About Osteopathy

Osteopaths work with their hands using a wide variety of treatment techniques. These may include soft tissue techniques (similar to massage), rhythmic passive joint movements or spinal adjustments (clicks and cracks) that improve mobility and the range of movement in the spine, joints and muscles.

Patients usually report that treatment is quite relaxing and occasionally, where muscles are tight and slightly painful, patients report that the release of these muscles feels like a “good pain”.

Gentle cranial techniques are also widely used, particularly when treating children, the elderly, or acute patients.

Again, this is a more gentle treatment approach, some patients say they are aware of a gentle unwinding of their muscles and joints whilst having cranial treatment.

Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have regarding their treatment and of course mention if they would prefer a particular treatment approach.

During the course of the treatment advice will also be given on how to minimise the chance of the symptoms recurring; such as sleep position, sitting position, advice on lifting etc. and exercise sheets addressing particularly common problem areas are usually given to the patient.

What’s the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath? In essence we do very similar treatments, but there are a few major differences.

Chiropractors tend to treat patients via a course of several treatments (you often book in for a course of 10 treatments after an initial assessment) and each individual treatment may be shorter and involve potentially more HVT’s (high velocity thrusts) or ‘cracking’ to the lay person.

Patients report that usually an osteopathic treatment involves more initial soft tissue work (massage) before any ‘clicking’ of joints, and this usually means the clicking techniques can be performed in a more gentle way. Also chiropractors usually take X-rays in an initial consultation with a patient to assess joint positions.

Osteopaths do occasionally refer patients on for an X-ray as part of their initial appointment (via the patient’s GP or privately) but in most instances the osteopath relies on their refined palpation skills and observational skills to diagnose joint position, and in fact osteopaths are less interested in joint position but more interested in how a joint is functioning.

For example, a person may have a ‘twisted pelvis’ but if it is functioning well and no symptoms are reported an osteopath would tend to avoid treatment to correct the asymmetry (a chiropractor may not).

It is important to add that all chiropractors and osteopaths tend to develop their own particular style of work and it is not always easy to apply these generalisations to each individual practitioner.

Osteopaths differ in their treatment approach to physiotherapists. Physios tend to prescribe rehabilitative exercises routinely. Osteopaths do recommend patients do gentle stretches to release tight muscles, but often we refer patients on to a suitably qualified Pilates practitioner or personal trainer if specific strengthening exercises would be beneficial.

Generally patients seeing NHS physiotherapists receive very little ‘hands on’ treatment, however, some private physios will do more ‘hands on’ work. Often patients wait a long time for physio on the NHS, by which time acute conditions may become chronic.

Osteopaths always treat the whole person, taking other areas of the body into consideration rather than just the area in pain. Physios may not necessarily do this (or have time to, if NHS patients). Osteopaths look for the underlying cause of the problem, attempting to resolve the cause rather than just the symptoms.

At Harrogate Osteopaths we work closely with many local highly qualified practitioners, including locals physios, Pilates instructors, massage therapists, nutritional therapists, yoga teachers and personal trainers, to make sure our patients receive the best care.

Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle and subtle osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of tension in the body’s tissues, which build up in the neck and head and elsewhere in the body, after birth trauma, illness, accident, or from repetitive strain injuries.

Practitioners use their highly developed sense of touch to diagnose areas of tension and restriction and use light pressure on different areas of the body to allow the patient’s own self-regulating mechanisms to rebalance their musculoskeletal, nervous, immune, and circulatory systems.

This usually is a very relaxing experience for the patient and in both adults and young babies, patients/parents report better sleep patterns and a calmer digestive system after treatment. At Harrogate Osteopaths we have experience of treating many babies – from a few days old up until they are toddlers and pre-school age. Parents usually report their child is calmer and more relaxed after treatment.

A full patient case history is taken, and for babies questions are asked regarding the pregnancy and birth too.