Osteopathy Today

Osteopathy is recognised as an effective treatment for a wide range of painful disorders. It helps restore the function of the musculo-skeletal system (joints, muscles and ligaments), taking the stress out of the system. Patients of all ages can obtain benefit.
Treatment is tailored to suit the individual.
Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle and non-invasive form of osteopathy and often works on a very deep level. It is especially useful for the treatment of birth strains, trauma and chronic conditions.

The Treatment

Osteopathic treament consists of gentle manipulation and stretching of the muscles, ligaments and joints. Treatment is not painful and rarely uncomfortable.
Cranial osteopathy uses what practioners call "involuntary" movements of the body (circulatory pulses and other rhythms) to detect changes in tissue tension caused by old injuries or recent trauma and inflammation, or from illness, stress or habit. Small changes in tension and pressure can cause major therapeutic responses.

Conditions treated by Osteopaths

We can help you with many musculo-skeletal conditions. These include common aches and pains due to strains, falls and overuse, as well as more long-term back and neck probems. Treatment can often alleviate the problems associated with stress and tension including chronic headaches and migraines.
However, osteopaths, by and large, do not treat "conditions" as such. What we really do is to help your body function more easily, more comfortably and more efficiently.
Your body (and mind) has the ability to heal itself, to work towards health - if it didn't, we'd all be dead at a very early age - but the cumulative effect over time of injuries and illnesses, both major and minor, hinders this process. So it's the osteopath's role to help the body shed these encumbrances.

Osteopathy is for all of you

Osteopathy has developed in two ways since its 19th century beginnings - as a system of medicine alternative to the current chemical/technological model we now call orthodox, and as a system of intervention in benign orthopaedic conditions - thus both 'alternative' and 'complementary'. So osteopathy can be a useful therapy for many conditions normally treated by GPs and homeopaths, as well as for spinal and peripheral joint problems.
The more recent development of Cranial osteopathy has given osteopaths a tool of immense subtlety and precision which, in the right hands, can start to unravel the underlying causes of illness and recurrent injury, as well as being a delicate instrument for treating babies and the infirm. The following is a list of some problems helped by osteopaths. This is not a complete list : if you have any queries, please telephone for further advice.

Back pain - disc problems - neck ache - frozen or stiff shoulder -wrist pain - tennis elbow and arm pain - hip, knee and ankle problems - foot problems. Arthritic pain and related problems - stiffness - whiplash injuries - accident sequelae eg recurrent pains and stiffness - head pain - tinnitus - sinusitis - jaw problems.

Babies' problems eg traumatic or difficult birth - colic - distress - failure to settle. Aches and pains in pregnancy - the musculo-skeletal elements of pelvic pain including bladder problems and the myo-fascial after-effects of respiratory and cardiac problems and strokes.

Our practice is St David's Osteopathic Clinic, set in a modern, disabled-friendly building (with free parking!) in central Exeter. There are four of us osteopaths here, as well as a Clinic of Chinese Medicine, a homeopath and 2 counsellors.

The clinic is a friendly, harmonious place, where we do all we can to make your visit comfortable.
Treatments can usually be arranged on the day, although you may have to wait longer for a specific practitioner.

We try to have evening and weekend appointments available too.
For further information please contact me.