FAQs
Osteopathy is a long established primary health care profession. We offer a patient centered approach, which means that symptoms are considered in the context of the patient’s full medical history and their personal circumstances and lifestyle.
All treatment is tailored to the individual and is a recognized system of diagnosis and treatment, which relies on a ‘hands-on’ approach. We are trained to provide advice on a range of musculoskeletal disorders and, with over 20 years of yoga and Pilates training, Krystyna is also able to teach and advise on rehabilitation.
Treatment is applied without the use of drugs or surgery but instead using the osteopath’s hands. Our strongest skill is that of palpation.
The underlying principle of osteopathy states that the body has the ability to heal itself. We believe if the body’s musculoskeletal system functions better, then the body will be better able to cope with existing medical conditions and prevent other illness.
Cranial osteopathy is a treatment approach used by some osteopaths, which works on the refined and subtle movements of the skull, to relieve stresses and tensions. It is a very gentle approach and therefore is often used on babies and on people who, perhaps, are not keen on other treatment approaches. Many patients report cranial treatment as being deeply relaxing. A full case history and clinical examination will be carried out prior to any treatment.
Cranial osteopathy is not different to osteopathy, it‘s just a subtle and refined approach to osteopathy, and it is used throughout the body not just in the head. The name cranial osteopathy simply refers to the fact that it includes the structures inside the head.
Those osteopaths, such as Krystyna with nearly 30 years in the field, use a highly developed sense of touch to feel subtle changes of tension and tissue quality in the whole body, and use this information to diagnose areas of strain or dysfunction. It is also a great way to feel where a patient holds their tension or to investigate areas of the body affected by old accidents and injuries. The body may have learned to compensate for a traumatic event or injury and the patient may be unaware that there is anything wrong, but the effects may still be present and relevant to current symptoms. Cranial osteopathy can be most affective in dealing with this including symptoms encountered after car accidents.
Cranial osteopathy is a gentle, safe and effective approach to treatment of a wide range of problems in the whole body and is the preferred method of treatment for anxious patients or those that prefer a gentle approach. It is most well known for treating babies and children and those individuals suffering from headaches or migraines.
Whilst back pain is the most common problem seen, Osteopathy can help with a wide variety of problems including changes to posture in pregnancy, repetitive strain injury (RSI), postural problems caused by work strain or driving, sports injuries and the pain of arthritis. See the treatments provided page for further details.
If you are unsure if osteopathic treatment would be helpful, please phone or email the clinic and one of our Osteopaths will be happy to discuss your problem with you.
Undergraduates follow a four or five year degree course similar to a medical degree but with the emphasis on musculoskeletal anatomy, basic pharmacology and no surgery! The course is a mix of academic and clinical work.
As osteopathy is a legally protected title you can be assured that we all abide by strict rules and regulations and have to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) per year.
Sometimes a patient will experience a mild post treatment reaction. This is normally much less than the complaint that brought them to the clinic in the first place. This may be a slight soreness, aching or mild headache. These are quite common and normal reactions that normally pass within 24-48 hours. This is most common on the first visits and may not be experienced on subsequent visits.
Following treatment you will be offered advice on pain management and relevant stretching and strengthening exercises in order to improve your posture and reduce the likelihood of the problem reoccurring.
Yes. Manipulation to joints and muscles carried out by a qualified registered osteopath is remarkably safe.
A variety of techniques can be used and the osteopath will choose the most relevant techniques once a diagnosis has been reached and explained to the patient. We always take a full case history and an examination will be carried out to ensure safety and confirm that it is appropriate to treat the patient. If not, then the patient will be referred back to their GP. Before applying any technique, an osteopath will consider any other underlying health conditions and the feel of the tissues under their hands, to assess the most appropriate approach. Consent will also be sought from the patient after explaining the technique.
Osteopathy has an excellent safety record. If pain relief can be achieved by osteopathic treatment, the patient will not have to run the risk of the potential side effects of surgery or drugs and we all believe this is the most favorable outcome.
This is undoubtedly one of the most commonly asked questions. Overall there are more similarities than differences between the three professions.
