Osteopathy

At The Oast, we know you want to stop missing out and start getting back to doing what you love. But first, you need to find a way to cope, recover and heal. But it's difficult to achieve this on your own. Your condition makes you feel trapped and frustrated that you can't do the things you want to.

Living the life you want to shouldn't have to feel out of reach.

We understand how tough it can be when pain takes over your life. That's why at The Oast we offer our patients expert advice and treatment from fully qualified practitioners to help you understand your pain and manage your recovery so you can move forward. Collectively our practitioners have over 40 years of experience helping patients young and old. The Oast Principal Claire Lloyd is also a former lecturer at the European School of Osteopathy.

Together, we develop a recovery and management plan that will give you back the freedom to live the life you deserve.

Here's how we do it:

1. Book a personalised consultation.
2. We'll listen to you and share our expert knowledge, so you can fully understand the root cause of your pain (condition/problem).
3. Together we'll develop a manageable recovery plan and in most cases we can start your treatment straight away.
4. You regain your freedom from pain and get back to doing what you love.

So, book a consultation today.

So you can stop living a life feeling trapped by your pain, and get back to doing all the things you love again.

These treatments are available at our Sittingbourne and Isle of Sheppey locations

What can Osteopathy benefit?

Osteopathy can help provide relief for the body's structural, mechanical and functional problems in people of all ages. Here are just a few examples:

• Headaches
• Neuralgia and sinus pain
• Neck pain
• Spondylosis, tension pains
• Frozen shoulder
• Tennis and golfer's elbow
• Back problems, i.e. sciatica and referred pain
• Rheumatic and arthritic pain can also be eased
• Pregnancy and symptoms associated with this, e.g. nausea, heartburn, backache and pubic pain
• Sports injuries

We also have a baby and children's clinic running. If you are unsure whether your child may benefit from Osteopathy, please call us to discuss it.

Osteopaths can help treat women throughout their pregnancies to help relieve the symptoms induced by altered posture and weightbearing.

Sometimes, providing a list of conditions that Osteopaths can help treat gives a false picture. Osteopaths treat people not conditions. We are able to help in many ways when a person's function is affected by their structure, however that manifests.

Is Osteopathy regulated?

The Osteopathic profession in the UK is governed by The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). Since 2000, the title "Osteopath" has been protected by law. This means that it is a criminal offence to describe oneself as an Osteopath unless registered with the GOsC.

Only practitioners meeting the GOsC's high standards of competence and safety are eligible to join the register and they must also provide evidence of good health, good character and professional indemnity insurance cover.

For further information regarding the GOsC visit https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/

What can I expect from a visit to an osteopath?

On your first consultation your Osteopath will spend time with you taking a detailed case history. This will involve asking questions about your current symptoms and also about your general medical history. You will usually be asked to undress to your underwear in order for the Osteopath to carry out a thorough examination. This will allow a diagnosis and treatment plan to be devised which is tailored to your needs. In most cases the treatment plan will be started on the initial consultation depending on how long it has taken to gather all information and your Osteopath concluding osteopathy is safe to be used. Subsequent sessions will be much more treatment orientated. Should your Osteopath feel osteopathy is no the right treatment for you at this time, they will assist you in any referral or direction needed to the correct form of treatment

Here at The Oast Osteopathy we have male and female Osteopaths, so if you prefer one or the other, please discuss this when you book.

Treatment can include a range of stretching, mobilising and manipulative techniques which are designed to help restore normal function and to facilitate the body's own healing process. The Osteopath will explain what will be involved in any treatment and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Will my treatment hurt?

Osteopathic treatment is not usually painful, although the nature of some conditions may induce some discomfort. Many techniques are extremely gentle. In devising a treatment plan, the Osteopath will take into account the nature of the symptoms and also the patient's concerns.

The Osteopath will not perform a technique unless the patient is happy for him/her to proceed. Some patients are anxious about the "cracking" of joints. These are known as "High Velocity Thrust" (HVT) techniques and are an effective way of mobilising a joint that is not moving very well. Again, the Osteopath will only proceed with such a technique when it is appropriate to do so and with the patient's permission.

If you do not wish to receive these manipulations, then please discuss this with the Osteopath who will be able to carry out other techniques which are equally beneficial.

NEW PATIENT POLICY

If you have not attended an Osteopathy appointment with us in the last 18 months you will be required to book in for an initial assessment again. We pride ourselves on offering the best service to our patients and this will ensure we continue to do so.

See full practice price list here