Osteopathy

Our osteopaths use hands-on techniques to ease muscle and joint pain and help you move more freely. As part of our sports medicine and rehabilitation team, they assess back, neck and joint problems, then treat with manual techniques and practical advice you can keep using at home.

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a way of assessing, treating and preventing problems in the muscles, joints and connecting tissues. Osteopaths are allied health professionals, not doctors, trained to examine how your body moves and find what's driving your pain. Using hands-on techniques such as massage, stretching and joint manipulation, they aim to reduce pain and improve mobility. It overlaps with physiotherapy, and an osteopath looks at how a problem in one area can affect how the rest of you moves.

When should you see an osteopath?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• Back pain that keeps coming back or won't settle
• Neck or shoulder pain and stiffness
• Pain that travels down your leg (sciatica)
• Aches from a sports injury or repetitive strain
• Joint or muscle pain that limits everyday activities

Back pain with numbness around your genitals or anus, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, needs emergency care: call for emergency help.

You don't need to wait for pain to become severe. Many people see an osteopath for long-standing or recurring aches, to recover after an injury, or to stay mobile as they get older. Osteopathy can also help while you recover from surgery, or alongside the care you get for a long-term joint condition. During your visit, the osteopath checks for signs of any problem that needs medical care, and will refer you to a doctor or another service if that's the right step.

What to expect

Your first appointment usually lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. The osteopath asks about your symptoms, your general health and any medicines you take, then examines how you move. You'll be asked to make simple movements while they feel for tightness in the muscles and stiffness in the joints. They'll explain what they find and talk through a plan with you before any treatment begins.

Treatment is hands-on. The osteopath may use techniques such as massage, stretching, joint movement and manipulation to ease pain and improve how you move, and will often give you exercises and posture advice to continue at home. Some people feel mild soreness for a day or two afterwards. Most people need more than one session, and the osteopath agrees the next step with you.

Osteopathy at Mediclinic

At our clinics, osteopaths work on tight muscles and restricted joints by hand, helping you return to pain-free movement. Common reasons include back pain, neck and shoulder tension or sciatica. Others are recovering from a sports injury or managing pain during and after pregnancy. Osteopathy sits within our sports medicine and rehabilitation services, so if your recovery also needs physiotherapy or a medical opinion, our team can help arrange it. You'll find this care at our hospitals and clinics.