What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a regulated manual medicine discipline that focuses on the health of your whole body. Medical practitioners who practice Osteopathy are called ‘Osteopaths’. Put simply, Osteopaths give a complete treatment to your whole body, not just parts of it. Osteopaths have an expert knowledge of the workings of all your joints, muscles and body systems. Osteopathic Doctors will examine you to find the cause of your pain, then treat the cause, not the symptoms, to help your body return to its natural, healthy state.

What conditions does an Osteopath (and a Naturopath) work with?
Here are just some of the conditions that we work with at Optimum Wellbeing Centre in the Gold Coast:

• Adrenal Fatigue
• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Arthritis (R.A & O.A)
• Asthma
• Autism
• Auto Immune Disorders
• Back and Rib Problems
• Bloating
• Brain Fog
• Chronic Fatigue
• Chronic Inflammation
• Depression
• Detoxification
• Digestive Problems
• Eczema
• Headaches
• Hormonal imbalances
• IBS
• Jaw Pain
• Knee/Foot Problems
• Leaky Gut
• Low Energy
• Lower Back Pain
• Low Immunity
• Neck Problems
• Paediatrics
• Poor Concentration
• Poor Memory
• Psychosomatic Disorders
• Regular Colds and Flu
• Parasites
• Sciatica
• Shoulder Problems
• Sports Injuries
• Stress

Do I need a referral from my GP?
No, you can make an appointment directly without a referral. If you have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition and require complex care you may be eligible for Chronic Disease Management (CDM) assistance. The GP must complete a special referral form to refer you to an osteopath for treatment.

What do I need to bring with me?
Please wear loose fitting clothing, any bring any scans or medical information that are relevant to your condition.

Do I have to arrive early for my first appointment?
Yes please, we will require some information from you prior to you appointment at Optimum Wellbeing Centre. So you will be asked to fill out some paperwork.

What should I wear to my appointment?
Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing that gives you a full range of movement.

Do I have to remove my clothes to be assessed?
No, you can leave your clothes on to be assessed by the Osteo at Optimum Wellbeing, Gold Coast.

Can I bring a friend or partner in with me?
Yes, you can have someone present throughout your consultation and treatment.

What will happen at my first consultation?
Your Osteopath will ask about your problem and symptoms. This will include your medical history, any medications you are taking or other factors that may not appear to be directly related to your problem. Your Optimum Wellbeing Osteopath will advise you if they can treat you or you need to be referred. Your Gold Coast Osteopath will conduct an examination and clinical tests. These include diagnostic, orthopaedic or neurological tests, postural assessments and activities or exercises, which will help determine how best to manage your condition. The examination may include passive and active movements. The Osteopath may lift your arms or legs and you may be asked to bend over or stand. Be sure to wear comfortable, flexible and appropriate clothing. Osteopathy takes a whole of body approach to treatment. Your osteopath may look at the area that is troubling you as well as other parts of your body. For example if you have a sore knee, your Osteopath may also look at your ankle, pelvis and back. Your osteopath may also provide education and advice to help you manage your condition between treatments. This may include giving you exercises to do at home or work.

What if my condition changes over time before my appointment?
It is important you tell your Osteopath if your medical condition changes over time. This includes any new injuries or change of medications.

Can I still receive treatments if I am pregnant?
Yes, osteopathic treatment has been shown to be an effective, safe and gentle way to treat mothers during pregnancy.

Can I continue my current exercise regime while I receive treatments from an Osteopath?
Your osteopath will advise of the best strategy for rehabilitation depending on your case.

How long will my appointment take?
Optimum Wellbeing Centre, Gold Coast is 45 minutes is normal for your first appointment, with a 30 minute follow up appointment.

How many appointments will I need?
Usually not many! The aim of Osteopathy is not to pre-book set appointment dates months in advance. The number of treatments required will depend on the nature of the patients’ condition, overall health and fitness, and their willingness to do the prescribed rehabilitation. Although every “body” is unique, as a realistic guideline, most acute cases will generally require 3-5 treatments for the full effects of Osteopathy to be gained. A famous Osteopathic maxim is “find it, fix it and leave it alone!” Once a favourable treatment outcome is reached, the patient is encouraged to maintain their health by exercise and stretching. For longer standing conditions, more regular treatments may be required.

How much does an appointment cost?
Please call for enquiries: (07) 5530 7921 on Osteopath & Naturopath prices at Optimum Wellbeing Centre, Worongary, Gold Coast.

Are Osteopath treatments covered by Medicare?
You are able claim the majority of your treatment costs with your Medicare card, provided you are on the Enhanced Primary Care (E.P.C.) Plan. Discuss your eligibility with your Osteopath and GP. If you have “extras” with your health insurance, you will be able to claim a portion of your treatment costs. Using the Hicaps system, we can process that for you at our reception.

Are Osteopath treatments covered by my Private Health Insurance?
Many private health insurance schemes give benefits for Osteopathic treatment. Reimbursement will depend on the insurer and the plan you have chosen. Contact the helpline of your insurance company who will explain the actual benefits and methods of claim for your individual policy. We offer the HICAPS system at the clinic for immediate payment of your claim.

Does Optimum Wellbeing Centre, Gold Coast have EFTPOS and Credit Card Facilities?
Yes, and we have HICAPS which will give you a private heath fund rebate on the spot

Can an Osteopath treat babies and children?
Osteopathy is a wonderful treatment option for babies and children as it is very gentle, safe and effective

Is osteopathic treatment painful?
Most osteopathic treatment is gentle and should not cause undue discomfort. If your injuries do require hands-on treatment of painful and tender areas, your osteopath will aim to make you as comfortable as possible.There are techniques which may cause some short term discomfort or pain.You may experience mild soreness for a day or two after treatment, similar to that felt after mild exercise. If this soreness persists or increases significantly, call your Osteopath to discuss your concerns.

Is an Osteopath the same as a Chiropractor?
A Chiropractor – Looks often at the spine and focuses on joints. An Osteopath – Combines muscular and joint treatment and makes sure they look at the whole body to find where the problem actually started not just focusing on the sore spot.While physiotherapy focuses on treating muscles and performing exercise rehabilitation and chiropractic focuses on treating the skeleton. Osteopathy believes best practice can only be found in looking at the body holistically, taking a good look at all of the muscles, bones joints and everything between into account. Osteopathic treatment is a hands on style of treatment not using machines. Osteopathy aims to get to the root of your complaints to treat the cause of your problem, not just the symptoms, to achieve long-lasting health and wellbeing.

Is Osteopathy safe?
The risks associated with osteopathic treatment are very low, particularly when compared with the risks associated with taking pain relieving medications that are readily available in pharmacies and supermarkets.

I have a sore back, should I go to a Chiropractor, a Physiotherapist or an Osteopath?
This is one of the most common questions asked. There are some similarities between the three professions. The main differences are found in the principles of treatments applied. Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine which recognises the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as a holistic unit. This means that dysfunction or damage to one area of the body can have effects on other regions of the body. Osteopathic treatment aims not only to treat the symptoms of the problem, but the cause behind them. In doing so, all of the techniques are hands-on and are specific to your individual condition and medical history.

How Qualified Are Osteopaths?
In Australia, all Osteopaths complete a minimum of five years’ university training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, general medical diagnosis and osteopathic techniques. They are also trained to perform standard medical examinations of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems. They hold either a double Bachelors or Master qualifications. Osteopaths are required, by law, to maintain ongoing professional development and education every year to stay in practice. In Australia, all osteopaths are required to be government registered practitioners.