Osteopathy
Osteopathy uses movement, stretching and other manual techniques to relax your muscles, loosen up the joints and encourage your body to heal itself.
Osteopaths train in primary practice. This means we’re qualified to examine, assess and diagnose patients. However, our goal is to treat the person, not the condition. So, rather than focusing on the problem area, we put a lot of effort into getting to know your lifestyle, habits and medical history. This allows us to address the cause of your problem, instead of just treating the symptoms.
As part of your treatment, we may refer you to another health care specialist for further tests. We may also recommend lifestyle changes. For example, we may help you learn how to sit correctly to avoid straining your neck, shoulders and back.
Is Osteopathy Right for Me?
Osteopathy doesn’t involve surgery or medicines. This means we can safely treat people of all ages. Research has shown osteopathy to be helpful in treating several conditions, including:
- Back pain
- Certain types of headaches
- Chest pains caused by rib problems
- Foot and ankle pain
- Hip pain
- Pregnancy-related lower back and pelvic pain
- Problems with the pelvic bones
- Posture-related neck and upper back pain
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Shoulder strains
- Tennis elbow
Cranial Osteopathy
At times considered a ‘branch’ of osteopathy, is at times used as part of osteopathic treatment. Some patients however may benefit from a dedicated session for cranial work, especially those who have experienced benefit in the past. This is a very subtle but powerful treatment option particularly suited for newborns and infants, as palliative care and those suffering from chronic pain.
Visceral Osteopathy
Osteopaths train in manipulation of the whole body, not just spine and joints. Many osteopaths continue further training in visceral techniques, which are particularly useful when managing scar tissue, as well as digestive issues. Talk to an osteopath to discuss how we could help with any ongoing digestive issues.
Pregnancy involves a number of changes in the body, both structural and hormonal, in order to prepare the woman’s body for labour and to ensure healthy gestation of the unborn child.
Certain issues may arise from these changes, such as lower back pain, pubic symphysis dysfunction, mid-back pain, headaches and stress incontinence.
Osteopaths may play a very important role in helping the expectant mother understand these conditions, treating them when appropriate, and advise on strategies to keep comfortable and healthy during this important stage in one’s life.
It is important to have your baby checked and assessed by a qualified paediatrician who should be your point of reference for any concerns you may have. Osteopathy may also be helpful as an adjunct to this ongoing care and may provide a supportive role in the overall well-being of your child.
Techniques are extremely gentle and may be particularly helpful in the management of unsettled babies.
Sport is a great way to keep active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether it is team sport or individual sport, it helps bond people together in a healthy environment. Many can be put off by too many injuries, which are often caused by poor training techniques and biomechanical issues. Osteopathy will not only treat the problem area, but will also look at the whole body and aim to localise the root cause of the problems. They may advise on diet, training modification, as well as offer hand on treatment to correct areas of decreased mobility and thereby improve function.
Problems such as Achilles tendonitis, iliiotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, piriformis syndrome and shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis which are mostly a result of overuse and are generally preventable, are just a few of the conditions which osteopaths encounter on a daily basis.
In Osteopathy we ensure that the structural abnormalities possibly leading to the injuries are corrected, thereby reducing the likelihood of them recurring – a very important aspect when aiming to perform better in sport.
All our practitioners are trained in Kinesio Taping Methods and may use taping as part of the overall treatment.
Since in osteopathy there is focus on all body systems, including emotional states and wellbeing, the elderly individual is often helped overcome situations where they may have perhaps been previously classified as ‘untreatable’ or ‘having to live with’ their present condition. Whilst there is very little one can do to reverse degenerative or arthritic changes in the body, gentle mobilisation as well as advice, may help the person regain their confidence and ease pain in areas where movement was restricted.
Osteopaths are very aware of potential side effects of manipulation, and therefore carefully select techniques to suit the particular individual.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No. Your osteopath will make sure they can help you before they start any treatment. They’ll also refer you for further examinations or to another healthcare professional if necessary. Your osteopath won’t treat you unless they’re sure of the diagnosis. That said, it’s always a good idea to discuss health issues and concerns with your GP.
You’ll need a doctor’s referral if you’re paying for treatment through your health insurance.
Most osteopaths in Europe train for four to five years. They usually graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree or a Masters degree (M. Ost.). Some Osteopaths choose to study further in order to increase their knowledge about an area of interest, to contribute to research or to teach.
No. Osteopathy is a separate system of manual medicine, distinct from other healthcare professions.
No. Osteopathy and physiotherapy are different professions. In Europe, some professionals are qualified in both. However, they usually choose to practice only one of them.
No. Osteopaths have a very thorough knowledge of bones, joints and ligaments, but they don’t focus on one area of the body. They look at the big picture. In other words, they look at your mind, bones, muscles, ligaments and organs and how they interact. This is why osteopathic treatment can be very helpful in conditions that affect your skeleton and muscles.
Osteopaths try to be as gentle as possible while treating patients. And they constantly ask for feedback to make sure you’re comfortable. You may experience some discomfort when your osteopath is working on a problematic area. However, this is usually very tolerable. Some soreness after a session is normal, and should get better after 48 hours.
Our clinic is located in Ta’-Xbiex, opposite the entrance to the Gala Supermarket, in Triq Giorgio Mitrovich.
At the bottom of each section of this website you can find a location map. By clicking on it, you will be able to get directions to the clinic.
It depends on the type of session (if it is a first visit or a follow-up). The duration usually ranges between half an hour and 45 minutes. Osteopathy treatments can be booked up to one hour, depending on the patient’s specific condition.
Osteopathy and physiotherapy treatments can be claimed with insurance, depending on your specific plan. Just bear in mind that most insurances request a referral from a GP, so ideally you should have your insurance form filled in by your family doctor as well.