Osteopathy is a type of allied health care that originated in the US in the late 1800s. It was developed by a medical practitioner as a less invasive way to deal with bodily dysfunctions, with the basic concept that the body is a whole and is able to heal itself when barriers to recovery are removed. Whilst the modern version of Osteopathy is quite different to the initial form, there are some founding principles that remain the same – most namely that we work holistically, looking not only at the area that you can feel the pain or discomfort, but also all other aspects that may be affecting this area.
From a structural approach, this may mean that if your shoulder is hurting, we may also look at the neck, upper back or arm to ascertain if they are causing or contributing to your pain. More broadly, this means we also look at your overarching medical history, past accidents or injuries, stress levels, dietary influences, social structure and family dynamics, as all of these factors can play a role in the severity and longevity of pain. We will also work to ascertain your understanding of the injury, how long it should take to heal and things that you may be able to do at home to speed up your recovery. Diagnosis and understanding of the problem usually involves a thorough history taking, physical examination as well as orthopaedic testing, and where applicable, treatment may also include referral to other allied health professionals such as podiatrists or pain psychologists.
Osteopathy in Australia is a registered profession under AHPRA, along with other professions such as medical doctors, psychologists, nurses and podiatrists. It is a 5 year degree from one of 3 universities in Australia, with a very strong focus on anatomy, pathology, physiology and exercise rehabilitation. Treatment may include things such as soft tissue massage or stretching, joint mobilisation, pain education, dry needling, exercise or rehab prescription as well as high velocity thrust techniques. If you have any questions or would like to see what Osteopathy may be able to offer you, call us now to make an appointment or click the button below to book online.
Our Osteopaths are also registered members of Osteopathy Australia, the major governing body involved in keeping Osteopaths up to date with information and education in healthcare