Osteopathy and chiropractic stem from very similar origins. Although there are slight differences in the underlying philosophy, both are aimed at restoring joint mobility and muscle health, thereby increasing circulation and nerve health. Osteopaths and chiropractors predominantly use their hands to treat. It is often perceived that chiropractors do a lot more “clicking” than osteopaths, but this is not always the case.
Physiotherapy is also a manual based therapy. Often, they have to do what the consultant recommends and he is often a surgeon rather than musculoskeletal practitioner.
The patients who visit this clinic often report the benefits of a more “hands on treatment” approach, to complement the exercises given by the physiotherapist. On many occasions, we see patients for treatment while they have been on the waiting list for physiotherapy and have been able to resolve their problem.
Many osteopaths have done additional training and offer additional therapeutic techniques; such as ultrasound, taping, craniosacial and visceral osteopathy. Therapists from all three disciplines frequently attend the same “continued professional development” courses as we are all classified by the medical profession as musculoskeletal specialists.
We are always happy to talk to potential patients on the phone before they commit to booking an appointment. If I feel that I am not the right clinician for them, I will try and recommend someone who I feel may be better able to help.
Your osteopath will discuss your symptoms and treatment options with you and make sure you understand fully what’s going on. We decide together how best to proceed. We aim to get you better as fast as possible but it may be necessary for you to return for follow up treatments.
Treatments can be booked as and when you need them. Krystyna has long advocated an MOT approach rather like taking your car for a service. It is often better to come when you are getting stiff or just don’t feel quite right and have an MOT or maintenance treatment as this keeps the symptoms or pain at bay and further promotes health and well being especially if the problem is chronic in nature.
Yes, when appropriate. We always start with gentle movement and stretching to joints, to increase joint range of movement along with deep, soft tissue massage. However, the osteopaths at the clinic do use adjustments; commonly know as “clicking”. ‘Clicking” can help to restore correct joint movement. The noise heard, is believed to be the release of gas into the synovial fluid within the joint space and is not essential to the effectiveness of the technique. Osteopaths do this more to improve joint mobility and muscle tension around the problem area which, in turn, can reduce nerve irritation at that level and thus improve muscles and organs supplied by that particular nerve.
Adjustments are not for everyone. Some people dislike the sensation of an adjustment and would rather have gentler techniques used. We are always guided by the patients’ preferences and all treatment options are always performed professionally with the optimal standard of care in mind and your consent from the outset. They are also not suitable for certain types of people such as the elderly, babies and those with particular health/emotional issues. It is generally a painless technique but it is possible that some people may experience some muscle soreness for 24-48 hours after an adjustment rather like after doing exercise in the gym.
Some people report feeling quite tired. If you have any concerns please call us.
Treatment is quite gentle but cannot be guaranteed to be completely painless. Some of the deep tissue massage work can be uncomfortable and feel like rubbing a bruise if the area is very tight, but people often refer to this as a good pain. We always ask for feedback whilst treating you so we can gauge what strength of soft tissue work suits you best. If you do not like a particular technique please let us know and then another treatment approach will be used.
Yes, probably. This will depend on the area to be treated. We prefer to ask the patient to undress down to their underwear in order to carry out a thorough postural assessment, especially on a first visit. I appreciate that this can make some people uncomfortable so bring shorts and a vest top instead and the osteopath will leave the room as you change if preferred. We always cover you with a blanket or towel during treatments to keep you warm and relaxed at all times.
Please feel free to bring or relative or friend if that makes you more comfortable. An adult should always accompany children under 16.
Please advise us on booking if you have mobility issues. There is a small step as you come over the threshold at the main entrance but the treatment room is on ground floor. Sadly, the only toilet is on the first floor. It is therefore not suitable for wheel chair users but ok for crutches or elderly. Parking in our driveway is free, as are the parking bays in the road outside of the hours of 10-4pm.
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8:30 am – 6:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am – 6:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am – 5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am – 6:30 pm |
| Friday | 8:00 am – 6:30 pm |
| Saturday | 8.30 am – 2:00 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
