Your Local Osteopath in Bournemouth
Book an Appointment with an Osteopath
If you’ve been looking for a Bournemouth Osteopath that offers a range of treatments, look no further than SoCo Therapies.
An osteopath can help people with a wide range of aches and pains. Are you experiencing back pain, joint stiffness, or headaches? At SoCo Therapies, we employ highly skilled osteopaths in Bournemouth who are able to help alleviate the symptoms you may be suffering from through a therapeutic and hands-on approach.
Our philosophy is to assess each individual case individually, not applying a one size fits all approach when treating patients. We pride ourselves on being able to provide an alternative treatment that patients can return to repeatedly.
If you’d like to find out more about our osteopathy treatments please give us a call at 01202 422 000 or send us an email at wecare@socotherapies.co.uk.
Our osteopaths at SoCo Therapies are highly trained and will assess you as a whole, looking at lots of different factors that may be affecting your symptoms.
We aim for long-term health, not just a short-term fix and so we may suggest various exercises to help aid your recovery or maintain your improvements.
What is Osteopathy?
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Osteopaths are manual therapists, that assess, diagnose and treat an array of musculoskeletal conditions, including those relating to the bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Osteopathy uses hands-on treatment to improve both structure and function, using methods such as soft-tissue techniques, mobilisations to gently move the joints and manipulations.
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If no or minimal improvement has been gained at this point, we will be honest with you and provide you with advice of what to do next.
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Lower back pain is the main complaint we see, closely followed by neck pain.
We understand every patient is different and that similar symptoms can be explained by a range of different conditions so we will take our time to diagnose you properly.
We use osteopathic techniques to treat a wide range of conditions including:
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Lower Back Pain
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Sciatica
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Neck Pain
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Headaches
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Shoulder Problems
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Arthritic Pain
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Trapped Nerves
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Tennis Elbow
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Many more...
Can our Osteopaths in Bournemouth help?
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Osteopathy can be used to treat a wide range of conditions affecting the bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons. At SoCo Therapies, we will never claim to treat something that is beyond our remit.
We will do a thorough assessment for signs of something more serious occurring that may need different expertise or further investigations, such as scans, and give you our report of findings.
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There is never a guarantee with treatment but we have a high success rate. We will always do a review after the first 4 sessions and discuss with you whether proceeding with treatment is suitable.
What is Osteopathy used for?
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Osteopathy is a form of complementary medicine that aims to treat the whole person.
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Osteopaths work with the muscles, ligaments and joints to ensure the right movement is encouraged throughout the body.
Osteopathy treatment process
During the first session, the osteopath will run through a thorough case history with you, asking you questions relating to your complaint and your medical health. This will then help build a picture of what the problem may be before we move onto a physical examination.
For the examination, the osteopath may ask you to undress to your underwear (though this can be worked around if you have any reasons you wish to not undress). You may then be asked to perform a series of movements so that the osteopath can assess your joints.
After this, the practitioner may move you passively and perform a few tests so that they are able to give you a diagnosis on that first session. You will also receive treatment in that first session.
Treatment may involve the following:
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Soft tissue techniques (similar to massage or stretching)
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Mobilisations (gentle movements of the joints)
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Dry needling (western form of acupuncture)
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Manipulations (small, quick movements of the joints that may release gas from the joint - creating a popping sound)
Every person is different, so treatment is individual. Some treatments may involve all of the techniques above, whilst others only require one treatment type.
Whatever treatment techniques we use, we will always inform you and gain your consent before continuing.
What should I do after Osteopathy Treatment?
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After any hands-on treatment with us, whether osteopathy, sports therapy, deep tissue massage or something else, it’s quite common to experience some soreness. But don’t worry, this is completely normal as it’s a sign that the body is healing.
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Here are some helpful tips for reducing any discomfort after treatment:
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Ensure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water as this will help flush out any toxins.
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Hot baths or showers can often be useful for relaxing the muscles, although please check with your osteopath to see if this is appropriate for you.
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Stay active - we recommend you keep the muscles moving and the blood flowing by going on walks and try to avoid sitting for long periods of time.
FAQs​
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How many treatments will I need?
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Due to the individual nature of each complaint/injury, it is hard to give a general timeframe. However, after the first treatment, we will be able to give you a more informed prognosis and will run through it with you when we expect you to make a recovery. Typically, the longer you have a problem, the longer it takes for it to get better, so we always encourage patients to come in sooner rather than later.
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What should I wear?
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We will often ask patients to undress to their underwear when they come in for treatment, to be able to do a full assessment. However, we understand that some patients will be uncomfortable with this.
Each of our clinical rooms has a curtained changing area for privacy and we can offer towels where necessary. If you would prefer to wear a strappy top or sports bra (preferable one that undoes at the back) or even be treated fully clothed, we can work our way around this,
Do I need a referral from my GP?
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No, you do not need a referral to come see us. Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners, meaning they can diagnose musculoskeletal problems themselves and provide treatment based on that diagnosis.
I have private medical insurance. Can you treat me?
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We do accept some private medical insurance. Due to the changing nature of these and the differences between individual policies, please contact us to discuss this.
How long are appointments?
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A typical first appointment is about 40 minutes long, though we allow an hour, allowing time for case history, examination and some treatment. Follow-ups are usually 20-30 minutes.
On occasion, we may wish to book longer appointments, we will discuss this with you at the time of booking. We also offer free, 15-minute consultations to discuss the suitability of treatment initially.
Do you treat under 18s?
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Yes, we do. Osteopathy is suitable for any age but for appointments for young children, please call us to discuss this beforehand.
What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor?
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The main difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor is their overall approach to treatment.
While osteopaths adopt a more holistic approach and focus on treating the body as an entirety through soft tissue mobilisation, chiropractors administer adjustments to correct the misalignments of the joints
How much does Osteopathy Cost?
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Initial Consultation + Treatment
£75
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Follow-up Appointments
£50