Your First Osteopathy Consultation
One of our consultation rooms at Falmouth Osteopathic Clinic
Attending your first Osteopathy appointment can be a daunting and unfamiliar situation for some. We want to make sure that the initial steps to you seeking help for your pain or injury are as smooth and comfortable as possible.
When you are booking your first Osteopathy consultation, our friendly and helpful reception team will provide information on what to expect, what to wear, length of consultation, parking etc. and give time to answer questions that you may have.
A 45-minute new client appointment tends to suit most people, however we recommend for people with multiple injuries and/or complex health histories to book a 60-minute initial consultation.
First Consultation Structure
A case history is taken with discussion of the issue that you are coming to the clinic for, relevant medical questions which can help to narrow down a diagnosis or to consider causes of your symptoms.
You will be asked about previous operations, current medications, and diagnosed health conditions.
An examination is then undertaken.
This involves looking and feeling the movement of joints and muscles, and the use of special tests to consider different anatomical structures to narrow down possible diagnoses until a diagnosis can be provided.
Your Osteopath will then discuss the diagnosis, the approach to treatment and management, and the predicted progression.
If your diagnosis means that you are unsuitable for treatment or if you require further investigations or if a diagnosis cannot be achieved, your Osteopath will ensure that you are referred for the right investigations or to the right healthcare professionals who can help with your issue.
If your diagnosis means that treatment is appropriate, there will likely be time during the initial consultation to receive treatment and advice.
Important information
An examination may require you to undress certain areas of the body – if you are not happy with such a request, please inform your Osteopath immediately.
Considering different clothing for different areas of the body is important.
Bottomline is that you should feel comfortable and be able to move unhindered by clothing – no denim, no belts, no smart shirts/blouses.
Think of what you could wear in relation to the issue - if your issue is with your knee please wear/bring shorts with you to your appointment or wear suitable comfortable underwear. If your issue is with your shoulder, wear a sports bra/vest top etc.
If you would like to bring a chaperone with you that is okay. However, if you decide on the day that you would like a chaperone, one of our team will be happy to act as a chaperone on your behalf.
If for any reason, you would prefer to be treated by a specific member of the team, please specify this at the time of booking.
If you have any medical letters or reports, it can be useful for us to see these and make a copy to add to your medical notes.
If you have any further questions, please contact us and we are happy to help.
Click the link to submit an online contact form and we will get back to you when we can: Contact Page
