3 Ways To Best Prepare For Your Appointment With The Osteopath

If you're suffering from chronic lower back pain and all other efforts have proved futile, an appointment with an osteopath may help you get your life back on track. This non-invasive therapy seeks to manipulate and strengthen muscular framework of your body as a whole, including your spine, joints and muscles. Follow these methods to best prepare for your back pain appointment with the osteopathy professional.

Prepare Your Medical History Documents

Keep in mind that an osteopathy professional will need to know about your medical history before treating you with any solutions. This should include any x-rays, diagnosis documents, prescriptions, tests and scans you have undertaken for your situation in the past. You may also be asked to sign a consent form in order to get osteopathy treatment. Having these medical history documents in order will reduce the amount of time you need to spend explaining your symptoms and situation.

Wear Clothes You're Comfortable In, Including Your Underwear

The professional will likely need to undertake a series of tests and clinical examinations to properly assess your situation. This may include different postural and neurological tests to better understand the type of back pain you are suffering from. You may need to undertake specific movements without your clothes on so that the osteopath can study your movements more closely. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes, including your underwear, to avoid feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious when you're getting tested. Wearing comfortable clothes and modest underwear from the start will prevent you from feeling awkward and wasting time getting ready for the tests.

Allow Enough Time For Your First Appointment

Keep in mind that your initial consultation will take the longest, only because the professionals at the clinic need to fully assess and understand your back pain situation. If you are a working professional, make sure you take enough time off work, or choose a day like a weekend when you have adequate free time for the clinic. You should also ideally set an appointment time, so that you don't waste time waiting for your turn at the clinic. Most osteopathy clinics will set an appointment, and unless there is an emergency, will usually stick to it –– allowing you to properly plan your day. Before taking time off, ask the clinic how long they anticipate your appointment to take based on your initial discussion, so that you have an indication. This is important because everyone's personal situation and problem is different.

Preparing for an appointment to treat your back pain isn't hard, so follow these tips for the best results.

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