Your Guide to Prime Health Osteopathy: FAQ Edition

Wear loose, comfortable clothing/gym wear. It is easier for your Osteopath to assess and treat you if you can disrobe down to your underwear. We understand, however, that not all patients are comfortable with this, so please let your Osteopath know if you would prefer clothing left on. Modesty, ease & comfort is a priority. All patients will be draped with a towel. 

Osteopaths focus on the neuro-musculoskeletal system, which comprises of bones, muscles, nerves and other tissues supporting and controlling the human body. They provide musculoskeletal and nervous system assessments, manual therapy, clinical exercise programs, movement, postural, positioning advice and ergonomic assessments. They may also offer therapeutic needling techniques, such as dry needling or trigger point therapy. Osteopaths may also provide ongoing support and educational advice about lifestyle, stress management, diet or other factors that may influence a person’s pain, injury or movement.

• Soft tissue massage
• Joint mobilisation and articulation
• Muscle energy stretching techniques (MET)
• Counter strain
• Myofascial release
• Joint and spinal manipulation and adjustments
• Balance ligamentus tension techniques
• Kinesiotaping 

• Identify and remove any of the underlying cause of pain 
• Reduce stiffness and pain in joints and muscles 
• Remedy bad posture or spinal disc injury 
• Provide non-invasive relief of chronic pain 
• Provide Increased range of motion in joints 
• Help the body to adapt during pregnancy 
• Remove headaches and migraines 
• Increase circulation 

 Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors are all allied health practitioners that use manual therapy to diagnose and treat many conditions and symptoms. They are registered under the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Association (AHPRA), are tertiary educated and complete ongoing continuing professional development (CPD). In many ways, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors are very different; however, they also do have their similarities.

Physiotherapy aims to improve the function and movement of their patients. Physiotherapists use hands-on techniques and exercise prescription to help a patient with their injuries. Physiotherapists work in various medical settings, including hospitals where they may work with spinal injury, post-surgery, stroke patients or a patient with cardiac problems, to name a few.

Chiropractors believe that illness originates from the nervous system. Therefore their treatment is focused on the spine using manual adjustment and/or spinal manipulation (cracking) aimed at achieving health of the nervous system. 

Osteopaths will look at the body as a whole to diagnose the root cause of your pain by the way it moves, the pain or discomfort you feel, any injuries or soreness you may have, and your health and lifestyle to determine its impact on you, your pain and your health. Osteopaths like to take time to listen to you and understand your concerns and what matters to you.

Osteopathic treatment is very individualised and holistic. Often, osteopaths will treat you with a range of techniques, including manual therapy, massage, stretching, mobilisation, manipulation, dry needling and exercise prescription. Osteopathy is a very hands-on profession.

By focusing on the whole person, an osteopath may treat many parts of your body, not just the part that feels sore. For example, if you go to an osteopath with a sore back, your osteo will often treat the neck, shoulders, back and legs because everything is connected, and all of these areas can influence and impact your back pain.

Osteos will also talk to you about activities that may increase your pain, lifestyle, and feelings. They will consider all these factors to develop a treatment plan for you and help you understand your role in improving.

Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors address similar presentations and injuries; the main difference between these health professions is how the treatment and management are approached. When choosing between Osteopathy, Physiotherapy or Chiropractic for treatment for your presentation, it can be a very personal choice and can be dependent on what works for you.

Dry needling is a treatment technique that uses thin filament-type needles to release tight muscles to reduce muscle pain and dysfunction. 

The needle is inserted directly into the muscle, tendon or ligament. The needles may be thrust up and down and twisted to gain a better response from the targeted tissue, sometimes responding with a sudden movement, which may feel like a “twitch”. When this happens, you can feel a softening of the muscle. This twitch aims to alleviate the tension within the tissue. 

It uses gentle, controlled suction to boost circulation in your muscle.

You may feel like your skin is pulled up slightly like a vacuum. Opening up your muscle tissue “cleaning up” the area. 

This does a few things:

• Encourage more blood and fluids to circulate. 
• Help to treat scar tissue. 
• Get your lymphatic system moving. 
• Improve skin tone. 
• Break up cellulite. 
• Improve mobility and range of movement. 
• Calm your nervous system. 
• Draw inflammation out of your body. 
• Get rid of waste through your arteries, capillaries, and veins. 

Some people feel immediate relief after treatment. Some patients feel a little tender after treatment. We advise relative rest for 24 hours after treatment to allow the body to ease into its new state, which means no vigorous work straining the body, for example, an intense workout! We also advise drinking water and eating a high-protein meal during the evening to encourage muscle repair and regeneration. Generally, people feel muscle soreness after treatment for a day or two. We'll give you instructions on how to minimise this. Some people don't feel any soreness. Bruising may also occur – this is much less common. Note that, like any treatment, side effects are very individual. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Yes. If you have a policy that includes Osteopathy as one of your extras.