is to help you understand your body, improve function and give you useful strategies for managing your health over the longer term.
PREGNANCY, POSTNATAL CARE, BABIES & CHILDREN
Osteopathic care can be adapted for all stages of life, from infancy through to pregnancy and the postnatal period.
During pregnancy, treatment may help manage musculoskeletal discomfort associated with the physical changes and increased demands on the body, including back, pelvic, hip, rib, neck and shoulder pain.
Postnatal care can support recovery as the body adapts following pregnancy and birth, as well as the new physical demands of feeding, carrying and caring for a baby. Treatment can also be combined with movement and rehabilitation when returning to exercise.
I also provide gentle, age-appropriate osteopathic assessment and treatment for babies and children. Care is tailored to the individual child, with parents involved throughout and referral for medical assessment where appropriate.
A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO CARE
Sometimes osteopathy is all that is required. At other times, the best care involves more than one practitioner.
I am comfortable working collaboratively with GPs, medical specialists and other allied health practitioners where appropriate. If your presentation suggests that further investigation or another type of care is needed, I will discuss this with you.
Similarly, if I don't think osteopathic treatment is appropriate for your presentation, I will tell you.
Good healthcare includes knowing when to treat, when to investigate further and when another practitioner may be better placed to help.
OSTEOPATHY + CLINICAL PILATES
For clients who would benefit from more structured rehabilitation, osteopathic care can also be combined with individual Clinical Pilates.
This can be particularly useful when moving from pain management into rebuilding strength, mobility, balance and confidence, or when returning to normal activity following injury.
Because I provide both services, assessment, hands-on treatment and rehabilitation can form part of one coordinated plan rather than existing as completely separate approaches.
DO I NEED A REFERRAL?
You can make an appointment with an osteopath directly without a GP referral.
There are some circumstances in which a referral or specific paperwork may be required for healthcare arrangements such as Chronic Disease Management Plans.
If you are unsure whether osteopathy is appropriate for your particular situation, please get in touch.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Wear something comfortable that allows you to move easily.
Depending on the area being assessed, it can sometimes be useful to see how the relevant joints and surrounding areas move. Your comfort and consent are important throughout the examination and treatment, and you can let me know at any stage if you would prefer an assessment or technique to be modified.
NEW CLIENTS
You are welcome to book whether you have a recent injury, a longstanding problem or simply aren't sure why something keeps hurting.
You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis.
The first step is to take a thorough history, assess what is happening and work out whether osteopathic care is appropriate for you.
From there, we can develop a plan based on your individual presentation, goals and preferences.