Health is not simply the absence of disease or pain. It is a state of balance and harmony between the body and mind of a person. In health, a person should be able to respond to events such as accidents, infections or emotional stress, deal with these events and restore itself to optimum health afterwards.
The majority of people are not in full health, but are carrying an accumulation of the effects of different traumatic events that have happened to them during their life.
People often wonder.........
What is an Osteopath?
Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners who recognise the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine which facilitates healing by focusing on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as a holistic unit.
Osteopaths must be a member of the governing body: Osteopathic Council of NZ which has strict regulations on qualifications and continued proffessional development.
Osteopaths are ACC registered providers. You do not need a GP referral to receive ACC cover.
Your Osteopath can make the appropriate referrals to other specialists for you depending on your injury, be it for X-Rays, Ultrasound, Orthopaedic review etc.
Osteopathy is suitable for all ages and abilities.
What do Osteopaths Treat?
Here's the Answer....
- "Osteopathy is most commonly associated with musculo-skeletal medicine - biomechanical back and neck pain, sport or work injuries, or other joint or muscle disorders." (Osteopaths New Zealand)
- However, as osteopathy is a holistic form of healthcare which helps individuals improve or restore health and well being, there are many other reasons someone may visit an Osteopath
- To list a few:
- Headaches
- Back & Neck Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Pregnancy Pain & Post-Birth Pain
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- All joints injuries; shoulders, elbows, wrists , knees, hips etc
- Arthritis
- Digestive problems
- Muscle strains
- Joint Sprains
- Whiplash
- & much more!
More about Osteopathy
"Using skilled evaluation, diagnosis and a wide range of hands-on techniques, osteopaths can identify important types of dysfunction in your body. Osteopathic treatment uses techniques such as stretching and massage for general treatment of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) along with mobilisation (moving) and manipulation (clicking) of specific joints and soft tissues using direct or indirect techniques.
In New Zealand, osteopaths are university trained in anatomy, physiology, pathology, general medical diagnosis and osteopathic techniques. Osteopaths are trained to recognise conditions which require medical referral. They work with other registered health professionals including general practitioners, specialists and radiologists to provide the best service to their patients.
Osteopaths are registered ACC treatment providers, and you do not require a referral from your GP to receive ACC covered treatment. Osteopathic treatment is also covered by some private health insurers." (Extract taken form the Osteopaths New Zealand Website)