Any Questions?
Osteopathy is a statutory regulated profession, which means that you are offered the same protection as with seeing a doctor or a dentist. It is an offence to practise as an Osteopath unless you are registered with the General Osteopathic Council, whose criteria are very stringent including education to a degree level, ongoing continual professional development and full indemnity insurance. All Osteopaths at the Rotherham Osteopath Clinic are registered.
Do I need to see a doctor first?
You do not require a referral from a doctor to see an osteopath.
If you have a serious medical history, you may wish to visit your GP initially. Please note that if you are claiming on your private health insurance policy some insurers may require you to be referred by your GP. Our osteopaths will be pleased to assist you if you need any advice.
How long will the appointment last?
Initial consultation and first treatment can take up to 45 minutes. Subsequent treatments are currently 40 minutes due to the covid sanitisation measure we have to employ. Should your problem require a longer treatment then we book you in for a double session at no extra cost.
Can I bring a friend?
If you prefer you can always be accompanied by a friend to chaperone at any time during the consultation or treatment. Patients under the age of 16 should be accompanied by parent or guardian.
How will I feel after treatment?
We aim to help you and get you pain relief as soon as possible. Occasionally the body goes through its own healing process and there may be some soreness for a short while. If you are concerned after treatment then contact your osteopath to discuss it. Generally the longer you have had a problem the longer it takes to resolve , although many factors influence recovery times.
Does Osteopathy Only treat Back Pain?
Osteopathy can help with many conditions such as back pain and headaches, please see our ‘What is Osteopathy’ page for a more comprehensive answer. Because we have a variety of treatment options we can also help with visceral issues, such as gut, breathing, bowel issues as well as other health problems. If you are not sure if osteopathy is suitable for you then feel free to contact us to discuss your concerns.
What if we can not help you?
If we feel that Osteoapthy is not appropriate for you we will discuss other potential courses of treatment to help you.
General Osteopathic Council - GOsC
All osteopaths in the UK are regulated by the GOsC. Osteopaths are required to renew their registration annually, and as part of this process, the GOsC checks that osteopaths have current professional indemnity insurance, remain in good health and of good character, and have met mandatory continuing professional development requirements.
Does It Hurt
As Osteopaths we try to make all our treatments as pain free as possible. Often with back and joint problems there is some muscle tenderness which can not be avoided. If you are concerned during the treatment then please tel your osteopath and we will try to avoid any further discomfort.
What do I need to wear? Do I need to undress?
In order to conduct a thorough examination it can be helpful to view the patient in their underwear or a pair of shorts or leggings. If you wish you can wear loose clothing as this helps when treatment is give. Please be assured that we will always endeavour to respect your modesty and adapt to your concerns and needs.
Is my visit confidential?
Yes all consultations are private and confidential. Any contact with your GP or other health professional is always discussed with you first.
Is Osteopathy safe?
Osteopathy is generally very safe. All osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council, and maintain rigorous ongoing professional development to improve and update their clinical skills.
How many treatments will I need?
During the initial consultation we will discuss the course of treatment you may require. We try to keep this to a minimum at the same time as being realistic about the time it will take for you to recover. Some patients may only have one treatment, others 3 or 4; chronic degenerative conditions may require ongoing help ever few months. We are always happy to discuss this with you at the time.
Will it be covered by my insurance?
Our practitioners are recognised by some of the leading private health insurances providers, Westfield Health, AXA/PPP, Simply Health etc. Some insurances may require you to be referred by a GP so please check first.
How does Osteopathy differ from chiropractic and physiotherapy.
Osteopaths chiropractors and physiotherapists are all manual therapists and have similarities. I feel that osteopaths have more diverse treatment options than other therapists which allow us to treat many varied conditions. Please see our ‘What is Osteopathy’ for a more comprehensive answer to this question.