Therapy Guide - Osteopathy SEARCH  FOR NORTH WEST HOLISTIC THERAPISTS About Us Advertising Options Update your Listing Listing Help & Advice Contact Us North West Events Diary Add an Event Holistic Market Place Holistic Parenting Therapy Rooms & Venues Find Holistic Therapist & Healers Find Meditation Classes & Groups Find Development Groups Find Yoga & Holistic Exercise Classes Find Courses, Workshops & Retreats Therapy Organisations Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Site Map Home   Acupressure Acupuncture Alexander Technique Allergy Tests & Treatment Animal Healing Aromatherapy Art & Expressive Therapy Ayurveda Bach Flower Therapy BioEnergetic Medicine Bowen Technique Chakra Balancing Chiropractic Colonic Hydrotherapy Colour Therapy Counselling Craniosacral Therapy Crystal Therapy Detox Therapies Ear Candling EFT Healing (Various) Herbal Medicine Homeopathy Hypnotherapy Indian Head Massage Iridology Kinesiology Life Coaching Massage (Various) Metamorphic Technique Naturopathy NLP Nutritional Therapy Osteopathy Past Life Therapy Psychotherapy Reflexology Reiki Shiatsu Sound Therapy Spiritual Healing Stress Management Yoga Therapy Our Therapists’ Directory includes the following Therapy/Healing categories. You can find more about each one by clicking on the links below: Further Info... Want to find out more?  If you need more in-depth information on therapies or healing modalities, such as how they’re regulated, current research/ clinical trials, how they actually work, which types are recommended for which conditions etc., please visit our Useful Contacts page, where we’ve listed most of the national therapy and healing organisations, councils, associations and other professional bodies, along with their websites, to help you easily find what you need. If you’re looking for training in Holistic Therapies or Healing, also see our North West Events Diary  and Courses, Workshops & Retreats Directory  for forthcoming advertised Courses or Workshops. Disclaimer: Our Holistic Therapists’ Directory is designed to provide advertising space where holistic health professionals and healers can promote their work online. Whilst we try to maintain a good standard of listings on the site, the fact that a therapist or practitioner's details are on display, does not imply any personal or professional recommendation by us (Holistic Promotions). We accept the details offered to us by each practitioner in good faith - that includes their therapy qualifications, memberships/ registrations etc. Each of our listed practitioners should be happy to provide evidence of their stated qualifications & professional memberships, plus relevant insurance cover if required - which we suggest you ask to see at the first appointment or sooner, for your own peace of mind. We are not responsible for any actions, behaviour or claims made by the therapists/ practitioners listed on this site. Information about therapies shown in our Therapists’ Directory is for general interest and guidance only, and is not intended to replace professional healthcare advice. Although a basic guide to each therapy is included for reference, we do not offer a general information service, and are unable to answer inquiries about specific therapies, health conditions, or recommend any types of treatment etc.  If you need further information about any therapies or healing modalities, please contact the relevant listed practitioners, or the therapy specific Associations, Councils or Regulatory bodies - most of which you will find listed on our Useful Contacts page. Osteopathy treats problems associated with the skeleton and joints, and also the underlying connective tissue, muscles and organs. It was developed in the late 19th century by American doctor, Andrew Taylor Still, who recognised that there was an important link between the musculo- skeletal system and the functioning of the human body. He also understood that the body has the ability to heal itself, and researched ways of assisting that process in his patients. He went on to found the first college of osteopathic medicine, and the therapy soon gained popularity further afield, becoming available in the UK in the early 1900s. Osteopaths today continue this holistic approach, believing that the structure of the body needs to be working in harmony to allow the rest of the body to function properly. Their aim therefore, is to restore any imbalances in the musculoskeletal system, and facilitate the body's own natural healing processes. Practitioners undertake extensive medical and scientific training, so they're well qualified to advise you on the best course of treatment for your condition, and are careful not to overlook conditions for which other medical treatment may be necessary. Treatment with an osteopath will usually involve the practitioner taking a full medical case history on your first visit. This will be followed by a gentle examination, where a highly developed sense of touch is used to identify any problem areas on the body. They will then perform a range of special adjustment techniques, manipulation, stretching or massage, all designed to encourage the healing process within the body. They are trained to understand how the human body works, and may use specific techniques for different conditions, as appropriate. Treatments usually last around half an hour, and you may require more than one session. Osteopathy can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including backache, neck and shoulder pain, hip, knee, ankle or foot pain, slipped discs, sciatica, repetitive strain or sports injuries, arthritis, and more. It can be helpful in treating acute conditions, perhaps following an accident or injury, and also for chronic pain or mobility problems, that have not responded to other types of treatment. Some practitioners specialise in a more subtle form of the therapy called Cranial Osteopathy, which is useful for releasing tensions in the body that may be causing recurring headaches, migraines or sinus problems. Osteopathy has become a highly regulated profession in recent years, and all UK osteopaths are required by law to be registered with the General Osteopathy Council, which was originally set up in the 1930s to ensure high professional standards amongst practitioners. It is possibly the most scientifically researched and validated of all the complementary therapies, and many osteopaths now work alongside GPs in mainstream healthcare practices. As a safe, gentle therapy, it can be used on both children and adults, including pregnant women and the elderly.   Osteopaths may also be able to treat large animals such as horses, but such treatment should only be carried out after obtaining a vet's permission. To Search for an Osteopath in the North West, please go to our Holistic Therapists’ Directory Listings Our Therapists’ Directory covers these North West areas:  Cumbria, Lancashire, Gtr Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Wirral & North Wales. You may also like to try: Chiropractic, Bowen Technique, Craniosacral Therapy Find Osteopaths & Osteopathic Practitioners in the North West UK: ADVERTISE your THERAPY PRACTICE... Add your practice details to our Therapist’s Directory today, and see the difference it can make to your client base.. Click Here to find out more..