Bayside Osteo logo

Osteopathy

At Bayside Osteo, our osteopaths are dedicated to helping you manage pain and normalise your body structure and function. Through comprehensive patient history, physical exams, and further tests, if necessary, we strive for a precise diagnosis to identify the contributing factors causing discomfort or dysfunction. We employ various clinical solutions that help alleviate these problems effectively.

  • Soft tissue massage

  • Joint mobilisation, articulation and manipulation

  • Remedial exercise prescription

  • Advice on lifestyle factors

  • Gentle osteopathic techniques

Teenage to Adulthood

The journey through growth and development is considerable during this period. Sports activities generally increase and so do related impact injuries. Postural adaptations can occur around this age so it is important that awareness of how you sit (long hours at the laptop doing homework or gaming) during these times, and the value of having regular breaks. Osteopathy may help with acute and chronic sports injuries and poor posture related symptoms in teenagers such as back, neck and pelvic and joint pain.

Whether it be working, stay at home parenting, playing your sport or regular activities, injuries can be picked up on the way. Osteopathy may help you to get back on track doing the things you love.

Adults who visit osteopaths often present with back and neck pain, migraines and headaches, joint mobility restrictions (age or injury initiated) and sciatic related symptoms.

Whilst there is currently a lack of evidence into the efficacy of treatment of non-musculoskeletal related conditions, as osteopaths we do see adults with stress related GIT (gastro-intestinal tract) symptoms, and patients have reported that osteopathy has been beneficial to them.

Additional research:
Bronfort 2010; Qaseem 2017; Bischoff 2006;

Gov - Safe Work Australia / reportcasestudy

Your Pregnancy Journey

Your body undergoes a transformation through each trimester as the foetus develops. There are changes to your musculoskeletal system, hormonal changes and the increase of weight. These changes may place stress on your body and old injuries may re-emerge, and new symptoms develop.

Expectant mothers may seek help for pregnancy related back, neck and pelvic pain and headaches. This also applies to post pregnancy.

Additional Research:
Licciardone JC 2009; Pennick V 2010; Frawley J 2016

Whilst there is currently a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of osteopathy in other pregnancy related complaints (such as reflux, fluid retention, pregnancy related carpal tunnel), we as osteopaths, as well as patients, often report that osteopathy has been beneficial to the above mentioned symptoms.

joyful young mother and baby holding hands

Babies and Children

Both Loretta and Mike have undertaken additional post-graduate studies in the treatment of children as we have a special clinical interest in this area of practice. It is important to note that we are not qualified ‘specialists’ nor ‘experts' in this field.

The pregnancy and birth process may place a lot of stress on the baby's body. Generally, through feeding (sucking / swallowing), crying, movement and respiration these strains tend to settle. Occasionally however, these natural processes may not be enough and we find musculo-skeletal strains and tension throughout the body.

In accordance to evidence based practice, babies that have difficulty with feeding, latching or reflux ‘related to postural asymmetry’ may benefit from osteopathy. Babies presenting with plagiocephaly (flat head) from primary (in-utero) or secondary (constant lying on back, head to one side) causes may also benefit with osteopathy.

Additional research:
Philippi H 2006; Kelmanson IA 2006

With respect to colic, this is generally a multifactorial presentation of which osteopathic intervention may play a part in the overall treatment plan.

Additional research:
Miller JE 2006; (It is important to note that this Chiropractic study involved gentle movement of the spine; one of the modalities that Osteopaths use.)

Currently there is a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of osteopathy in relation to the treatment of the ‘unsettled’ baby and / or child. However, we as clinicians and the parents of the children who visit the clinic often report that treatment has been beneficial to them.

If you have concerns about any condition that you, or a family member may have, that has not been listed above, please feel to call and discuss as we have the knowledge and skills to determine as to whether Osteopathy is right for you, or refer to the appropriate professional body that may help you.

Common Questions

Osteopathy relies on manual contact for diagnosis and treatment. It respects the relationship of body, mind and spirit in health and disease; it lays emphasis on the structural and functional integrity of the body and the body's intrinsic tendency for self-healing. Osteopathic practitioners use a wide variety of therapeutic manual techniques to improve physiological function and/or support homeostasis that has been altered by somatic (body framework) dysfunction, i.e. impaired or altered function of related components of the somatic system; skeletal, arthrodial and myofascial structures; and related vascular, lymphatic, and neural systems.

Osteopaths are autonomous primary contact practitioners who treat patients from across the life span. 90% of patients access osteopathic care without a referral. Osteopaths have a professional focus on conditions affecting the neuro-musculoskeletal system and the management of pain.

Cranial osteopathy is not different to osteopathy, it is the name given to a subtle and refined treatment approach to osteopathy that follows all the principles of osteopathy, and it is used throughout the body, not just in the head.

This gentle approach reduces any acute or chronic states of tension and strain in tissue throughout the whole body, supporting the inherent restoration of normal to occur.

Mike and Loretta have undertaken post-graduate training in the Biodynamic approach to Cranial Osteopathy.

A referral is not necessary as an osteopath is a primary health care practitioner. We do accept GP referred Medicare Chronic Disease Management Plans (EPC) however, we do not bulk bill. If you wish to find out more information regarding this, please contact us.

The initial appointment will involve you filling out forms for our records, then taking a thorough medical history, as well as physical examination, and then manual treatment as appropriate. We suggest you wear comfortable/ looser fitting clothing.

Yes. However, different private health insurance companies pay different amounts, and some policies may not cover you. Check with your insurance company if you would like to find out how much you will be refunded.

We are a small business and do our best to provide high a quality standard of care to all our patients.
We require 24 hours’ notice of any change or cancellation of appointment.
A fee of $90 is applicable if you fail to give 24hrs notice or fail to attend.
While we do our best to remind you of appointments, it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to remember their scheduled appointments.
We understand that sometimes life gets in the way of scheduled appointment times, and we do take extenuating circumstances into consideration.

Please get in touch if you have more questions?