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What Is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is an effective and natural approach to healthcare for all ages.

Osteopathy is a primary, regulated health care system. It is complementary to other medical practices and is suitable for almost anyone. It can be used as a single therapy or to contribute to medical treatments and management in a wide range of conditions. Osteopaths are known to work with muscles joints and bones, but the work is often more complex, affecting the nervous system and metabolic systems such as the lymphatic system.  Osteopaths always take a holistic and patient centred view, and gather relevant information and offer appropriate advice and encouragement.

A biological fact and principle behind osteopathy, is that the body is an integrated and indivisible whole, and contains self-healing mechanisms that can be utilised as part of the treatment. No part of the body works, or can be considered, in isolation. Relevant psychological and social factors also form part of the process of diagnosis.

Osteopathic diagnosis include listening to the patient's history, examining tissue quality, muscles and joints and observing movements. Other clinical investigations can also be used if required.

After a diagnosis and treatment plan is formulated and agreed, a wide range of gentle, non-invasive manual techniques are applied therapeutically.

Osteopaths will treat the whole person rather than just a specific condition - for example, an injury to your knee might also affect the foot, hip and spine.

Osteopathy can help relieve the symptoms of a range of conditions, including: 

  • aches and pains
  • joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis in association with other treatment for this condition
  • arthritic pain
  • general, acute and chronic backache and back pain
  • neck pain
  • headaches
  • shoulder and elbow pain
  • joint pains and lumbago
  • sciatica
  • muscle spasms
  • tension
  • traumatic injuries 
  • the effects of emotional trauma

Osteopaths must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council in order to practice. 

Treatments for adults, babies and children Find out more

Treatments

Find out about the work we do to help adults, babies and children. Here there is information about the range of conditions that we can help, the therapies we are able to provide and how we work.

What our patients say...

Most of our patients find out about us from people who have already had treatment. We recognise the value of recommendation and always endeavour to give the best and most appropriate treatment.

Get in touch

To find out more about how treatment may help, or if you are unsure if we are the right place for you, please contact us to discuss any concerns, prior to booking an appointment

I started seeing Lara about my sinuses, which have cleared. She has also helped me with my neck pain and digestive problems. Thank you so much Lara.

Anne, Teacher

Having suffered from a shoulder injury since last September and following unsuccessful physio, I decided to try SW19 Osteopath and Yan-Kei has been amazing. Not only has my mobility greatly improved as has my posture and knee pain, I am no longer in pain. Amazing at how effective this has been for me in such a short period of time, and I now am able to return back to sports. Yan-Kei explains what she is doing and definitely is invested in my well-being and although I am so much better, I will make this as part of my self care and ensure that I visit her every 5 – 6 weeks to re-balance myself. I highly recommend Yan-Kei; I truly feel she has worked wonders for me.

Maria, Colliers Wood

Stephen; I feel so much better after the treatment. It is quite a remarkable improvement. I have regained almost 100% movement in my thoracic spine and my lower back is gradually loosening up. I can now feel and use my stomach muscles again. I have gone from spending two very bad nights as I could not get comfortable in any position and experiencing a succession of very painful and exhausting spasms to being able to sleep on my back and my side. My breathing is also deeper. I cannot thank you enough for fitting me in your busy working day, and for doing the treatment on a chair and for giving me the confidence to relax so that healing can take place.

Sabine, SW London

Over the last 6 months Lara has effectively used the Emmett Technique to eliminate my persistent lower back pain as well as foot and heel pain. She has also been able to relieve stress and tension from my neck and shoulders. The relief, as a result of her treatments, is immediate and long-lasting. I would highly recommend her treatments.

Amanda, Wimbledon

Charley is incredible! Cannot recommend SW19 osteopaths enough. I dislocated my elbow, described by the doctor as the worst dislocation without a break they had seen, the hospital told me I would get 60% max movement back. Thanks to Charley and her incredible skill set and knowledge I now have 99.99% movement back and have pushed my upper strength more than I ever thought I could. The practise is friendly, professional and welcoming. If you are in need of an osteopath, Stephen and his team are simply the best!

Tash CR4

I recommend Charley thoroughly. I have had years of sudden onsets of back pain that have interfered with daily life. I have never been sure of the difference between an osteopath, a chiropractor and a physio (despite even receiving some physio in the past that didn’t resolve the issue) and I was a bit sceptical of seeing an osteopath at first. I was incredibly impressed with Charley’s thorough initial consultation, checking every avenue for my back pain. The treatments have been remarkable and I am shocked by how quickly I have responded to Charley’s treatment and her detailed exercise plan to support my core and increase my back mobility. Charley’s manner is friendly; she puts you at ease whilst being professionally direct and always very attentive. I strongly recommend Charley.

Tariq, Colliers Wood

I've been visiting the practice since February and have been seen by Yan-Kei. I'm just writing to leave a brief review of the practice and of her. The treatment I have received from Yan-Kei has benefited me greatly and I am improved in all aspects of life. I would recommend this treatment to anyone who feels any sense of discomfort and seeks to change their life for the better. Look forward to my next visit

Paolo

Lara’s thoughtful, gentle, confident and knowledgeable approach results in the most expert therapeutic massage one could hope to receive. The outcome is therefore a very holistic one in which specific discomforts have been eased with and overall relaxation achieved at the same time. 


Helen, Colliers Wood

I have been seeing Steve on and off for years. Every time I see him I feel as if I have been put back together. He’s an incredible osteopath. I highly recommend the practice because of their ethos and very high standard of treatment.

Claire, SW19

I rate Stephen very highly and would recommend him to anyone.

Jonathan M