Osteopathy

Osteopath Southeast Melbourne

Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach to injury and pain management.

The body is made up of your muscles, skeletal system, circulation, nerves and everything in between. Together, these disparate parts facilitate structure, movement and function.

Osteopathy recognises that dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system can influence other parts of the body. Thus, treatment for injuries and chronic pain needs to look beyond localised pain and consider whether your musculoskeletal system is functioning properly as a whole.

All osteopaths are AHPRA-registered primary healthcare practitioners. Using their formal training in musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and pathology, they prescribe tailored treatment programs that:

  • Decrease muscle tension and tightness
  • Increase joint range and mobility
  • Improve musculoskeletal alignment and symmetr

In addition to manual therapy, our team recognise the role that work, lifestyle and nutrition play in your health and wellbeing. To ensure these aspects of health are also looked after, we may prescribe at-home techniques and advice designed to ensure that every facet of a patient’s health is cared for.

This holistic approach to health can help insulate patients from future injury and promote the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.

When Should You Visit an Osteopath?

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If you have pain or mobility issues

The body is a system of interconnected parts – as such, pain relief and injury management strategies can’t just look at individual joints or muscles.

In many cases, pain in a particular muscle or joint can be a flow-on effect from conditions elsewhere in the body. By looking beyond the affected area, osteopathy may be able to find the cause of your pain and help you overcome it.

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If you’ve sustained an injury

An osteopath can assess and diagnose your injury and provide the right recovery treatment and timeline to safely get you back on the court or simply living a pain-free life.

Osteopathy provides strategies to help manage pain associated with injury, and may be able to assist with rehabilitation.

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If you are pregnant or postpartum

To experience an optimal delivery, your Osteopath focuses on aligning and strengthening your body, which can help create the optimal conditions for your growing baby and upcoming childbirth.

Post-partum, Osteopathy helps by correcting the changes your body undergoes while it carries a child, allowing your body to return to its baseline.

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If you want to improve overall health like posture, alignment, and strength

The way your body is aligned influences weight distribution and ultimately function, which can cause and aggravate pain elsewhere in your body.

In addition to looking at your muscles and joints, an Osteopath can also advise on your work habits, diet and lifestyle – each of which has a dramatic impact on overall health.

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If you suffer from health conditions like asthma

People with respiratory disorders like asthma tend to experience tension in key muscles that connect to the ribcage and postural related pain due to this tension.

This reduces flexibility, and can further impede breathing – by relaxing these muscles and correcting misalignments in these areas, your Osteopath may be able to improve breathing and help cope with postural pain.

Osteopathic Treatments

As a holistic health provider, Osteopaths understand that each individual case of musculoskeletal pain is unique.

After looking at your medical history and health requirements, our experienced team create a tailored treatment plan unique to you that uses a variety of different techniques.

Joint Manipulation

Joint manipulation (also known as HVLA) has come a long way since the “click and pop” techniques of the past.

Modern joint manipulation techniques are based on a much better understanding of joints, and may help restore movement to dysfunctional joints.

Remedial Massage

Our Osteopaths apply pressure to muscle knots, sources of tension and trigger points deep in your tissue.

Remedial Massage relaxes the muscles and promotes the flow of blood and lymph which may assist with cases of muscle pain.

Dry Needling

As opposed to acupuncture treatments, dry needling uses an in-depth understanding of the human body to directly target trigger points in the muscles.

Using fine needles, dry needling releases muscles and undoes knots, which can restore your mobility and may help relieve tension and pain.

Joint Mobilisation

Joint mobilisation treatments put your joints “through their paces”.

Using gentle back-and-forth oscillations, your osteopath helps restore joints to their normal range of motion by gradually working them through natural levels of resistance.

Muscle Energy Technique (MET)

By harnessing a patient’s own muscles, MET may be able to assist patients with cases of joint immobility and pain.

Tight muscles can affect joint mobility by pulling on bones. Using a series of contractions and relaxations, MET loosens and lengthens tight muscles, which may assist with joint pain and can help increase movement.

Myofascial Release

When the fibrous connective tissue (fascia) that connect your muscles, organs and joints become tense, inflamed and immobile, you may experience restricted movement and pain.

Myofascial release applies direct and indirect pressure to inflamed or immobile fascia. Direct firm pressure forces the fascia to stretch, while indirect pressure gently encourages and guides the fascia to release on their own.

Osteopathy Treats More Than Just Pain and Mobility Issues

To overcome injury and lead your most energetic life doesn’t mean you need to rely on drugs or undergo expensive surgeries.

By correcting structure and alignment, Osteopathic treatments may relieve pain and improve the way your body functions overall, letting you lead your best and most active lifestyle.

In addition to pain management, Osteopathy can also be employed proactively, empowering patients with knowledge about their complaint and helping them to lead healthier, more active lifestyles.

Osteopathy can potentially improve overall health and wellbeing by sharing advice on:
Nutrition
Physical activity
Lifestyle habits
Ergonomics

Our experienced Osteopaths educate and advise, providing patients with the tools necessary to avoid future pain or injury and enjoy life at their physical best.

Your osteopath is a professional

Your Osteopath is a highly trained healthcare professional. To hold the title, applicants need to complete a 5-year double degree of Bachelor in health and applied sciences, and a postgraduate degree in osteopathy.

These feature a heavy emphasis on:

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomechanics
  • Pathology
  • General healthcare diagnosis
  • Osteopathic techniques

As a government-registered primary healthcare provider, you do not need a GP referral to see your local osteopath.

Additionally, many health insurance providers provide cover for osteopathic treatment, meaning you can claim for the treatment (be sure to check your policy.)

What To Expect At Your First Osteo Appointment

  • We’ll ask you detailed questions about your symptoms or pain, and if you’ve had any prior treatment to address it
  • If you have any previous x-rays or scans, bring them along with you to your session
  • We’ll take a thorough past medical history to help complete the picture
  • We then conduct a physical assessment where we look at movement and restriction in the body, particularly problem areas like the spine, neck, and back
  • Perform any relevant diagnostic tests such as blood pressure, reflexes, special tests to confirm the diagnosis
  • We’ll then discuss the prescribed treatment plan, including what’s involved, how long it will last for, and how often you should visit us
  • We’ll also recommend any accompanying home care advice and complementary treatments (like Clinical Pilates) that can help improve your recovery
  • Osteopathy involves deep tissue techniques, so it’s completely normal to feel a little sore or stiff after your first treatment session
Call (03) 9570 3388