They take a whole body approach to your health and treat a wide range of conditions. They use manual therapy, which includes massage, mobilisation, stretching muscles and relieving tension in the body, to help create the conditions your body needs to heal. An osteopath may also be able to identify whether a pain in one part of your body is caused by a problem somewhere else.

To qualify as an osteopath they must study for at least 4 years, learning about anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, nutrition, psycology and medical imaging as well as osteopathic technique. Osteopaths must, by law, continue their training after they graduate to keep up to date. Many osteopaths will achieve further qualification to specialise in treating specific patient groups or conditions.

Although some manipulation techniques may occasionally result in an audible click, most people find otheopathy gentle and painless. Because osteoapths take a full medical history and complete a thorough examination before starting treatement, they can ensure they use the most appropriate and safe techniques for each patient.

Osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), which works to ensure high standards of care and patient safety are maintained. In the UK it is illegal for anyone to call themselves an osteopath if they are not registered with the GOsC.

Serious adverse effects as a result of osteopathy are very rare, between one and two patients in 100,000 will experience a major adverse event as a result of osteopathic manipulation. Osteopaths take special care to check patients before treatment for existing conditions or symptoms that may indicate it might not be apprpriate to treat a patient.