What happens in the initial consultation?
A thorough case history is taken in the initial visit which looks at the current complaint, past medical history, family history, diet, lifestyle and exercise patterns.
An osteopathic examination looks at posture, movement patterns, range of movement, assessment of tight or weak muscles, as well as any necessary cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological tests.
A diagnosis is made and discussed with suggested treatment approach and exercises.
Treatment is performed during the initial consultation and further recommendations made regarding exercise, diet and future treatment.
Who and what are Osteopaths?
Osteopaths are primary care practitioners, which means you don’t need a referral to consult an osteopath. Osteopaths are trained to diagnose many conditions by taking a thorough medical history, using musculoskeletal examination techniques and medical examinations of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems where required. Osteopaths look for ‘red flags’ which may indicate underlying pathology and will refer you to your doctor for further investigation where required. Osteopaths are trained to recognize biomechanical disturbances by examining the body as a ‘whole’ rather than separate parts.
For example, someone presenting with knee pain would require a thorough examination of the knee but also the foot, ankle, hip, pelvis and low back for any biomechanical patters, altered gait or referred pain affecting the knee. Treatment would then focus on correcting these biomechanical alterations in the lower limb, pelvis & low back. Exercises might then be given to strengthen weak muscles and stretches to lengthen tight muscles. Where the foot biomechanics may be contributing to the knee pain, a referral to a podiatrist may be useful. Also advice might be given regarding footwear, sport, exercise or work ergonomics.
What conditions do Osteopaths most commonly treat?
• back and neck pain
• sciatica
• headaches
• tendinitis, repetitive strain injuries and peripheral joint pains
• work related injuries
• sporting injuries
In Australia, osteopathy can be used in conjunction with medical treatment in reducing the severity of symptoms with respiratory, gynecological or gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Some of these conditions include but are not limited to:
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Reflux, indigestion or heartburn
• Endometriosis
• Primary dysmennhorea
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Autoimmune conditions (i.e systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosingspondylitis)
Osteopaths also commonly treat:
• Women - pre, post and during pregnancy
• Pre & post surgery (i.e hip replacement, pelvic surgery)
• Children & Babies – especially where there has been a difficult or long labour, feeding difficulties or colicky pain.
How do Osteopaths treat?
Osteopaths use a range of mostly ‘hands on’ techniques. The application of these techniques depend on the age and health status of the patient, area being treated, pre-existing conditions, body type and medication history. An osteopathic treatment may incorporate some or many of the following techniques and often no two treatments are alike. This is where osteopathy is not only a science but also an art. It is the blending of different techniques that are suited and beneficial to the patient on any particular day. Treatment is safe for all ages from babies and children to the elderly due to the range of techniques available.
Direct Techniques:
• Soft Tissue Technique (Massage) &Myofascial (MFR) Release
• Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
• High Velocity Low Amplitude technique or manipulation
• Visceral (Organ) techniques
• Muscle stretching
• Trigger Point Dry Needling (post-graduate study)
Indirect Techniques:
• Balanced Ligamentous Technique (BLT) & Functional Techniques
• Counterstrain or positional release technique
• Craniosacral techniques
Other aspects of patient education/preventative health:
• Exercises - strengthening, stretching, neuromobilisation, balance, cardiovascular
or sport-specific exercises
• Posture
• Work ergonomics
• Diet/Nutrition
• Stress management techniques
• Correct lifting techniques
• Breathing exercises
How many consultations are usually required?
There is no set answer as every person is different and every complaint presents slightly differently. For most complaints three of four visits is sufficient to reduce pain, improve mobility, provide education and give advice on reducing aggravating factors and improve overall health and well-being.
For more chronic conditions, complex injuries or where pre-existing health issues determine a slower healing time, perhaps more treatment will be required.
Will I require ongoing treatment?
For most people, once the injury has healed or the health complaint improved no ongoing treatment is required. However we live in a less than ideal world. Our lives are often either sedentary or the opposite, there are physical and emotional demands that exceed our body’s capacity. Therefore a ‘tune up’ or ‘check up’ is a great way of maintaining good health. This moves from cure to prevention. Just as a car is serviced after a number of kilometers or a period of time, so our bodies benefit from having a ‘tune-up’. The frequency of these ‘tune-ups’ will depend on a number of factors and can be discussed with the osteopath. There is no obligation for ongoing treatment.
How long has Osteopathy been recognized as a form of Health Care?
Osteopathy has been practiced in Australia for 100 years and as a registered profession in Australia for the last 30 years. The osteopathic profession is one of the fastest growing allied health professions in Australia.
