What To Expect From Your Appointment

Before Your First Visit
Paperwork & What to Bring 

Prior to your consultation, you may download the Patient Information and Registration Form and complete most of it ahead of time.  Otherwise please arrive ten to fifteen minutes early for your first appointment to fill out a small amount of paperwork. Note: if you do choose to pre-complete the patient registration, please do not sign the consent form until you have spoken to your osteopath and had the chance to ask any questions you may have.

Please bring any current or relevant Xrays, scans or medical reports. If your child is having a treatment, please bring their blue book and a favorite toy or book to help keep them entertained.

Initial Consultation
History, Assessment & Treatment

Your initial consultation will last around 40-50 minutes, and starts with a detailed case history, asking you about how we can help you and any relevant medical and family history.  

Note: You may be asked to undress to your underwear for examination and treatment, so please wear appropriate underclothing. Towels will be used to cover areas of the body not undergoing examination or treatment. 

Examination consists of various osteopathic, orthopaedic, neurological and other special tests. These are done to better understand what is causing your problem, and to ensure that you are safe to treat.

After the examination, a working diagnosis will be reached and a treatment plan discussed.  This may or may not include osteopathic treatment at that time, if we want to talk to your GP about some of the issues raised (we will ask you if we can do this).

Second Consultation
Exercise Management Program & Treatment

The second session is usually dedicated to creating an individualised exercise program to help you to meet your treatment goals. Exercise programs range from stretching and mobilising routines, to strength, stamina and co-ordination regimes, and even specialised vestibulocochlear (for balance) and neuromuscular rehabilitation programs can also be devised as necessary (for example, after injuries or surgery).

Exercise programs and necessary equipment will be provided as part of the consultation at no extra fee.

Subsequent Consultations
Treatment

These typically last around half an hour, with a brief review of progress and examination of previously and newly identified key areas, followed by further treatment.

Treatment consists of gentle stretching, mobilisation and soft-tissue (massage). For more information on how osteopaths treat, click here.

As part of your management plan, you may be asked to perform a home exercise regime.  Appointments that include exercise prescription or review may last a little longer, around 45 minutes. Any necessary equipment, e.g. Thera-Band (R), foam rollers etc. is included as part of the consultation.