What Is Osteopathy?

Osteos are skilled hands on manual therapists who treat a variety of musculoskeletal injuries, from your sore back and neck,
through to sporting injuries, pregnancy related strains/sprains and headaches. 

Geelong Osteopaths use a range of techniques including massage, stretching, mobilisation, dry needling and exercise rehabilitation. They will let you know what is causing your pain and give you an idea of how long your injury may take to heal.
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Depending on the practitioner, styles of Osteo treatment can vary. We enjoy using hands on massage techniques, dry needling and joint mobilisation to alleviate muscle and joint pain. We will also provide our patients with specific exercises to assist in their management and recovery from injury.

Osteopaths are also able to refer patients for X-rays, ultrasounds and MRI scans where needed.
HICAPS is available for private health rebates and Osteopathy is covered by most major private health funds.

Injury Diagnosis

Our Geelong Osteopaths are skilled in injury diagnosis and assessment. They listen to your story and use a range of movements and tests to help identify the cause of your pain.

Hands on Treatment

Osteopaths can treat your aches and pains with massage, stretching, dry needling, manipulation and more. 
Over 90% of patients find Osteopaths helpful in treating their condition*

Injury Rehabilitation

Osteopaths can provide advice around exercising with injury and prescribe the appropriate exercises to facilitate recovery 

Online Clinic Bookings 

 

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Home Care / Support at Home Programs
We have very limited appointments for clients requiring Osteopathy treatment in-home or under the government Support at Home Program. For those individuals wishing to receive Osteopathy in-home services, please email [email protected] for availability.
In-home Osteopathic Consultations are set at $185 plus a travel cost depending upon location. We currently only service the Greater Geelong region. 

Frequent Asked Questions 

How much does it cost to see an Osteopath?

Initial osteopathic appointments cost $110 and will take approximately 45 minutes. 
Return osteopathic appointments cost $90 and take approximately 30 minutes.  ​
Private health rebates are available for both initial and return consults and the amount claimed varies depending on your private health insurer. You can call them to find out how much they will cover for these consultations. 

Do I need a referral to see an Osteopath?

No. Anyone can make an appointment with an Osteopath. However your doctor might refer you to see an Osteopath for management of certain conditions or musculoskeletal injuries. If you are unsure if osteopathy can help you, please call or email us and we will happy get in touch with you to discuss.

Whats the difference between an Osteopath, Physiotherapist, Myotherapist  and Chiropractor? 

Osteopaths, like Physiotherapists and Chiropractors, are university trained and skilled manual therapists. We all have the skill set to treat injuries, however we each look at injuries through a different lens. Our patients often say that we "are more thorough" and "look beyond the spot where my pain is"
Osteopaths might be seen as a combination style modality that incorporates aspects of myotherapy (soft tissue massage, dry needling), physiotherapy (stretching, exercise prescription) and chiropractic (joint mobilisation and manipulation).
They are skilled in injury assessment,  diagnosis, treatment and management which explains why they are the fasting growing profession in the Allied Health Industry (2018-19)

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments varies depending on the type of injury. Some patients only require 2-3 treatments for acute injuries but others require several more. Your osteopath will be able to tell you how many treatments you might require and will typically reassess this after a couple sessions to track your improvement. 

Is Osteopathy painful?

Osteopathic treatment aims to promote tissue healing and restore normal function to injured or inflammed joints and muscles. It is okay to experience some mild discomfort/pain during your treatment (the kind of pain that you would call "a good pain"). However, these symptoms typically resolve within 24-48 hours.
This 'short-term' pain is usually well received as the long term benefits of Osteopathic treatment far outweigh the short term discomfort.

Is it safe to take my child to see an Osteopath?

Yes. Osteopaths are able to treat people of all ages and it is completely safe for them to receive osteopathic treatment. However, this can vary depending on the practitioner and their skill level. At Oceanside Osteo, we prefer to treat children aged 5 and over. For those younger than 5, we would be happy to put you in touch with a Paediatric Osteopath.

Is Osteopathy Medicare Rebatable?

No, unfortunately. However, for those with chronic conditions or illnesses, your doctor may be able to write you a Chronic Disease Management Plan (Also known as EPC Plans).
Patients with chronic conditions are eligible to receive a maximum of 5 treatments per calendar year with eligible health care providers (Of which Osteopaths are included). In this case, Medicare will rebate around $60 of your consultation fee. You can discuss this with your doctor and if eligible, have a plan written up to include Osteopathy.

Have a Question? Email It Through.

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*Zue, Zhang, Lin, Myers, Polus & Story. Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Osteopathy use in Australia 2008