Osteopathy FAQs

In Australia, osteopaths are government registered practitioners with 4-5 years of accredited university training in the field of health science. In addition to being equipped to treat most musculoskeletal conditions, they are also qualified to conduct general examinations of the cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal and reproductive system.

The scope of practice of Australian osteopath differs from medical doctors. Osteopaths can provide health services through hands-on manual therapy, exercise prescription and lifestyle advice. They are not qualified to perform surgery or prescribe medication.

No, you do not have to bring anything. However, you may bring any relevant imaging or medical reports such as X-rays, scans or laboratory test results to help your osteopath make a more accurate health assessment.

You may wear any form of clothing to the appointment. Depending on the area of your body requiring treatment, your osteopath may ask you to get undressed to your undergarments. We offer gowns to our patients to make sure they feel comfortable and safe.

No, you do no need a referral to see an osteopath.

Your initial appointment goes on for one hour, to allow time to go through a full medical history, examination, and treatment. Return appointment are 30 minutes but can be extended to an hour if needed and advised by your osteopath.

Payment is due at the end of each consultation and we accept cash, EFTPOS, MasterCard & Visa.

Yes, we offer instant rebates via our HICAPs machine when paying for your appointment.

Rebates are available for osteopathy covered under the ancillary or extras cover of most major health insurers.  The rebate varies depending on your health insurer, so check the details of your policy. If you are covered, we offer instant rebates after your appointment via our HICAPs machine, and you pay the gap payment after the  claim has been made.

If you have been suffering from your pain for a long time, you can speak to your GP about a Chronic Disease Management Plan. If you are eligible, you could receive a Medicare rebate on up to 5 osteopathy treatments per year. At Muna, select osteopaths offer “no-gap fee” appointments, meaning you will be charged on the day the same amount that you will get back from Medicare, resulting in $0 out of of pocket!

Being pregnant is a beautiful and exciting time in a woman’s life, but it can also cause some discomfort for your body. We treat women through all stages during their pregnancy, providing manual therapy, exercise advise and lifestyle tips. We also use a pregnancy pillow which allows you to lie comfortably on your tummy during your treatment.

Osteopathy has many similarities to chiropractic and physiotherapy especially because all these disciplines offer manual therapy and exercise. However, Osteopathy is different in terms of philosophy and range of techniques applied. In Osteopathy, we focus on the health and function of the whole body, rather than just the area of injury. This means that we conduct a very thorough investigation of both medical health and lifestyle habits in order to identify all the factors that could be contributing to a patient’s pain. We then address all these factors by using a range of osteopathic techniques (which include stretching, massage and manipulation), prescribing rehabilitation exercises, and providing lifestyle advice that is highly tailored towards the patient’s needs and goals.

Osteopathy was created by Dr. AndrewTaylor Still in 1870. He was a medical doctor who desired to deepen his understanding of human anatomy in new and different ways. A pioneer of his time, he believed that the human body was to be treated as a whole, not as individual parts. He created osteopathy because he recognised that the structure of the body greatly affects a person’s overall health. His practice focused on finding and treating imbalances and dysfunctions in the body to help cure it of disease. He also took into account his patients' lifestyles, sleep, and diet before treating them. His mantra "find it, fix it, leave it alone” was used on thousands of his patients.

It means that during treatments, we take into consideration the entire person and every possible thing that could be affecting their health. This includes a thorough examination of musculoskeletal health, vascular health, nerve health, and mental health, as well as an assessment of the patient’s external environment including workplace activity, lifestyle, diet, hobbies, and mode of injury.

According to Osteopathy Australia, approximately 300,000 Australians visit an osteopath each month.

The risks associated with osteopathic treatment are very low. At Muna Osteopathy, we consider your safety and security to be of utmost importance. During your initial consult, a full case history will be taken to ensure that we are well informed of any serious health conditions that you may possess. Your osteopath will make sure to use techniques that are safe and tailored to your personal profile and preferences.

The aim of osteopathic treatment is to provide the patient with as much pain relief as possible and to help relax any tight or spasmed muscles. Although some techniques may feel slightly tender, most discomfort felt during the treatment is short-term. The osteopath always makes sure techniques used are safe and well-tolerated by patients and will not perform any form of therapy that the patient does not consent to.            
It is normal to experience some mild soreness 24-48 hours after the treatment, similar to the sensation felt after a massage or an exercise session. If pain or discomfort persists beyond this period, it is best to contact the osteopathic clinic to relay your health concerns.

The number of treatments given depends on the condition that you are presenting with. Some short-term conditions such as mild sprains or strains may take as little as 3-4 sessions. Other more chronic health conditions may require a much longer time period and regular on-going management. Therefore, the time frame of treatment is different for every person. All details regarding this will be discussed with you by your osteopath during the session.