Osteopaths assess the mobility of problem areas, ask you questions and make a diagnosis to work out the best treatment plan. You don't need a referral from a GP.
They typically use their hands to diagnose restrictions and strain and provide manual therapy to decrease pain and improve function. It's mainstream, regulated and part of the public healthcare system in New Zealand (osteopaths are registered ACC providers). Osteopaths undergo five-years university training to Masters degree level and if practising, register with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand.
From sports injuries to breathing disorders, osteopathy is safe and gentle enough to treat a wide variety of presentations and is suitable for newborns to the elderly. During National Osteopathy Awareness Week (from today until April 25), selected osteopaths will offer free 10-minute health checks.
Where osteopathy can help
Headache be gone
Headaches often originate from muscle stiffness or joint strain in the neck and upper back. Osteopathy improves muscular tension, nerve compression and inflammation. Your osteopath can advise you on posture and stretching exercises to help prevent a recurrence of symptoms. However, if it is more serious they will refer you to another health professional.
Mobility for the elderly
Many New Zealanders mistakenly believe that the effect of ageing on their body's joints is inevitable and that pain is a fact of life that they have to live with. Wrong. Osteopathy can improve mobility, balance, circulation and reduce joint stiffness and pain. Osteopaths can give guidance on gentle stretches and exercise to aid circulation, balance and muscle tone.
Back pain
Mild, severe or chronic back pain will affect most of us in the course of our lifetimes. Osteopaths are trained to differentiate between uncomplicated back pain and pain that requires referral to a specialist.
Keeping kids healthy
Given how gentle osteopathy is, it commonly relieves babies with symptoms such as constant crying, feeding difficulties, colic and reflux, neck stiffness, "clicky hips" and flat-head syndrome. Children and teenagers can be helped if they suffer from growth spurts, ear infections and trauma like broken bones, asthma, behavioural or learning difficulties and postural problems.
Pregnancy
Working with your LMC or other health professional, osteopaths help prevent and manage a wide range of pre- and post-natal conditions. Optimal pelvic mobility and alignment is important for the birth and after the birth. Osteopathy helps with musculoskeletal strains, pelvic floor weakness and back or neck pain.
Give yourself a sporting chance
Osteopathy is an effective treatment to prevention of injury from sports by aiding joint and muscle flexibility, the critical components to performance. It treats and prevents shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries, knee, leg and ankle injuries, hip and pelvic injuries and neck or back strains.
• osteopathsnz.co.nz
