Osteopathy
Why choose an Osteopath?
- Specialist diagnosis and effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, from head to toe.
- Quality assured, personalised health care that gets results.
- Highly skilled practitioners regulated by law.
- Dedicated to getting patients out of pain and back to optimum health.
- Short term pain relief and longer term supportive care to help you be the best you can be, not just pain free.
Specialist diagnosis
Osteopaths are trained to diagnose, manage, treat and prevent a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions (problems with the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments). By discussing your pain and symptoms with you and undertaking a thorough examination of your body, your osteopath will be able to provide you with a diagnosis and explain what the underlying cause of your problem is. As primary health care professionals, osteopaths are also able to order further tests and imaging (e.g. Xrays and MRI scans) if necessary. You do not need a GP referral to visit – simply call us to make an appointment. For more information on common conditions our osteopaths help patients with, click here.
Effective treatment
Healthcare navigators
Lifestyle advice
In addition to manual therapy, your osteopath may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote optimum health and prevent your symptoms recurring.
In safe hands - our Osteopathy expertise
Osteopaths specialise in the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal conditions (problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body). All osteopaths undertake a rigorous 4 year university degree in order to become a practitioner. The osteopathy degree course includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, nutrition and biomechanics, plus at least 1,000 hours of clinical training.
Regulated by law
Once qualified, osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council who work to ensure patient safety by maintaining a register of qualified professionals, as well as setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and conduct. It is against the law for anyone to call themselves an osteopath in the UK, unless they are registered with the General Osteopathic Council.
Safe, effective treatment
Osteopaths use a number of safe treatment techniques designed to provide effective pain relief as well as relieve muscle tension, enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. These include physical manipulation, stretching and massage. They can also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.
Your osteopath will always explain what they are doing, ask for your permission, and only ever use techniques you are 100% comfortable with when it comes to treatment, but if you have any questions or concerns at any point, your osteopath will be happy to discuss them with you.
What to expect when you visit an Osteopath
To find out more about what to expect when you visit an Osteopath at our friendly South Bristol clinic, please see below.
Initial consultation and treatment appointment for new patients
The initial focus of osteopathic treatment is pain relief. Our safe and gentle treatment techniques range from classic mobilisations and manipulations of stiff joints, muscles and tendons, to stretching and rehab exercises, cranial therapy and acupuncture for tension and pain. All treatment programmes are highly personalised and tailored to individual needs and we are always happy to discuss any concerns you may have in advance.
Initial consultation
During the initial consultation part of your first appointment, you will be given the opportunity to explain your symptoms and how they are affecting you. Your practitioner will discuss these with you in detail and investigate the cause with neurological and orthopaedic tests. Xrays and MRI scans may be ordered if needed.
You will then be given a diagnosis, which will be carefully explained to you and your treatment options will be discussed. A suggested management plan will be drawn up tailored to your comfort and needs, and mindful of any concerns you may have.
Initial treatment
The initial focus of chiropractic or osteopathic treatment is pain relief, after which the emphasis will be on restoring normal function and alignment to your body by correcting the underlying problem. Our safe and gentle treatment techniques range from classic mobilisations and manipulations of stiff joints, muscles and tendons, to stretching and rehab exercises, cranial therapy and acupuncture for tension and pain. All treatment programmes are highly personalised and tailored to individual needs and we are always happy to discuss any concerns you may have in advance. Following treatment, you will be given advice and rehabilitation to help prevent the problem reoccurring.
Follow up treatments
What to wear
Do you have more questions?
Common conditions we treat
Osteopaths are best known for treating back and neck pain, however we are specialists in assessing, diagnosing and treating a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints (problems with the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments of the body) including shoulder and arm pain, hip and knee pain, osteoarthritis and pain associated with pregnancy & childcare.
As primary health care professionals, we are also able to order further tests and imaging (e.g. Xrays and MRI scans) if necessary. You do not need a GP referral to visit – simply BOOK ONLINE or call us on 0117 9723518 to make an appointment.
