By CHANDO STEINER
WHEN the body’s physical structure is working well, this helps all the other functions of the body to work well too – all the organs of the body rely on support and protection from the musculoskeletal system, just as the muscles, bones and joints rely on blood circulation, nerve messages, digestion of food, respiration and so forth.
Osteopathy aims to help the whole body to work well. Osteopaths are Nationally Registered primary health care practitioners who have a university level education in all aspects of health and disease. Osteopths are trained to figure out the causes of your problem, and to help you overcome them. We are most often consulted for problems in the muscles and joints.
Whether you are recovering from a sports injury, adapting to the physical changes of pregnancy, or struggling with back pain, headaches or aching joints, an osteopath can assist you be your best.
Osteopaths use a range of therapeutic techniques to help people out of pain and towards health. After taking a detailed case history, a thorough examination is carried out to find what is going wrong, and also figure out some of the reasons why that part of the body is not functioning well.
Then we use various techniques, including stretching, gentle joint mobilisations, and massage, and we teach exercises and advise on posture, lifestyle and diet.
Private Health insurance covers Osteopathy under ‘extras.’
If you have a car accident it is a good idea to have a check-up from an osteopath as neck problems are all too common. Osteopathy is recognised by MAIB (Motor Accidents Insurance Board; we all pay MAIB premiums with our car Rego, and treatments after an accident are free. Workers Compensation Insurance also covers Osteopathy.
Medicare also recognises Osteopathy as an Allied Health modality. Your GP can refer people with chronic and complex conditions for up to five treatments per year with allied health practitioners under Medicare. To access this, see your GP and ask whether you are eligible for a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan, otherwise known as an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan.
*Chando Steiner is an osteopath at Bellerive Osteopathy & Natural Health
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