Osteopathy is a primary health care system of non-invasive manual medicine that focuses on total body health by finding, treating and preventing health problems. Osteopaths believe that the well-being of an individual is reliant on the harmonious function of the musculoskeletal framework that include joints, muscles the spine and connective tissue.
 
People consult an osteopath to relieve pain or return to their normal daily activities after injury. However osteopathy can also be used as preventative, much in the same way one would visit a dentist to reduce the likelihood of requiring a filling, occasional check-ups with an osteopath allows potential problems to be detected and treated before they become an issue.
 
Osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, using a wide range of treatment techniques that aim to increase the mobility of joints, relieve muscle tension, enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and help your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on lifestyle, posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.
 
Osteopathy can be used alone or as a compliment to other conventional and alternative medical therapies, and the The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) advise that GP's can safely refer patients to an osteopath for treatment.