What happens when you visit an Osteopath?
Helping you understand your first visit, so you can feel informed, reassured and ready for treatment.
This short video from the General Osteopathic Council explains what happens when you visit an osteopath, what treatment is likely to cost and how to find a registered osteopath near you.
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to what you can expect at your appointment at Kibworth Osteopaths & Pilates.
Kibworth Osteopaths & Pilates is based in Tur Langton, within easy reach of nearby villages and towns including Market Harborough, Kibworth, Fleckney, Foxton, Great Bowden, Desborough, Corby, Kettering, Oadby, Wigston, Uppingham and Oakham.
We offer gentle, tailored osteopathic care for people of all ages, welcoming patients from across the local area who want calm, kind, professional support close to home.
How it works
When you come to Kibworth Osteopaths & Pilates for the first time, your initial consultation and treatment will usually last around an hour, with most follow-up appointments taking about 30 minutes.
In that time we’ll take a detailed history, examine the area that’s troubling you, explain what we’ve found, agree a treatment plan together and start gentle, hands-on treatment with simple self-help advice.
Case History
A case history is taken about your symptoms so that the Osteopath has a complete understanding of what has happened, why, and when.
Then a full medical history about your general medical is taken so that you are kept safe throughout. This also helps the Osteopath understand you as a whole person, not just the symptomatic part of you.
Physical Examination
An examination of the area that is causing problems is needed so wearing gym clothing is ideal.
Osteopaths are trained to examine areas of the body using a highly developed sense of touch to identify the body's points of weakness or excessive strain.
Explanation
It will then be explained to you what the injury is, why it has happened, and a treatment plan will be discussed. Treatment plans usually consist of short, medium and long term goals, and these are unique to each patient.
Informed patient consent is very important to me, and this is an on-going process. No treatment will ever be given without a through explanation of what can be done and how - i.e. the techniques that would be most safe and effective for you.
Treatment
During the initial appointment, treatment is usually provided using a combination of soft-tissue release work for tight muscles, tendons or ligaments, specific joint mobilisation techniques and much more.
Advice on self-help is provided to help keep the recovery process active - e.g. stretches, ice or heat, ergonomic advice.
Any subsequent treatments are then 30 minutes, unless an injury is complex or there are multiple injury sites, then more time may be required.
Self-help advice is regularly updated to keep the recovery process moving forward as injury moves towards total recovery. Advice is given on what can be done to keep symptom reoccurrace risk at a minimum.
Emily has been amazing. I had initially gone in with lower back pain, and since I have been following her advice and going for treatments, my back is so much better. Couldn't recommend her high enough.
To make a booking online, choose the appointment type, who you'd like your appointment with, then pick an available date to make a booking.
Patient Information, Consent & Privacy
Osteopathy, like all forms of health care, offers considerable benefits, but may also include some level of risk. Research suggests Osteopathy is one of the safest forms of treatment (Bagagiolo et al, 2022). We require every patient to make an informed decision before beginning treatment.
At the appointment
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During your consultation at Kibworth Osteopaths, a health history will be established and a physical examination will be conducted. These examinations are performed to assess your specific condition, determining if Osteopathic Treatment is needed and can help.
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The patient/patient advocate understands that sometimes it is necessary to expose and palpate certain areas of the body for diagnosis and treatment.
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Every effort is made to preserve modesty and keep you comfortable. Please tell or signal to the Osteopath if you have any concerns during your appointment and if you ever feel uncomfortable please do not hesitate to say so.
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Before any manipulation is given, the Osteopath will explain the need and obtain your verbal consent and the patient has the option to opt out at any time.
Adverse Reactions
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The physical response to treatment varies and cannot always be predicted, as every individual is different.
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Whilst rare, some patients may experience short-term aggravation of symptoms – up to 72 hours.
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It is important to follow the advice of the Osteopath to reduce any chance of adverse effects from treatment and should you be concerned please contact us.
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