Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a holistic approach to treating muscle, ligament, joint and nerve issues, focusing on manual therapy and a range of techniques. Using biomedical principles and client led communication, our experienced Osteopaths work with you to address those little niggles making everyday movement difficult, treating pain at its source before twinges turn into long term trouble.

a patient getting a head and neck massage

What’s involved in an initial assessment?

At Coastal Therapies, we don’t believe in treating our patients like strangers. Before launching into a manual assessment, we’ll ensure you understand: 

  • what an osteopath does;

  • how we can help;

  • and what kinds of techniques we employ to soothe your musco-skeletal issues. 

After you feel comfortable with the jargon, we’ll cover your complaints in more detail, ensuring we have a clear picture of your history before proceeding to hands-on diagnosis. During this process, we make sure to explain any techniques in easy to understand language, so you feel in complete control every step of the way. 

  • Once we detect the source of your problems, we’ll sit down with you to develop a strategy that will relieve and resolve your pain for good. We love seeing new faces and returning clients, but our goal is to get you to a point where you don’t need to come back — your health is our goal. 

    While we do use your insights as a guide — you know your body better than anybody else — our osteopaths may discover underlying problems that may change or round out your treatment. 

  • A few ailments can be treated in two sessions, others in five and some in ten. Everybody is different, so while one size fits most works for hats and bags, our approach is unique to your problems.

  • Yes. Long term results are not achieved solely in the treatment room. Our osteopaths will provide personalised advice, centred on stretching and strengthening, posture exercises, work ergonomics and stress management, ensuring our insights ease pain, reduce swelling and improve mobility.

A therapist providing a therapeutic massage to her patient

What you need to know about booking an osteopathy treatment

  • Not at all. Our osteo massage techniques work just as well through layers! Our practitioners will always offer a robe at the beginning of your appointment, or if you’re comfortable without, you’ll be expertly draped throughout the session. We know people can change their minds about what they’re comfortable with, so our professionals seek consent at various stages, ensuring you have complete control over what you’re experiencing. Book yours today and move with increased ease.

  • If you need an appointment within the hour - and we have an opening - please contact the clinic on 02 6677 0276.

    • New patient form: You will need to fill in a new patient form prior to your arrival. A link will be included in your booking confirmation email — get in touch if your can’t find the link or you haven’t received your confirmation (we recommend checking your spam inbox before getting in touch). 

    • New patient deposit: New osteopathy patients are required to pay a deposit of $50 at the time of booking. 

  • Yes! We put aside dedicated time once you’ve booked your appointment with us, so if you need to change the time/day, we ask you do so ASAP.  You’ll need to pay $50 if you cancel or reschedule less than 24 hours before your appointment.

A therapist administering a massage to her patient

Osteo Faq

  • Osteopaths are not doctors or general practitioners. We are allied health professionals, subject to stringent registration requirements, as dictated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) and the Osteopathy Board of Australia. Osteopathy in Australia is safe, respected and essential to solving a range of problems. 

    Like doctors, we are required to undergo rigorous university training in physiology, anatomy, pathology and osteopathic techniques, ensuring we’re capable of providing general healthcare diagnosis and support.

    Fun fact: Osteopaths are one of only four professions legally able to manipulate the cervical spine.

  • The role of an osteopath combines:

    • biomechanical knowledge (how the musculoskeletal system functions, interacts and responds to inflammation, stress and strain); 

    • soft tissue treatment and manipulation (including massage, articulation, stretching and muscle resistance techniques);  

    • and lifestyle insights (body awareness, relaxation techniques, posture and exercise);

    … to shape lasting prevention, management and rehabilitation programs for a range of clients and issues. 

    • Yes, you can often use your private health insurance to cover the cost of osteopathic treatment.

      Most private health insurance providers offer rebates for osteopathy under their extras cover. The amount of the rebate will depend on your specific level of cover.

      To check if you have coverage for osteopathy and to determine your rebate amount, we recommend contacting your private health insurance provider directly. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding your policy.

      Please note that even with private health insurance, you may still need to pay a gap fee. This is the difference between the total cost of the treatment and the amount reimbursed by your insurer.

      We recommend bringing your private health insurance card with you to your appointment to streamline the claims process.