Osteopaths take an integrated approach to your healthcare. The first appointment consists of a case history which involves asking you lots of questions about your past medical history, family history, any medication you may be on etc. You will also be asked about the symptoms you are experiencing at the moment. Information such as when it started, how long you have had it and what makes it worse or better helps the osteopath formulate a diagnosis and subsequently a treatment plan. Some of the questions may seem unrelated to your complaint but just ask the osteopath if you are unsure as to why they are asking a certain question.
The next step is a detailed examination in which the osteopath uses their highly developed sense of touch, called palpation, to identify joints which are not moving correctly and muscle strains in the tissues. Your osteopath will ask you to make certain movements and may perform some clinical tests, such as your reflexes, to ascertain what the problem is.
After the examination, your osteopath will have a working diagnosis and will discuss this with. The osteopath will then treat you and discuss what they are doing as they are doing it. After treatment, they will often reassess you to see how your body has reacted and determine how many further treatment you may need.
Posted in: Osteopathy