What Do Osteopaths Treat?
Osteopathy is a gentle hands-on therapy. We treat your symptoms with manual techniques, exercise advice, and education. Our techniques include massage and joint manipulation to help the body on its way to healing. Different problems lead to different treatment plans, but we always have a degree of flexibility. If you don’t like the idea of clicking joints, we have alternative methods of reaching the same outcome.
There are a number of conditions we can treat, including (but not limited to):
- Headaches
- Osteoarthritis
- Lower back pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Joint aches and pains
- Sciatica
- Neck pain
- Tennis elbow
- Fibromyalgia
- Minor sports injuries
We are also qualified to help prevent migraines, and manage the effects of tension. If you are unsure if we can help you, remember that we treat more than just backs or bones.
Osteopathic treatment is tailored to you. We have the luxury of time, which allows us to take a holistic approach. Injuries and pains do not exist in isolation, so we look at the whole body to work out what caused your problem in the first place.
Why Choose an Osteopath?
Osteopathy is a regulated profession, meaning it is illegal to call yourself an osteopath if you don’t hold a recognised qualification and follow the rules set by the General Osteopathic Council. One of these rules is to complete a set number of hours of Continued Professional Development each year.
So when you book an appointment with an osteopath, you can expect to be seen by a knowledgeable and up-to-date professional. We are primary healthcare practitioners, which means you don’t need to be referred to see us as we can make a diagnosis during your appointment. As we can diagnose, we can tell you if your problems are out of our remit and refer you to someone more appropriate. However, as we work with muscles, joints, nerves, discs, and cartilage, there aren’t many people we have to turn away.
About Rachel Neal
Rachel uses a multifaceted, evidence informed approach. She uses structural, functional and soft tissue techniques to help remove the barriers to healing. Rachel is keen to empower patients and educate on posture, exercise and stress management to achieve lasting results.
Rachel has a passion for helping people improve their quality of life. She believes that the best results come from working together with the patient to formulate an individualised plan. Rachel graduated with First Class Honours from The British College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. She also has a degree in Sport Science and Biology.
After graduating in 2006 Rachel worked along side some outstanding Osteopaths at multi-disciplinary clinics across London, including The Osteopathic Practice (Robi Persad and Associates) in Kentish Town, IBC Care (formerly Nottinghill Osteocare) in Harley Street and The Vale Practice in East Dulwich. In 2013 she set up her own practice, Rachel Neal Osteopathy in South East London. She then relocated back to her home town Alsager on the South Cheshire/Staffordshire border.
She has attended various postgraduate courses in cranial and structural osteopathy, treating the pregnant and postpartum patient, structural paediatric osteopathy, western acupuncture (dry needling), advanced structural techniques and kinesiology taping (as seen extensively at the London 2012 Olympics and Wimbledon 2013).