If you’ve never been to an appointment before, you may be asking yourself, ‘is osteopathic treatment painful?’ You might also be wondering what to expect from your first session, how osteopathy can help with your condition, how long it could take before you may feel symptoms easing?
Here at Parkstone and Broadstone Osteopaths, we are dedicated to removing pain and discomfort from your body. And we know all too well that some of that discomfort can be alleviated simply by giving you the information you need in order to relax and reduce any fear of the unknown.
Therefore the simple answer to the question, ‘is osteopathic treatment painful?’ is no. However, it isn’t unusual to feel a bit stiff or sore in the days after your appointment. This is totally normal, particularly if you are being treated for an inflamed or painful injury.
Osteopathy is based on the aim of restoring your body’s normal function and joint stability in order to encourage the body to heal itself. We believe that your wellbeing is dependent on your bones, muscles, connective tissues and ligaments all working together in harmony.
This is done through a variety of both gentle and more stronger manual techniques designed to reduce pain, improve movement and encourage blood flow.
These techniques, which are chosen based on your individual needs, include:
- Soft tissue manipulation ( a form of strong massage)
- Stretching
- Articulation
- High velocity thrusts to improve joint range of motion (where safe and applicable)
Osteopathy can help increase joint mobility, relieve muscle tension, increase blood supply to your body’s tissues and aid your body’s natural healing processes.
People with the following conditions or ailments may benefit from osteopathy as they affect the bones, muscles and joints:
- Lower back or neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Arthritic associated pain
- Sports injuries
- Elbow pain
- General Muscle/joint pain
Your first appointment will typically last for around 45 mins as it will include an initial consultation before treatment commences. Subsequent osteopathy sessions will take around 30 minutes.
Is osteopathic treatment painful? Osteopathy is rarely painful but there may be times when you will have a reaction after your session such as a mild ache or a slightly bruised feeling. Your osteopath will discuss this with you and will offer advice on exercises and tips for faster recovery at home.
Everyone is different – some people will only need to visit an osteopath once or twice, whilst others will need more treatments before their symptoms are alleviated. On average, it takes three to four sessions to get you back to your original level of mobility. This will depend on a few factors, such as your age, overall health and fitness level. However, some patients will benefit with regular maintenance sessions, these will be covered by your Osteopath during your sessions.
We hope you found our article, ‘Is osteopathic treatment painful?’ of interest. Please do not hesitate to get in contact for more information.
