Osteopathy
What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a type of manual therapy that diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions. An Osteopath emphasises the restoration of the structure and function of the human body by encouraging its innate ability to heal itself. They use various techniques on muscles, joints and viscera to help relieve tensions thus improving mobility. Therefore enhancing blood circulation and promoting health. Wellthy Clinic provide Osteopathy treatments in London
Qualified Registered Osteopaths
Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners who are trained to know when it is best to treat or when to refer patients. It requires 4-6 years masters study to become an Osteopath which involves studying various topics like anatomy and physiology. There is a large practical component with osteopathic technique and treating local community members in the final 2 years at the clinics. Our team Eleonora Sansoni and Matthew Glithero both studied at the University College of Osteopathy near London Bridge. We are registered with our governing body (General Osteopathic Council) and are fully insured in our London osteopathy clinic.
How Did It Begin
Osteopathy was founded in Kirksville, America in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still who was a American physician who recognised the body’s natural ability to heal from ill health when functioning effectively. Motivated by the three deaths of his children during a pandemic he wanted to find an alternative from the medical approach medicines and surgeries offered at the time. Osteopathy came to Britain with John Martin Littlejohn (one of Still’s early students) in 1913 who returned to London to practice. He set up the first osteopathic school in the country (British School of Osteopathy) and served as Dean for 40 years. Today there are now over 5,000 Registered Osteopaths in the UK.
Is Osteopathy Considered To Be Alternative Therapy
Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners who are able to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions or refer when necessary. Osteopathy is considered to be a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which are treatments that fall outside of mainstream healthcare. The General Osteopathic Council is the statutory regulator for Osteopathy in the UK. Their powers were awarded to them by Parliament under the Osteopaths Act in 1993. By law, Osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). Osteopaths are required to renew their registration each year. As part of this process, the GOsC checks they have the correct insurance, are meeting professional development requirements and remain in good health.
Osteopathic Treatment
There are several distinct styles of osteopathic treatment and whilst some osteopaths will draw on several, others will focus essentially on one form only.
Structural Osteopathy
The majority of osteopaths will practice in a structural manner which is a combination of muscular stretching, joint articulations and joint manipulations (if appropriate). The treatment is aimed to move joints and stretch muscles to have an effect on the blood circulation, nervous system and organ function to improve health.
Classical Osteopathy
Will always treat your whole posture, it follows a specific routine for hands on treatment but with more traditional principles. The treatment aims are to remove restrictions to give your body the best chance of finding health.
Cranial Osteopathy
A more gentle and subtle approach involves holding and interacting with the patient’s fluid dynamics and tensions. Small movements in the bones mainly of the head and sacrum (but also other areas) are so important for health which can become restricted by trauma or injury. Cranial osteopathy focuses on removing these restrictions and encourages overall physical well being.
Visceral Osteopathy
This approach looks at the relationship between your posture and your organs (viscera), such as the digestive tract or respiratory system. Your viscera may be treated directly to reduce stresses developed by poor posture, diet or lifestyle pressures. Visceral treatment can aid digestive tract movement, good function of abdominal organs as well as the lungs.
What to Expect on your First appointment
When you visit your Osteopath London your first session will be getting to know each other and your presenting issues. A case history will be taken to gather information about your history, current health and understand your goals. The Osteopath will then assess your posture and ask you to perform some active movements. After that assess your joint ranges of motion passively and maybe perform some other tests. Moreover you will be given an explanation of what is happening (diagnosis). The Osteopath will then discuss your treatment options and agree with you on the type of treatment most suitable for you. Your goals will be addressed and a plan formulated to find better health.
What is involved within an Osteopath session?
- Take a case history to find out about you and your problem. We listen to you.
- Perform assessments and necessary tests to reach a diagnosis.
- We will provide explanations and double check you understand and will not do anything without your consent.
- Always be professional and safe
- Provide hands-on treatment
- We treat the bigger picture, rather than just the sore bit
- We give exercises, nutrition and lifestyle advice to give your body the best chance of recovery
- Your goals will be addressed and a treatment plan formulated to find better health.
What Conditions Can An Osteopath Treat
Whether you have been living with chronic pain for years, or if you have experienced an injury more recently it would be worthwhile seeing an Osteopath. We are highly skilled and can treat any musculoskeletal condition. Even if you are experiencing a lot of pain we can advise on how best to make your situation a little easier. Here are some examples of what our London Osteopaths can treat
Sporting Injuries Treated by Our London Osteopaths
Sometimes we pick up an injury and we will have no idea how it happened. We often take wild guesses as to the case but unless you’re a seasoned professional you probably don’t understand exactly how the body operates. The human body is the most complicated system you will ever get to operate, that’s where osteopathic medicine comes into play. Pain management and rehabilitation after a sports injury is what Osteopaths are trained to do.
