Before your first appointment
Whether you choose our clinic or another osteopath you should always check that they are registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), the regulatory body for osteopathy. You can do this by checking the Register (http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/register-search/) which lists osteopaths by name, registration number and location, or by calling GOsC on 020 7357 6655 x242.
Case history
Your first visit will involve a detailed medical assessment where we will ask questions about your problem, your general health, other medical care you are receiving or medication you are taking, and record this in your case notes.
You will also be asked about your work, diet, hobbies, and any sporting activities as this will provide valuable information for your diagnosis.
Any information you provide will be confidential and can only be shared with another health professional with your permission.
It is important that you feel comfortable and at ease throughout your treatment so please feel free to ask questions anytime during your consultation.
You are always welcome to bring a friend or relative to your appointment if you wish and a chaperone is always required where a client is under 18 years of age.
Physical examination
We may ask you to remove some of your clothing for the examination as it is important that we can assess the problem area and other areas that may be involved.
Please let us know if you are uncomfortable about undressing as it is very important that you are able to relax during your examination. In this situation a loose t-shirt and leggings/shorts can be worn.
You will be asked to make simple movements and stretches, while we observe your posture and mobility including any pain or stiffness you are experiencing. Using our hands and highly developed sense of touch we will assess the health of your joints, tissues and ligaments.
If there are signs of any serious conditions we will discuss this with you and may refer you to your GP or send you to hospital with a letter explaining what we believe to be the problem.
Treatment approach
Following your examination we will discuss our findings and agree a treatment plan with you to ensure you fully understand what we have found and are happy with the plan. It is also your opportunity to ask for additional information.
Our holistic approach will consider all of the areas that might be involved in your problem e.g. shoulder pain could also involve the neck, upper back, collarbone and ribs as these could all be affected by a shoulder problem.
The key aim of your treatment will be to improve the function of all affected nerves, muscles, ligaments, and joints. Treating these areas will help to reduce pain, improve movement and help to restore normal function.
Due to the physical nature of the treatment, it is not unusual to sometimes feel sore or stiff in the first 24–48 hours after treatment. We will explain any likely post treatment reactions that you could expect and if you have any concerns, please contact us and ask for advice.
Ongoing Care
Experience has shown that clients want to be actively involved in resolving their problems and this approach leads to better results. This is why your treatment will include advice on things that you can do to help yourself and prevent problems from reoccurring.
This may involve simple exercises, suggestions to help improve your posture, advice on your workstation setup or dietary advice.
It is sometimes necessary to refer you to back to your GP for additional tests such as an MRI scan or for more appropriate treatment. You may also be referred to another healthcare practitioner such as a physiotherapist or nutritionist to supplement your osteopathic treatment. Sollus Healthcare has established professional links with a range of therapists so you can be sure that they meet our very high standards of healthcare.
We have found that this multi-disciplinary approach leads to much better treatment results and happier clients.
Keeping your GP informed
Although referral from your GP is not necessary, we always encourage you to keep them fully informed. With your permission, we will send a report to your GP, with details of your condition and treatment and you can also request a letter for your employer, if this would be beneficial.
Addressing concerns
Although we will always do our best to support our clients if you feel that we have not met our usual very high standards of service please raise your concerns with the person involved or the clinic principal to see if the matter can be resolved. We always appreciate your feedback and promise to act on any concerns as it is important to us that we provide the best possible service to you, our clients.
If you are not satisfied that your concern has been dealt with appropriately please refer to our Complaints Procedure.