Mr Samuel Morris BSc Hons (Ost), MSc

 

Choosing a healthcare provider is important. You need to be informed about the nature of their practice to make sure that it suits both you and your condition. You need to know what will happen during your appointment and what to expect from treatment.

Take a look through this section for answers to questions that are frequently asked about osteopathy. This will help to prepare you for your first appointment and give some useful insights into the experience of receiving osteopathic treatment. 

 

 

What do osteopaths do?

Osteopathy is a system of healthcare that emphasizes the importance of alignment, mobility and strength in the muscles and joints. Using massage, mobilisation and manipulation techniques, reinforced by guidance on exercise, posture and lifestyle, osteopaths can effectively treat a wide range of conditions throughout the body. This breadth of approach allows us to focus on every patient’s precise needs. Osteopaths assess and treat people of any age from the elderly to the newborn and from pregnant women to sports people. However, please note that Samuel Morris does not treat babies or toddlers.

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What conditions do you treat?

Samuel can provide effective, individualised treatments for many conditions, including:

• Back & neck pain

• Sciatica and 'trapped nerves'

• Joint pains (shoulders, hips, knees etc)

• Headaches related to neck tension

• Sports Injuries

• Arthritic & rheumatic pain

• Frozen shoulder

• Tennis Elbow

• Muscle spasms

• Fibromyalgia



What qualifications does an osteopath hold?

The name 'osteopath' is protected by statute, meaning that it is illegal to call yourself an osteopath unless you are qualified and registered with the General Osteopathic Council. An osteopath must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar in structure to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 1,000 hours of training in osteopathic technique and clinical training. Having completed the degree and clinical training, osteopaths must pass a registration examination to be included on the register of the General Osteopathic Council. 



What will happen at the first appointment?

Firstly, Samuel will take great care to help you relax and understand exactly what to expect. He will begin by taking your details and your GPs details. He may want to know about your leisure time activities and your working practices. He will then ask you to explain your condition and will ask some questions in order to understand the details. Next Samuel will enquire about your general medical history. Once this is done, you will may be required to remove some items of clothing - this is so that a medical/physical examination can be performed. Palpation is normally used to help diagnose the problem, this usually means that the osteopath feels around the affected area for signs of muscle tension and joint motion. Samuel may use orthopaedic tests to help him to identify the reason for your pain. He will then discuss his findings with you - this is important as a good understanding of your condition will help you to manage it properly, which may well speed your recovery. Samuel is a tutor at university level and he strongly believes in helping his clients toward a useful understanding of what is happening in their bodies. As long as osteopathic treatment is appropriate it will commence at the first appointment. If your problem is not suitable for osteopathic treatment, Samuel will explain why and suggest an appropriate referral.

 

Do I need to bring anything with me?

If you have ever had any x-rays or scans that relate to your problem, it is useful to give the osteopath a copy of the results. Normally this would be in the form of a written 'radiologist's report'. If you do not have access to the report, any details which you are able to acquire are beneficial. If you are taking any medications, please bring details of them with you. Any details of past medical history that you can provide will be of relevance during the consultation.

 

Does it hurt?

Many osteopathic techniques are very gentle, but some soft tissue treatment can cause mild discomfort. Samuel will tell you what to expect, and will want you to let him know if you are in any pain at all. You may feel stiff or sore after treatment. This is a normal, healthy response and should only last 24-48 hours.