Before you arrive

When you book, your appointment confirmation may include one or more patient information forms which we ask you to complete before arriving. This allows us to spend more time treating you when you come for your appointment.

To allow us to perform a more informed physical assessment & to gain access to the areas requiring treatment, we may ask you to remove some clothing. Wearing looser clothing that can be rolled up is helpful & may limit clothing which is in the way. Fresh gowns & towels are always provided to ensure your comfort & modesty. If you do feel uncomfortable undressing, of course we will work with you to find alternatives. 

Please bring any recent imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans) &/or reports that you think are relevant to your current complaint.

If you are taking any medications, please make a note of their names, or take a picture of the  packaging.

If you have an injury related to an activity or sport, please bring any shoes or equipment you regularly use or has been recently changed e.g. racket, golf club.

Please bring any orthoses (orthotics, braces) you also regularly use.

Your first appointment is longer than a follow-up appointment as we need more time to fully understand your health now & in the past, and your current life situation. 

We begin by discussing your current complaint & how it is impacting your life. Understanding the uniqueness of you, allows us to tailor our treatment to better meet your particular needs.

We may ask questions about medications you may be taking, your cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, genitourinary, endocrine & reproductive health. We may ask questions about your lifestyle (sleep, exercise, physical activity), mental health status (stress, anxiety, depression) & any social factors (work demands, support from family & friends) that might be contributing to &/or maintaining your pain.

To determine the most likely cause of your complaint we may need to assess you physically. 

We'll ask you to complete some simple movements, which may cause you slight discomfort. We will also move your body ourselves, whilst you remain as relaxed as possible. We will feel your skin, muscles, joints & organs looking for heat, swelling, tone & tenderness. We may also ask to assess your cardiovascular (pulse, blood pressure, heart sounds), respiratory (breathing) and/or neurological (senses and reflexes) systems, where necessary. 

Chinese Medicine appointments include feeling your wrist pulse and looking at your tongue to get a better picture of your overall health. 

Following our inquiry and physical assessment we will usually be able to explain what we think is the cause of your complaint. Your practitioner will suggest the recommended treatment for you today and what the treatment plan is moving forward. This includes how long we think it will be before your complaint resolves & how many treatment sessions we think are optimal. This is a joint process between you and your practitioner, working together to find your unique path towards recovery.

Treatment may include manual therapy, education, lifestyle advice or exercise prescription. What treatment you receive is always your choice.

See each section below for what to expect specifically for Osteopathy or Chinese Medicine.

An osteopathic hands on manual treatment can involve many different techniques, ranging from soft tissue release, similar to massage, through to joint articulations and manipulative thrusts. For particularly painful conditions or for the very young or very old, very gentle techniques can be used, which place the body into positions of most ease.

Treatment can be performed in whatever position you find most comfortable, usually lying or seated.

Prior to applying any technique, we explain what we intend to do, which allows you to ask questions &/or request an alternative technique. 

Based on your current condition, your Chinese Medicine practitioner will suggest the best course of treatment for you on that day. It may include acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine or manual therapies such as cupping and massage. Find out more about these modalities here.

Treatment is usually performed in a lying or reclining position, but may be able to be adapted if neither of these positions are comfortable for you.

Before performing treatment, we explain each technique, any risks involved, and give you time to ask questions or discuss any alternatives which you would feel more comfortable with.

We will continually be explaining what we wish to do, and ask for your permission before touching you or proceeding with any treatment. You can ask us to stop at any time during the treatment & we can discuss other options for proceeding. 

You are also welcome to bring along a friend or family member to support you.

Our goal is to provide a safe environment, where you are listened to & where your choices are paramount.

When you book, your appointment confirmation may include one or more patient information forms which we ask you to complete before arriving. This allows us to spend more time treating you when you come for your appointment.