Prior to a treatment, I will do a full medical assessment, taking the time to listen and ask questions about your medical history and your day-to-day routine. Observation of your posture and range of motion, for example, are coupled with medical, neurological, orthopaedic tests to rule out non-osteopathic diagnoses.
Using touch (palpatory tests), I may also find the areas which are sensitive or tight – helpful in indicating a dysfunction in the body. This gentle palpation detects the position, mobility and quality of the body’s tissues. The resulting diagnosis may indicate that osteopathy is not appropriate, and in that case I will refer you to another specialist.
Treatment is specific to each patient, but may include cranial techniques (sometimes referred to as ‘cranial osteopathy’), functional, visceral, structural and joint mobilization; thereby, releasing tension, stretching or strengthening muscles, helping relieve pain and mobilizing specific joints. We may also discuss exercises that you can do to improve your posture, movement and function in everyday life.
Jonathan Masson 