As with any healthcare appointment, it may be necessary to be asked to remove some clothing. This is so the practitioner can see and touch the areas of the body causing you concern. Your osteopath will want you to feel at ease, therefore if you feel uncomfortable undressing to your underwear, your osteopath may be able to suggest wearing clothing, such as shorts and a t-shirt, or close-fitting garments, that will enable them to work effectively. You are also welcome to ask a friend or relative to accompany you and be present throughout your appointment.

Osteopaths are healthcare professionals who are specifically trained in diagnosing health issues. At the start of your first appointment, you will be asked about your medical history and lifestyle, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing. This is very important as it will help to make an accurate diagnosis and suggest appropriate treatment. Records of your appointment will be kept and hese will be treated as confidential in accordance with standards of practice set out by the General Osteopathic Council and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If you wish, you may request a copy of your notes. Your osteopath will need to examine the area(s) of your body causing discomfort. Sometimes the cause of the problem may be in a different area to the pain, (For example, pain in your lower arm may be linked to the nerves in your neck) so may need to examine your whole body. They will need to feel for any tightness in the muscles and stiffness in the joints and may need to touch these areas to identify problems. They will explain what they are doing as they go along. If you are uncomfortable with any part of this, you have the right to ask them to stop at any stage, without prejudicing your future treatment. Your osteopath will make a diagnosis and discuss a course of treatment with you. This may involve further visits for manual therapy – a range of gentle hands-on techniques that focus on releasing tension, stretching muscles and improving mobility. Together with exercises that you can do at home and helpful advice designed to help you relieve or manage your pain, keep active and maintain the best of health. Most osteopaths will begin your treatment at your first appointment, but sometimes they may require further tests first i.e. blood tests or scans. Occasionally they may diagnose an illness that they are unable to treat and may refer you to your GP or another appropriate health professional.

Osteopathic treatment is usually a very gentle process and osteopaths work very hard to make treatment as painless as possible, but you may experience some discomfort during and after treatment. Your osteopath will warn you if they think that the technique that they are about to use is likely to be uncomfortable and will stop if you tell them that you are feeling too much pain. Following treatment you may experience some mild soreness in the area of their body that was treated, this will normally will go away within 48 hours. If you experience serious or unusual symptoms after treatment you should contact your osteopath straight away for advice.

Osteopaths are regulated by law and recognised as an allied health profession by NHS England. This gives them a similar status to dentists or physiotherapists and guarantees the equivalent high level of care. By law, an osteopath must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) to practise in the UK. Before an osteopath can obtain registration, they must attain specialist degree-level training, either a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) or integrated Masters (MOst.), plus complete over 1000 hours of clinical placements (direct patient contact time). To maintain their registration with GOsC, which is renewed annually, osteopaths must meet mandatory continuous professional development (CPD): keeping skills and knowledge up-to-date and maintaining high standards of professional development.

In the majority of cases you can use your private health insurance. However it's vital you conact your insurer to ask what their policy is. Insurers tend to work in one of two ways; you obtain an authorisation code that entitles you to a certain amount of treaments. You will have to pay the clinic whatever your excess is. Alternatively, you will pay the clinic and claim the money back from your insurer with the invoice provided, often called a cash plan. If you are in doubt please call the clinic or your insurer. Authorised insurers: AXA PPP, Aviva, Vitality, Bupa.

There isn't an absolute answer to this question as the three professions have a lot in common, so any answer is a generalisation*. Osteopaths offer treatment for symptoms from head to toe; headaches to ankle sprains. They use a combination of soft tisse work, joint articulation and manipulation (manipulation very similar to that a chiropractor would use), alongside exercise prescription and rehab guidance. Physios focus on exercise and rehabilition exercises. They can combine this with hands on soft tissue work as well. Chiropractors tend to focus on the spine, using similar assessment techniquies to osteopaths. Treatment commonly involves mainpulation of the joints in the spine. More detial on each profession... Osteopathy The body has the natural ability to maintain itself and, by helping this process, an osteopath can promote restoration of normal function. The principle of osteopathy is that the well-being of an individual relies on the way that bones, muscles, ligaments, connective tissue and internal structures work with each other.An osteopath will take the time to understand their patient, and their unique combination of symptoms, medical history and lifestyle. This helps to make an accurate diagnosis of the causes of the pain or lack of function (rather than just addressing the site of the condition), and from that, to formulate a treatment plan that will achieve the best outcome. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring. Osteopaths frequently work alongside other health professionals, such as GPs, nurses and midwives as well as alternative medical practitioners. Osteopathy works well to complement other medical interventions including surgery and prescribed medication. Chiropractors Chiropractors are trained to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent disorders of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and muscles), as well as the effects these disorders can have on the nervous system and general health. They have a specialist interest in neck and back pain, but when they assess patients, they take their entire physical, emotional and social well-being into account.Chiropractors use a range of techniques to reduce pain, improve function and increase mobility, including hands-on manipulation of the spine. As well as manual treatment, chiropractors are able to offer a package of care which includes advice on self-help, therapeutic exercises and lifestyle changes. Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of techniques including ice, heat, ultrasound, exercise and acupuncture as well as advice about posture and lifestyle. Physiotherapy Physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. They maintain health for people of all ages, helping patients to manage pain and prevent disease. The profession helps to encourage development and facilitate recovery, enabling people to stay in work while helping them to remain independent for as long as possible. Physiotherapy is a science-based profession and takes a ‘whole person’ approach to health and well-being, which includes the patient’s general lifestyle. At the core is the patient’s involvement in their own care, through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment. *generalisations aren't often helpful and don't give the whole picture but can save time.