Osteopaths’ patients include the young, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women, children and sportspeople. Patients seek treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, changes to posture in pregnancy, postural problems caused by driving or work strain, the pain of arthritis and minor sports injuries (source).
Osteopaths can help with a variety of symptoms:
- Arthritic pain
- Circulatory problems
- Cramp
- Digestion problems
- Fibromyalgia
- Frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences)
- Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic)
- Joint pains
- Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise
- General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
- Generalised aches and pains
- Lumbago
- Migraine prevention
- Minor sports injuries
- Muscle spasms
- Neuralgia
- Tension and inability to relax
- Rheumatic pain
- Sciatica
- Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
A review published in 2022 found promising evidence regarding the effectiveness of osteopathic management for musculoskeletal disorders. The evidence was less clear for paediatric conditions, primary headache and IBS. NCOR conducted a clinical trial in paediatric care that was completed in 2022 and is part of work on headaches and migraines.