What training do Osteopaths do?
Osteopathic training includes five years of full-time study of both an undergraduate Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy) or equivalent and a Masters of Osteopathy. All members of the Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA) must complete continuing professional development.
What is the history of Osteopathy?
A doctor named Andrew Taylor Still developed osteopathy in the 1870’s in Missouri. Osteopathy was developed as an alternative form of healthcare to allopathic medicine in the late 1800’s. At that time medicine was inadequate and Still had lost many family members to meningitis and other infectious diseases.
Osteopathy was developed as a blend of many sciences including anatomy, physiology, pathology, biology, chemistry and their relation to health and the prevention and treatment of disease, illness and injury.
Still believed that ‘the first great master mechanic left nothing unfinished in the machinery of his masterpiece’.
What is the philosophy of Osteopathy?
There are four key principles that osteopathic medicine has been based upon:
1. The body is a unit made up of body, mind and spirit
2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing and health maintenance
3. Structure and function is reciprocally interrelated
4. Rational treatment is based on the above principles
Still’s most famous quote was “To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease”. Still was also stated that the role of an osteopath was to “Find it, fix it and leave it alone”. He saw the importance of removing obstacles that would allow optimum health to be restored. This establishes the role as an osteopath as a detective, trying to determine the key factors obstructing good health, performing techniques to reduce these, and then educating and advising on strategies to ensure ongoing optimum health.
What is Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN)?
Trigger point dry needling is a treatment that uses small filament (acupuncture) needles to release tight muscles with the goal of permanently reducing muscle pain and dysfunction.
Trigger point Dry Needling directly treats the neuromuscular system affecting muscle tightness, joint mobility, and symptoms of pain and irritation.
Testing active trigger points with an EMG needle has shown that there is increased spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) at this active trigger point. This is similar to constant, uncontrolled electricity causing the nerve muscle connection to trigger the muscle to be tight. This tightness can cause a limitation of joint motion resulting in a reduction of normal functional activities of the whole body. Recent research has demonstrated that there are multiple inflammatory and pain producing chemicals at the site of an active trigger point causing pain and dysfunction of the muscle, consequently affecting the local nerves and joints.
The application of a dry needle creates a local twitch response (LTR) in the active trigger point and muscle fiber. This decreases or completely reducesthe spontaneous electrical activity and reduces or completely eliminates the irritating chemicals in that active trigger point. This release can immediately improve movement, reduce pain and improve function. There is often a significant cramping sensation from the twitch response but then an immediate improvement in the symptoms. Afterwards there may be a general ache in the muscle, similar to the feeling after an intense workout or following a deep massage.
Utilizing trigger point dry needing in manual therapy practice allows the patient and the therapist a hastened return to strengthening and exercise that results in a faster return to function and improved maintenance of that dysfunction.
Trigger point dry needling is a very effective form of treatment however still requires in most conditions that the underlying biomechanics be addressed and therefore is used in conjunction with other ‘hands on’ techniques.
What conditions will Trigger Point Dry Needling help with?
Dry needling can be used for many conditions including but not limited to:
• Piriformis Syndrome
• Sciatica
• Jaw pain
• Groin strain
• Achilles tendonitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Whiplash disorders
Dry needling may be used for acute and chronic sporting injuries such as:
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Tennis/golfers elbow
• Muscle strains
• Shin splints
• Muscular haematomas
Is Osteopathy covered by private health insurance?
Yes, if you have Extras cover, however the rebate will depend on the type of cover and the fund you are with. Bring your private health fund card and we can process your health fund payment at the time of consultation with HICAPS and you are only required to pay the difference saving you time and having to wait in a queue to claim!
Do Osteopaths treat Work Cover Injuries?
Yes. You will need to see your doctor and have Osteopathy stated as part of your management/treatment on your Work Cover Medical Certificate. Please speak to your GP or ring to speak to the osteopath to find out more information.
Do Osteopaths treat Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries?
Yes. You will need to see your doctor and register the claim. Please speak to your GP or ring to speak to the osteopath to find out more information.
Do Osteopaths treat Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) patients?
Yes. You will need a referral from you doctor. Treatment is entirely covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. You will need to bring your DVA card with you for osteopathic treatment.
Is Osteopathy covered by Medicare?
Not generally, however there is a government initiative called the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program. This allows someone with chronic pain or a chronic condition to have five (5) osteopathic (or other approved allied health service) consultations a year when referred by their doctor. A Medicare rebate covers some (but not all) of the osteopathic treatment. Please speak to your GP or ring to speak to the osteopath to see if you might be eligible.