1	After you have contacted the clinic to make an appointment you can raise any queries you may have with our receptionist regarding costs etc., or speak to the osteopath for medical advice.

2	When you come into the clinic for your first appointment you will be asked to complete a Patient Record form before you see the osteopath.  This covers your personal details such as full name, address, date of birth, GP, medication, etc.

3	You will meet the osteopath and be shown into the treatment room for a private discussion about your medical history, the reason you are visiting the clinic and any other concerns you may have regarding your treatment. This will take approximately 15 minutes.

4	You will normally be asked to remove your outer clothing, if you are comfortable, down to your underwear.  There are single use disposable gowns available for your use.

5	The osteopath will then assess your standing posture, noting any areas of imbalance or asymmetry.

6	You will then be asked to perform certain active movements (within your pain free range) so that the osteopath can see how your body moves,  i.e.  bending side to side, backwards and forwards.

7	You will be asked to lay on the plinth and the osteopath may use a variety of tests to ensure your general health, for example a basic neurological screen (reflexes, muscle power and sensation, blood pressure reading, etc).

8	Then the osteopath will assess the mobility of your joints within your pain tolerance, which helps to confirm where the problem is and its cause.

9	The osteopath can identify any points of weakness or excessive strain throughout the body using a highly developed sense of touch, (palpation).

10	A provisional assessment of what the problem is will be discussed with you as well as any factors which are aggravating or leading to it.  Treatment approaches will be discussed at this stage.

11

There are many different treatment approaches the osteopath can use ranging from soft tissue release (massage), articulation (moving) of the joints, manipulation (“clicking”) of the joints, down to the more subtle cranial and visceral techniques.  In some cases the choice of treatment is dictated by obvious factors, i.e.  age, medical conditions or patient choice and a more robust or gentle approach can be chosen.

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Following your treatment you will be given after care advice, which may be applying ice and/or heat, specific exercises, or maybe rest.   Should the osteopath consider further investigations are required a letter to your GP may be suggested.  Time off work or sport, or modifications, may be advised.

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The osteopath will suggest a schedule of treatments  which would best benefit you with the aim of reducing symptoms and relieving the discomfort.  Some problems only require a very low number of treatments, others may benefit from a more structured approach.  This mostly depends on the onset and cause of the problem and how long it has been present.

14	You can then make a follow up appointment for further treatment with our receptionist at a time convenient to you.