Osteopathy in Hampstead
Persistent aches, stiffness and recurring musculoskeletal concerns don’t always have a simple explanation. That’s why osteopathy at Natural Health Chiropractic begins by looking beyond the area that feels uncomfortable and considering how your body moves as a whole. Franco Secchi (Osteopath) takes time to understand your concerns, everyday activities and movement patterns before recommending an individual approach to care. His philosophy is centred on helping you better understand your body rather than applying the same routine to every person.
A Broader Approach to Osteopathy
Franco’s approach is shaped by his experience in osteopathy alongside his background in physical therapy, injury prevention and rehabilitation. This influences the way he combines hands-on care with movement assessment, exercise guidance and education. Rather than beginning with a technique straight away, our osteopath first looks at how you move. Walking, bending, reaching, lifting or even performing an everyday task can provide useful information about how different areas of your body are working together. Once your assessment is complete, he can discuss the approaches that may be appropriate for you.
Techniques Selected for Your Individual Needs
There isn’t one standard osteopathic appointment that everyone receives. Depending on your assessment and individual circumstances, Franco may use techniques such as joint mobilisation or manipulation, targeted soft tissue techniques, dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue work, kinesiology taping, movement retraining or exercise guidance. These different approaches allow care to be adapted according to your presentation rather than relying on one technique alone. Our osteopath described this combination of soft tissue work, joint techniques and exercise correction as central to his approach.
Osteopathy May Be Appropriate For
People visit our clinic with a variety of musculoskeletal concerns. Franco primarily works with adults, including many people who want to remain active as they get older. Osteopathy may be appropriate for:
- Generalised aches, pains and stiffness
- Uncomplicated mechanical neck pain
- Backache and back pain
- Joint pain associated with everyday movement
- Minor sports injuries
- Muscle aches and discomfort
- Reduced flexibility or mobility
If your symptoms suggest that another type of assessment or healthcare is more appropriate, our osteopath can discuss this with you. He does not manage fractures or certain more complex structural concerns and explained during his interview that he refers patients elsewhere when their needs fall outside his scope of care.
What Happens at Your First Appointment?
Your first appointment is largely about understanding what’s happening before deciding on appropriate care. Franco begins by discussing your health history, current concerns and the activities that may be relevant to how you’re feeling. Much of this initial visit may be devoted to assessment. You may be asked to perform simple movements that reflect things you do in everyday life, allowing him to observe how your body responds. He will then explain what he has observed, discuss the available options and answer your questions. Depending on your individual circumstances, hands-on care may also be introduced during the first appointment.
Practical Guidance You Can Take Home
Education and movement guidance are important parts of Franco’s approach. Where appropriate, he may demonstrate exercises using simple equipment such as resistance bands or light weights and help you practise the movement during your appointment. Rather than simply giving you a printed exercise sheet, Franco often uses your own phone to record short videos of you performing the recommended movements or exercises. You can then refer to the videos at home and see exactly what was demonstrated during your appointment. The aim is to give you practical information that you can continue using between appointments while helping you feel more confident about movement and everyday activity.
Book Your Osteopathy Assessment
If musculoskeletal aches, stiffness or recurring discomfort are interfering with the things you enjoy, an osteopathy assessment can help you better understand your movement and explore the care options that may be appropriate for you. Contact Natural Health Chiropractic today to arrange an appointment with Franco.
CONTACT US
