Your First Appointment

Your initial consultation is a little longer to allow time to:

• Listen carefully to your health concerns and goals

• Take a detailed medical and injury history

• Understand how your symptoms are affecting your daily life

• Explain osteopathy and how it may support your recovery

Your osteopath will discuss findings with you and outline a proposed treatment approach. You are always welcome to ask questions at any point.

Examination and Treatment

With your informed consent, your osteopath may carry out:

• Observation of posture and movement

• Palpation (hands-on assessment) of joints, muscles, and tissues

• Orthopaedic, neurological, or functional tests where appropriate

Treatment is individualised and tailored specifically to you. Techniques may include gentle hands-on approaches such as soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, cranial osteopathy, or other techniques suited to your presentation and comfort.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Your treatment plan may change over time as your body responds and your needs evolve.

What to Wear

We recommend wearing comfortable, stretchy, or loose-fitting clothing that allows you to move freely. Tight or restrictive clothing may limit your range of movement and make assessment and treatment more difficult. If needed, you may be asked to adjust or remove certain garments, and your comfort and dignity will always be respected.

Individualised Care & Outcomes

Osteopathic care recognises that everyone is different.

Outcomes can vary depending on:

• The nature, severity, and duration of your condition

• Predisposing factors (such as past injuries or medical history)

• Maintaining factors (such as work demands, stress, posture, or lifestyle)

• The body’s natural healing capacity

• Physiological time required for tissues to heal

For these reasons, no guarantees can be made regarding outcomes. Your osteopath will regularly review progress with you and adapt care as needed.

After Treatment – What You Might Notice

Following treatment, it is common for some people to experience:

• Mild soreness or stiffness

• Temporary fatigue

• A feeling that the body is “adjusting” to change

These responses are usually short-lived and settle within 24–48 hours. Your osteopath may provide guidance on self-care, movement, hydration, or gentle exercises to support recovery.

If you experience symptoms that concern you, we encourage you to get in touch.

Risks and Safety

Osteopathy is generally considered a safe form of healthcare when provided by a registered osteopath.

As with any hands-on treatment, there are small risks, which your osteopath will discuss with you. These may include temporary discomfort or soreness after treatment.

Certain techniques, such as high-velocity thrust (HVT) techniques, including those applied to the cervical (neck) region, carry very rare but recognised risks. These techniques are not routinely used and will only be considered when clinically appropriate, following careful assessment and discussion. Your explicit informed consent will always be obtained before any such technique is used, and alternatives are always available.

You are never obliged to consent to any technique and can withdraw consent at any time.

Working Together

Your osteopath works in partnership with you. Open communication is important, and your comfort, understanding, and consent are central to your care.

We encourage you to:

• Share any concerns or preferences

• Let us know if something doesn’t feel right

• Ask questions at any stage

Your wellbeing is our priority, and we are here to support you on your health journey.