Osteopathy in adults
The osteopath is expert in assessing the mobility and interrelationship of all tissues of the body. He or she uses only the hands. It is a safe method with low treatment frequency. Treatment focuses on acute, chronic or misunderstood complaints such as back pain, neck pain, headaches or abdominal pain.
What is osteopathy?
Health is movement. The osteopath is expert in assessing the mobility and interrelationship of all tissues of the body. Treatment focuses on relieving or eliminating physical complaints such as back, neck, head or abdominal pain so that you can regain optimal health. An osteopath does not use drugs or equipment for treatment. He uses only his hands. It is a safe method with low treatment frequency.
Why go to an osteopath?
Often patients have long-term symptoms that are not understood or where other therapy does not produce sufficient results. Then it is good to look in a different way. Not just your complaint but you as a whole is the focus. An osteopath takes the time to listen carefully to you and examine your body. Everything in the body needs movement to function properly. An osteopath is trained to sense loss of motion and determine if it is related to your symptoms. The symptoms and the place where the osteopath treats are not necessarily in the same place, after all, in your body everything is interconnected. In addition, an osteopath will teach you a lot about the background of your complaint and what you can do about it yourself to improve your health. The osteopath collaborates with other disciplines.
What can I expect on a first visit?
The first time, the osteopath asks questions about your complaint, medical history and lifestyle habits. This way, he tries to find out which tissue is causing your symptoms. This is followed by a comprehensive physical examination. The osteopath manually examines in which tissues there is loss of movement. Loss of motion causes tissues to not be in optimal condition, which can lead to symptoms more quickly. After the examination, the osteopath discusses what he has determined and draws up a treatment plan. Thanks to their training, osteopaths recognize complaints that require further investigation by the family doctor or specialist, for example. If necessary, the osteopath refers to them.
An osteopath uses the hands to examine and treat stuck or tense tissues, restoring flexibility and mobility to the body.
What happens in treatment?
During treatment, the osteopath uses his hands to restore mobility to body tissues one by one. Usually the treatment feels pleasant. An interval between treatments is one or more weeks. During that time, the body can repair itself and come to a new balance. Often three to five treatments are sufficient for recovery or marked improvement. A visit to an osteopath takes half an hour to an hour. After treatment, you may experience headaches, fatigue or (temporary) worsening of the complaint for a short time. The advice is to take it easy after treatment. Rather wait with fanatical exercise until the next day. Osteopathy can help for a variety of complaints at all ages. Consider muscle, tendon, abdominal or joint problems, breathing problems, hormonal or emotional issues.
Cost and reimbursement
Most health insurance companies reimburse an osteopathic consultation in whole or in part from the supplementary package. A referral from a (primary) physician is not necessary. For a comprehensive list of health insurance companies and their reimbursements click here.
Frequently asked questions Osteopathy in adults
An osteopath is a therapist who specializes in treating the human body as a whole. The goal of osteopathic treatment is to help the body heal and balance itself. This is done by improving the body’s movement and function through manual techniques, such as manipulations, mobilizations, stretching and massage. Osteopaths treat a wide range of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, headaches, digestive problems, etc.
The biggest difference between an osteopath and a physical therapist is the philosophy behind the treatment. A physical therapist focuses primarily on relieving pain and improving the functionality of specific body parts through exercises and therapies. An osteopath, on the other hand, looks at the whole body and looks for the underlying causes of symptoms. Osteopaths work to improve the patient’s overall health by restoring balance and promoting the body’s natural healing.
Osteopathy does not have to be painful. The goal of osteopathic treatments is to help the body recover and relieve pain. Depending on the condition and severity of symptoms, some manipulations and massage techniques may be slightly uncomfortable, but this should not be painful. Your osteopath will always ask you how you feel during treatment and will prioritize your comfort and well-being at all times.
The cost of osteopathic treatment can vary depending on the location and experience of the osteopath. It may also depend on the length of treatment and whether there is additional insurance coverage. Generally, the cost of osteopathic treatment is higher than that of physical therapy, but your health insurance company may cover the cost if you have supplemental insurance.
In general, osteopathy is a safe and effective form of treatment. Osteopaths are trained to work carefully and use techniques adapted to the needs of each individual patient. However, as with any form of medical treatment, there may be a risk of side effects, such as muscle pain or fatigue after treatment.
Osteopathy and physical therapy are both forms of manual therapy that focus on treating physical complaints and pain. The main difference between the two disciplines is the approach to the body.
Osteopathy is a holistic approach in which the whole body is viewed as a whole. The premise is that the body has its own healing power and the osteopath supports the body to stimulate this power. The osteopath focuses on finding and treating the cause of the symptoms and not just the symptoms. This may mean that the osteopath treats body parts other than where the symptoms are located.
Physical therapy, on the other hand, focuses more on treating the symptoms of the complaint. The physical therapist starts from a specific diagnosis and works with exercises and techniques to treat the complaint and improve the body’s function. Physical therapy can focus on specific muscles and joints and can also be used for rehabilitation after surgery or injury.
In short, the main difference between osteopathy and physical therapy is the approach to the body. Osteopathy focuses on finding and treating the cause of the complaint and supporting the body’s self-healing ability, while physical therapy focuses more on treating the symptoms and improving the body’s function.
Osteopathy and chiropractic are both manual therapies aimed at treating physical complaints and pain, but there are some important differences between the two disciplines.
One of the main differences between osteopathy and chiropractic is the approach to the body. Osteopaths view the body as a whole and focus on finding and treating the cause of symptoms. Chiropractors focus more on the spine and nervous system and assume that many complaints arise from blockages in the spine.
Another difference is the method of treatment. Osteopaths often use gentle techniques, such as mobilizations and manipulations, to improve the body’s mobility. Chiropractors use manipulations of the spine, often producing a cracking sound, to release blockages.
Finally, there is a difference in training and regulations. In the Netherlands, osteopathy is a protected professional title and an osteopath must have completed a five-year full-time training program. Chiropractic is not a protected professional title in the Netherlands, and there are several training programs in the field of chiropractic.
In short, the main difference between an osteopath and a chiropractor is the approach to the body and the method of treatment. Osteopaths focus on treating the whole body and use gentle techniques, while chiropractors focus more on the spine and often use manipulations of the spine.
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