Your first visit will last up to an hour and includes discussing your medical history, examining you and, if appropriate, treating you. I’ll also be giving you some ideas on things you can do yourself to improve your health.
Before you come in, have a think about what your health goals are, what you are hoping for from osteopathic treatment and any questions you might want to ask. For instance, you might want to know how long it is going to take to recover, or whether this is something that might need a regular top up. If you have any concerns or anxieties about treatment, do tell me and we can talk it through and make sure you’re happy before we start. Wear comfortable clothes and bear in mind that you may need you to remove a layer or two to so I can examine you properly.
Case History
We will talk about the specific reason you have come in and go through your whole medical history, so that I can understand how you have arrived at where you are now.
You may have mental or physical health issues that I need to know about for safety reasons, or that might be contributing to your current symptoms. I will also ask about your medications and any family history of serious illnesses or chronic conditions.
If you have a complicated history, it might be an idea to write down a brief timeline in advance. If you take several medications, bring your repeat prescription sheet – medications usually have names that are difficult to remember and spell!
For babies and children, the conception (natural or assisted), pregnancy, labour and delivery are important elements of the history. Any previous obstetric history may be relevant too. If the pregnancy or birth was a difficult experience for you, this is an opportunity to tell your story which, I hope, will contribute to your healing process.
Examination
After taking the case history I might ask you to undress to your underwear. Everyone is self-conscious about this, but I need to assess the structure of your body, posture and muscle balance. After examining you standing, sitting and lying down, there might be further tests I need to carry out. For instance, I may check reflexes or take your blood pressure.
With babies I ask for them to be undressed to their nappy so that I can check reflexes, skin tone, umbilical healing, belly softness and joint mobility. If they need a nappy change, this is a good moment to do it, and it allows me to assess pelvic symmetry more easily.
With children I usually assess without undressing but, when I do need to see the body, I am always appropriate, careful and considerate with your child. Establishing a good rapport is the most important thing. Developmental tests can be done unobtrusively as part of the session, without the child realising that they are being observed, e.g. toys and books can help show us dexterity and cognitive skills. Please bring a favourite toy or book to entertain your child and help them relax.
Treatment & self help
We will discuss my findings and what they mean. If it is appropriate for me to treat you, I will explain what I will be doing and ask for your consent. If I think you need to see your GP, or another healthcare practitioner, I will explain why and what to do next. It is part of my professional duty to ensure that you receive the right care. 
You will normally receive some treatment during the first session. This involves gentle hands-on work, usually with you lying down. If you cannot lie down, it is possible to treat you sitting to a certain extent. I will give you an idea of how much treatment you are likely to need and we can make a plan for your care. For chronic conditions, such as arthritic pain, you may need ongoing treatment on a regular, but not necessarily frequent, basis. I can treat babies on the couch, or in your arms, or while feeding, or in my arms. We try to keep it as relaxed as possible.
As well as treatment, we will discuss exercises and other lifestyle adaptations you might make, such as posture at your desk or dietary changes. I’m keen to help you build your long term health, not just relieve current symptoms. People usually feel empowered by this approach and enjoy feeling more in control of their health.
After your visit
After your visit you may experience some sort of reaction. Often people just feel tired, but you may be achey or sore for 24 hours or so. This is normal and soon settles down. If you can take it easy after treatment, drink some water and get an early night, so much the better.
I hope you will find your first visit an interesting, informative and pleasant experience, with some ideas on how to maintain or improve your health for the future.