What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a type of manual therapy that utilises hands-on techniques and hands-off management strategies to treat musculoskeletal disorders, with the goal of restoring optimal health.
''Osteopaths focus on your neuro-musculoskeletal system - the
bones, muscles, nerves and other tissues that support your body and control its movements'' - Osteopathy Australia.
Osteopaths often work with managing pain, exercise
rehabilitation, occupational health, sports and both elderly and children conditions.
Each person presenting with a condition or injury is individual,
so osteopathic treatment will always be unique. Treatment may involve hands-on methods such as massage, mobilisation, manipulation, dry needling or cupping. Osteopathy may also utilise exercise prescription, lifestyle advice and education as a part of your management plan. These can help to reduce contributing factors to your pain, such as poor workplace set-up, unnecessary habits or triggers.
A typical consultation may include a musculoskeletal and
nervous system assessment, thorough case history taking to ensure we remain as safe as possible during treatment, body function assessments, manual therapy, home exercise programs and patient education.
Additional Information
Osteopathy FAQs
What can I expect on my first visit with an Osteopath?
Your initial consultation may consist of a meet and greet, thorough case history (medical and personal), Osteopathic assessment and examination, treatment & exercise prescription as deemed necessary.
Osteopaths perform a comprehensive assessment to solve exactly why an injury or condition has occurred and give you the tools to prevent it from happening again.
For example, a patient with low back pain will not just receive treatment on their lower back. Your Osteopath may look above and below (the upper back, hips, legs and feet) to determine what other factors or body parts are playing a role in your pain. "No structure works independently of another".
You may also receive lifestyle advice, exercises or workplace advice to help manage your pain.
Is Osteopathy safe?
Osteopaths practice under government AHPRA guidelines and undergo 4.5 to 5 years of rigorous training at University. Throughout our education, we cover an extensive list of anatomy, physiology, pathology and bioscience to ensure we are adequately trained to assess, diagnose and treat patients safely. We aim to be as safe as possible and will always check for warning signs of more sinister conditions and refer you to a GP or specialist if required.
Is Osteopathy covered by medicare?
For private consultations, Medicare only covers chronic injuries and will be determined by your GP. A maximum of 5 allied health sessions may be covered by Medicare annually. You will need to visit your GP before booking an appointment if you wish to explore this option.
Can I claim private health for Osteopathy?
For private consultations, AIO - All In One Therapy offers on-the-spot claiming, however you will be required to have "Osteopathy" as part of your "extras" cover. We recommend looking up your extras cover to see if Osteopathy is included as this can vary between policies.
Unfortunately, we are not taking on Work Cover, DVA or TAC patients at this stage.
For group or work place consultations with AIO - All In One Therapy, you will be required to pay your consultation fee upfront. You will then be provided with an invoice including the treatment, patients seen, additional products, travel and set up costs and GST
NOTE: You do not need private health insurance to see an Osteopath but the fee will need to be paid in full.
How will I feel after my appointment?
Some people may feel immediate relief after treatment. Some patients may feel a little tender after treatment. It is not uncommon for patients to feel post-treatment soreness, as treatment will be working on areas of discomfort, leaving similar feelings to DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) after a workout; this usually subsides after 24-48 hours.
What do I wear?
For private consultations you should wear comfortable clothes that you can remove easily if required during manual hands on treatments. Your practitioner may ask you to remove articles of clothing to expose the injured area. Allowing for a thorough assessment of your injury, ensuring you get the best care possible.
For mobile visit or work place consultations you will not be asked to remove any articles of clothing. This is because we cannot entirely ensure your privacy as the treatment space provided is from a third party.
Lastly, if you are not comfortable removing your clothes please tell the practitioner and they will be able to work over the top of your clothing if necessary.
Do I require A referral from my doctor?
No, you do not require a referral from your doctor to see an Osteopath. Osteopaths are Primary Care Allied Health Professionals and do not require a referral.