How long is an appointment?

A first osteopathy appointment takes up to 90 minutes, follow up appointments take up to 45 minutes .

(All appointment timings include a few minutes for administration, payment, re-booking etc)

How much does it cost?

Osteopathy
  • Initial consultation (up to 90 minutes): £60
  • Follow up consultation (up to 45 minutes): £50
  • Course of 6 follow up treatments: £250 (pay for 5, get 1 free) – please see the prices page for more details
Sports massage
  • Initial session (45 minutes – includes a short assessment): £46
  • Follow up session (45 minutes): £46

How many sessions will I need?

This is a really good question, but it’s very difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all answer; every person is different and it depends a lot on the condition being treated. While it’s often possible to provide an answer to this question during the first appointment, sometimes it may take a couple of sessions (seeing how you respond to treatment) before it becomes clear. A key part of the approach at Bodywright is that treatment is tailored to your individual needs and you’ll never be encouraged to attend more appointments than necessary – if one or two sessions is all it takes to make you feel better, that definitely counts as a success!

What should I wear?

As with any healthcare appointment, it may be necessary for your osteopath to ask you to remove some clothing. Your osteopath will need to examine the area(s) of your body causing discomfort, although sometimes the underlying cause of the problem may be in a different area to where you feel the pain, so they may also need to examine other areas as well. If you feel you may be uncomfortable undressing to your underwear, you might want to bring shorts to change into, ladies may wish to wear a sports bra or a small cropped gym top. Your osteopath will want you to feel at ease, so please do discuss this with them if necessary.

What does treatment involve?

Treatment may include physical manipulation, stretching or massage to increase the mobility of joints, relieve muscle tension, and enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues which can help your body’s own healing mechanisms. I may also recommend exercises for you to perform at home or offer advice on postural or lifestyle changes that can be made to assist with healing and prevent problems returning.

What about the “clicking”?

One thing osteopaths do seem to be known for is “clicking” or “cracking” backs!  While this can be a very effective treatment in some cases, rest assured that this isn’t something I do for all patients – it has to be necessary and appropriate and would only ever be carried out with the patient’s prior consent.  If it’s not something you’re comfortable with, there are other treatment approaches I can use.

Does the treatment hurt?

If you’re already in a lot of pain when you visit, some of the tests during the examination might be a bit uncomfortable, but I will always work with you to keep this to a minimum.  Patients usually find that the treatment is relieving rather than painful – the phrase “no pain, no gain” doesn’t always apply here! Some residual soreness can occur for a day or two after treatment but this usually goes away quickly.

How many treatments will I need?

This question can be very difficult to answer.  It depends on many factors, which makes giving a one-size-fits-all answer essentially impossible.  However, I will always try to assist you with your problem in as few treatments as possible, after which any further appointments (e.g. for “maintenance”) will be entirely of your chosing.

What is “maintenance”?

Many patients find they like to come in for an appointment on a regular or semi-regular basis, potentially helping to prevent any problems returning or new ones arising.  This can be likened to keeping a car running well by having it serviced reguarly or visiting your dentist regularly to have your teeth checked and cleaned.

What areas of the body do you treat?

Almost all of them – it’s probably fair to say that osteopaths can treat muscloskeletal problems in virtually all areas of the body, but to give you a flavour this could include: back, neck, shoulders, hips, pelvis, knees, ankles, feet, elbows, wrists, hands or even the jaw.

What conditions can you treat?

While osteopaths are probably best known for treating bad backs, osteopathy can potentially help with a lot of other conditions as well, including: neck pain, headaches or migraines, joint pain (including arthritis pain), sports injuries, muscle spasms and sciatica. Some cases of frozen shoulder and tennis or golfer’s elbow are very amenable to osteopathic treatment. Generally speaking, if it hurts I can take a look at it for you, and you can be confident that if it isn’t suitable for osteopathy treatment I will give you honest advice on where to seek help instead.

What ages do you treat?

Osteopathy is suitable for all ages, although treatment of babies and very young children tends to be more of a specialist area. At Bodywright I routinely treat older children, teenagers and adults of all ages. If in doubt, please get in contact and I’ll be happy to discuss things with you.

Please note that patients under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Is osteopathy suitable for my problem?

Please feel free to get in contact and I will be happy to discuss things with you to decide whether osteopathy can help.

Can I bring someone else with me?

You are welcome to bring a friend or relative who can be present for some or all of your treatment.