Here’s what to expect when you see an osteopath at Four Health. If you have any questions then please email us.
Your first consultation will begin with a detailed case history
Lots of questions will be asked about your presenting complaint and also about your general health. It is important to ask these questions so we can understand what you’re going through and to aid us in diagnosing the problem accurately. This part of the consultation may take around 15 minutes.
A physical evaluation will be conducted
To further aid the case history process it is usually appropriate to assess you physically. How and what we assess will depend on your presenting complaint. This will be explained to you by your osteopath. On occasion it may be required for you to remove some of your outer clothing. We recommend bringing clothes you feel comfortable dressing down to – this could be shorts, a vest, loose fitting sports wear and modest underwear.
A diagnosis will be presented to you
After the case history and examination we will present our diagnosis to you. We will explain what we think the problem is and how it was caused, how long it may take to get better, and the number of treatments required.
Treatment
Treatment will be offered on the first appointment when appropriate. As there is a lot of information-gathering on your first appointment please don’t be alarmed if there is limited time for treatment. It is very important for us to understand your condition fully so that we can offer you the best care moving forward.
Aftercare advice
At the end of the session your osteopath will give you advice on pain relief and may recommend specific stretches and exercises for you to do at home. It is important that when possible you do what is advised, as the best outcomes from treatment tend to be when the patient and osteopath collaborate together.
Questions
If at any point you are unclear about what is being said to you by your osteopath, please ask them to clarify or explain. We welcome any questions at any point during consultation. After all, it is your consultation.