Asymmetrical sports like golf, tennis and hockey can result in muscular imbalances and joint restrictions due to the repetitive one sided movements. We regularly treat athletes and find a combination of Osteopathy and Pilates exercise rehabilitation to encourage symmetry will provide the best results.
Conditions And Injuries We Can Treat
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Foot Pain
- Knee Pain
- Hip Pain
- Back Pain
- Sciatica
- Ankle Sprain
- Runners Knee
- IT band syndrome
- Hamstring strain
- Calf strain
- Shin splints
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Running Injuries
- Rotator cuff muscular strains
- Wrist injuries
- Neck Pain
- Lower back pain
- Rotator Cuff Strains & Tear
- Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
- Pelvic girdle pain
General Treatments
Osteopathy provides a non surgical drug free alternative treatment. Osteopaths can help with conditions by reducing tensions, stress and anxiety by providing relaxing treatments for your nervous systems. Can osteopaths help with headaches? Actually yes they can, especially if it is a tension type headache. A more gentle approach which works well with headaches is Cranial Osteopathy There are more types of headaches your osteopath can help with in this article.
When should I see an Osteopath?
Whether you have been living with chronic pain for years, or if you have experienced an injury more recently it would worthwhile seeing an Osteopath. We are highly skilled and can treat any musculoskeletal condition. Even if you are experiencing a lot of pain we can advise on how best to make your situation a little easier. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch
Do Osteopaths Crack Your Back?
Yes Osteopaths can manipulate your joints which can produce an audible cracking noise. We would only perform this technique with your consent if we feel it’s appropriate for you and after taking a full case history. We are not breaking your bones and not putting joints back into place. If you do hear a click or pop when an osteopath manipulates your joints this is the sound of gas leaving the joint capsule.
It is a safe technique for the right person at the right time. There is a small chance you may feel sore or feel worse the following day after a treatment but then you should feel better. This will be discussed further within treatments. There are plenty of patients that we never manipulate but use other techniques which still produces great results.
Types of Osteopathy
There are several types of Osteopathy, including:
- Cranial Osteopathy: This form of osteopathy focuses on your involuntary mechanism. It is based on the idea that imbalances within your body’s natural rhythms can cause a wide range of health problems. Manual listening techniques can be used to restore balance and improve overall health.
- Structural Osteopathy: This type of osteopathy focuses on the alignment of the musculoskeletal system, and aims to restore balance to the body by using manual techniques to improve the function of the joints and muscles.
- Visceral Osteopathy: This form of osteopathy focuses on the internal organs, and aims to improve their function and mobility by manipulating the surrounding tissue and muscles.
- Pediatric Osteopathy: This type of osteopathy is specifically designed to treat children, and focuses on addressing problems with the musculoskeletal system that can affect a child’s growth and development.
- Geriatric Osteopathy: This form is designed to address the specific health needs of older adults, and aims to improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance overall quality of life.
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) or Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is a form of manual therapy that is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. It involves using gentle, hands-on techniques to manipulate the muscles and joints, and is often used in conjunction with other forms of treatment.
- Sports Osteopathy: This type of osteopathy is designed to help athletes prevent and recover from injuries, and to improve their overall performance. It may involve techniques such as muscle energy techniques, myofascial release, and joint manipulation.
- Neural Osteopathy: This type of osteopathy focuses on the nerves and the nervous system, and aims to improve the function of the nerves by manipulating the surrounding tissue and muscles. It is often used to treat problems such as nerve pain, numbness, and tingling.
Is Osteopathy covered with Private Health Insurance?
Yes, our Osteopaths at Wellthy Clinic are registered with
For frequently asked questions check out our private medical insurance page.
* Osteo 8 plans are available to save 10%
Marylebone London
We are situated inside Asia House on New Cavendish St.
Finding Your Osteopath in Marylebone, City Of Westminster
Pay and display parking is on New Cavendish Street otherwise the closest car park is situated at 6 -7 Weymouth Mews W1B 1QE.
The Closest tube stations are Great Portland Street (7 minute walk), Oxford Circus and Bon Street which are a similar walking distance.
The closest TfL bus stop is Portland Place (Stop K) and is just 3 minute walk to the Wellthy Clinic. The buses that operate at this stop are the 88, 453 and the N18.
Marylebone Is Famous For
Of course 221b Baker Street, where the character Sherlock Holmes resided. This is now a museum where you can step back in time. Harley St the home of the private medical practitioners, this started sometime in the 19th century. Just a few minutes walk away from us is the world famous shopping experience of Oxford Street. There is the world famous Madame Tussauds where you can see the rich and famous, well in wax.
