Learn how we can be of service in these challenging times: Osteopathy via Telehealth!
Osteopathy via Telehealth
At first thought, the idea of delivering Osteopathy via Telehealth seems difficult. However, while we pride ourselves on our hands-on care, many of the other essential services we offer can be delivered very effectively via telehealth!
Osteopathy is actually far more accessible via Telehealth than you might imagine. A large part of your consult at the clinic already involves a lot more than hands-on treatment and this is the same way that a Telehealth consult begins.
We start by taking a detailed history so you can tell us what you are feeling and how you think it happened. We then instruct you to perform certain movements and tests to help us determine what might be going on. Via your device, we can observe movement patterns, joint restrictions and ask for your feedback regarding pain. Once we have developed our diagnosis we can then advise you on the best ways to manage your issue. This may be an imaging referral which can be e-mailed to you, a ‘what to do now’ plan when you are not coping with your pain, or better yet it may be the opportunity for you to engage in guided self-treatment.
What is ‘guided self-treatment’?
Guided self-treatment during a telehealth consult is an excellent skill to develop when you can’t visit us. With guided self-treatment we teach you how to use your hands, a spiky massage ball, a foam roller and other tools you may already have in your home to help you settle your own aches and pains. Learning to do this opens up so many possibilities and allows you to be self-sufficient and self-reliant.
As osteopaths, we can direct you to position your hands and body in a certain way to help release tight muscles and restricted joints. We can guide you through muscle release, stretching, gentle joint mobilisation and postural positioning. This will help your body to work through its issues. Exercise equipment is not necessary but can certainly be incorporated. You may also be surprised how household items can be re-purposed for your body as required! You may even have a family member at your disposal who can act as a spare pair of hands to help throughout your consultation!
How Telehealth works
We have been busy at the clinic working through the logistics of the Telehealth consultation and are really excited to report that it is ready to go! You can book your Telehealth appointment in the same way you always have via our website or click here. Patient feedback from our initial Telehealth trials have been overwhelmingly positive! All our patients have been pleasantly surprised and grateful for the many benefits they have gained!
As this is such a new service, we are offering a free 10 minute Telehealth consult. This way you can decide if Telehealth is right for you.
We are really excited and thankful that during periods of isolation we have access to technology that won’t leave you without professional support and
direction. For more information, check out the Telehealth Q&A page on our website. You can also find more information here: AHPRA Telehealth guidelines for practitioners.
Further information on the AHPRA Guidelines for Health practitioners offering telehealth
Benefits of Osteopathy via Telehealth
Our telehealth consultations will:
- allow you to explain and show us where you are experiencing pain
- allow us to take you through modified tests and movement assessments so we can see what is wrong
- provide you with a working diagnosis (describe to you what we think is wrong and why)
- provide you with a prognosis (how long we expect it will take to get better)
- allow us to advise you to see your GP or other health care provider if we believe it is necessary
- teach you how to reduce your pain or restriction by using your hands, heat, ice, stretching and or other massage tools
- allow you to ask as many questions as you need to understand your problem and obtain peace of mind