See why patients love Bristol Back Pain Clinic
“Louisa and the Bristol Back Pain Clinic have honestly changed my life. I have suffered with headaches and very tight shoulders for nearly 8 years and not only has Louisa helped enormously with the pain, she has (through genuine care) reassured and validated how I feel – something that I have become unaccustomed to when going to other clinics. I’ve gone from experiencing headaches almost daily to once a month, if that, I sleep better, I am pain free most days and I feel like myself again. The treatment rooms are warm and friendly and every interaction I’ve had with the team has been positive. The appointment times are also so helpful, I can easily go before work or straight after without taking anytime off. I cannot recommend the Bristol Back Clinic enough and am looking forward to continuing with them, I only wish I’d invested in myself sooner.”
“I attended The Bristol Back Pain Clinic with pretty serious lower back and calf strain which was hampering my running, training and drumming activities. Treatment sessions are always very effective, so much so I am now completely recovered to a point where my back is better than it has been for many years. With a stretching programme supplied by Harry I maintain my lower back flexibility and attend the Bristol Back Pain Clinic on occasion for maintenance treatment sessions. Harry has never tried to sell unnecessary sessions as I have experienced with other clinics over the years. This honesty and care is why I will always be a loyal customer and will recommend Harry and his clinic with confidence.”
“Very happy with the service and treatment Harry has given me. He took the time to help me understand what the problem was as well as give me some home stretches to alleviate the pain. I have had several appointments now and can now manage the pain rather than live with it.”
“I’d been suffering with severe hip pain for 2 months and needed help. Rather than wait for a GP appointment, then wait for just one physio phonecall, I decided to be pro-active and get immediate help. Marion at The Bristol Back Pain Clinic explained how it was my lower back causing the hip pain and proceeded to stretch, manipulate and massage the afflicted parts, giving me relief even after my first visit. She researched my condition and had new treatments lined up for me during my next two visits. These worked a treat, and my mobility was almost back to 100%, so we agreed to leave a two week gap. My last treatment was a triumph because my mobility has returned to my normal pain free status-quo. THANK YOU! What is also so refreshing is that the Bristol Back Pain Clinic doesn’t try to make you continue having treatment if you don’t need it. This was the third time that I have had treatment at the Bristol Back Pain Clinic for different issues, and if I need it, I will use them again. I have recommended them to my friends and family, and my husband has used their expertise, too.”
“I’ve had four or five sessions with Harry and even from the very first session, it felt like someone had used a can of WD40 on my spine! He identified the cause of my back pain clearly and gave me stretches to do in between our sessions to keep the issue from returning. Very impressed.”
“Great work. Got to the root of the issue not only relieving short term discomfort but giving me a considered plan that has led to a long term solution. Success where others had previously failed.”
“Very happy with the service and treatment Harry has given me. He took the time to help me understand what the problem was as well as give me some home stretches to alleviate the pain. I have had several appointments now and can now manage the pain rather than live with it.”
“I’ve had four or five sessions with Harry and even from the very first session, it felt like someone had used a can of WD40 on my spine! He identified the cause of my back pain clearly and gave me stretches to do in between our sessions to keep the issue from returning. Very impressed.”
“Great work. Got to the root of the issue not only relieving short term discomfort but giving me a considered plan that has led to a long term solution. Success where others had previously failed.”
“I had suffered with a bad back for several years. After only a few visits I was on the mend. I now wish I had not left it so long before going to see them. Thank you Harry for fixing my back!”
“I had been suffering with lower back pain for years, some days moving & bending were almost impossible. After an extremely painful weekend I got in touch with the Bristol Back Pain Clinic. Let’s just say I shuffled into my first appointment & walked out like a new man. Extremely professional & extremely knowledgeable. I would recommend to anyone.”
“I started to see Harry because I had a very sore and stiff neck and suffered from severe headaches. The gentle way he treats you is very relaxing and there is no crunching and clicking – which can be a bit off-putting. With a combination of cranial work, massage and acupuncture – the headaches have almost gone. I have maintenance work every now and again just to release the pressure points and it is bliss when he releases a spot that is full of tension. Thank you Harry.”