What You Can Expect During Your First Consultation with an Osteopath

If you have decided to visit an osteopath in Toronto, you may be wondering what to expect during your first consultation. Before booking your first appointment, you should check that they are registered with the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO). You can do this by checking the register on the OAO’s website, www.osteopathyontario.org. Once you are satisfied that your osteopath is registered, you can schedule your first consultation.

Your First Consultation

Typically, osteopathy is a patient-centred form of healthcare. This means that it focuses on your body as a whole. During your first consultation, your osteopath will spend some time listening to your complaint and asking you questions about your health and lifestyle. The information you provide will be recorded in your case notes.

Your Physical Examination

Following taking your medical history, your osteopath will examine your body. It is likely that they will ask you to remove some or all of your clothing so that they can see and touch the areas causing you concern. If you are uncomfortable about the prospect of a physical examination, tell your osteopath. They may suggest that you wear clothing that will enable them to examine you without making you feel uncomfortable.

During your examination, your osteopath may ask you to perform simple movements and stretches so that they can observe your posture and mobility. They may also examine your joints using their hands and a highly developed sense of touch known as palpation.

Your Osteopathic Treatment

Following your examination, your osteopath will explain their findings and discuss a suitable treatment plan, which may include osteopathic manipulation (OMT). OMT is a system of treatment designed to restore your body’s normal functioning. There are several different types of OMT techniques, including:

• Soft tissue techniques, which apply pressure to the muscles around your spine.
• Muscle energy techniques, which require you to use your muscles to counter the forces applied by your osteopath.
• Thrust techniques, which use high velocity forces to restore motion to your joints.

While OMT is beneficial for many common musculoskeletal complaints, such as lower back pain, you should avoid this therapy if you have bone cancer, bone or joint infection, or severe osteoporosis. Otherwise, trust the leading provider of osteopathy services in Toronto, like Sage Health and Wellness Clinic.

Sources:

What to Expect from an Osteopathy Consultation (osteopathy.org)
An introduction to osteopathy (bso.ac.uk)
Osteopathic Manipulation (my.clevelandclinic.org)