Osteopathy

The classical system of osteopathic medicine acknowledges the body’s innate ability to balance itself when all its parts are working in unison. Le Pont osteopaths draw on this tradition, they understand the body as a whole system, recognising the interconnected nature of its parts.

Here, in Whangarei our osteopaths can treat anyone at any age, including new-born babies and children and pre/post-natal women (more information here – paediatric + pre/post natal osteopathy). They can help with back and neck pain, headache, physical injuries to bones, joints and muscles, and many other physical and functional disorders. They also help with pre and post-surgical rehabilitation.

They are qualified Allied Health providers, who work with primary health providers such as your GP, orthopaedic surgeons, and a range of specialists in the health sector. All our osteopaths are registered ACC providers, who can lodge your claim directly with ACC.

What to expect

After a subjective assessment and physical examination, our osteopaths will identify any dysfunctional areas and then draw from a variety of techniques to treat them. These can include structural manipulation, visceral manipulation, cranial or biodynamic osteopathy. Osteopaths can utilise touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage.

What to expect depends on the origin or cause of the complaint. Each patient and each appointment are unique and are treated so. For example:

• You have hurt yourself mildly as a one-off incident in an otherwise healthy and functional life. It is likely your complaint will be resolved in one or a few sessions.
• You have hurt yourself seriously. Severe whiplash, concussion, disc prolapse, nerve root compression, complex fractures, etc. You will likely need weekly attention for 4-8 weeks followed by monthly appointments. If surgery is required, osteopathic treatment before and after will be beneficial to your rehabilitation and surgical outcome.
• Your pain/complaint has been ongoing for years. A true resolution of your complaint is possible but will likely take time and may require changes to your lifestyle. Treatments may be less frequent over a long period of time rather than many treatments back-to-back. You may find yourself in one or all of these three categories:
  • Your body has set itself in a chronic compensatory state because of a past injury that has not resolved fully.
  • Your body has set itself in a chronic compensatory state because of a daily habit, either lifestyle or work-related.
  • Your complaint, although it appears only physical in its manifestation, is entangled with a past traumatic experience that has had a psychological impact on you. In this case, it may be that an osteopathic treatment triggers an immediate or delayed emotional release which always assists in resolving the complaint.

To support you in making positive change in your daily life, see other services provided by Le Pont Clinic.

Members of the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand (OCNZ) and Osteopaths New Zealand (ONZ)

Treatment Charges

(CSC = Community Service Card // <12 = Children under 12)