All you need to know about booking an osteopath via BUPA
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a primary healthcare profession focusing on improving your quality of life. Osteopaths treat the body as a whole. They use several techniques which may include manipulation of the spine and/or other joints, muscle tension release and joint articulations to improve body function. Osteopaths may also suggest some exercises for self-management if and when appropriate.
Can I see an Osteopath for my lower back pain via BUPA?
This very much depends on the policy that you hold with BUPA. For example, if your policy stated that you have a £100 or £200 excess, that means that you can book with our osteopaths, however, you will have to cover the first £100 or £200 worth of treatments according to your policy. For those with medicare insurance consult with your provider to see if they have any authorized physicians.
In other cases, if you have an all inclusive insurance policy, you will be able to have an agreed amount of treatments without having to pay any money from your own pocket. So, in short, yes you can book with us, however, make sure that you are aware of the type of policy that you hold to avoid any misunderstandings.
How does Osteopathy differ from Physiotherapy and Chiropractic?
This would be one of the common questions that arise when you read about Chiropractic in Auburn. There is a fine line between osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors. Main difference between the physiotherapists and osteopaths is exercise prescription. It could be suggested that physiotherapists are more adept at exercise prescription which encourages improvement of body function by actively engaging in your decompression therapy. On the other hand, osteopaths may have few more manual therapy techniques than physiotherapists and the general approach of treatment is based on manual work and is more passive. There is no significant difference when it comes to comparing chiropractic and osteopathy. Both professions look at the body as a whole and have a passive treatment approach. This approach bases on manual therapy techniques.
Causes of Lower back pain?
There are many factors which may cause lower back pain. When it comes to the musculoskeletal system, lower back pain could be generated by:
- Muscle tension.
- Structural alterations of the spine.
- Intervertebral disc issues.
- Spine ligament damage.
- Degenerative diseases such as arthritis or loss of bone density.
- Acute trauma to your back may also result in long lasting lower back pain.
How can Osteopathy help with Lower Back Pain?
Osteopaths perform a variety of different musculoskeletal tests which can help them to understand the causation of your lower back pain. Depending on the working hypothesis, osteopaths will be able to tailor a treatment. It is specifically designed to target the cause of your pain referring to the examination findings. It usually involves manual therapy techniques and some exercises.
What to expect during the appointment with an Osteopath?
During the appointment, the osteopath will ask you several questions regarding your general health and the presenting issue. He/she will also ask you to remove some clothing so that the physical examination could be more effective. In most cases, we offer you a gown to respect your dignity. You will also have an option to refuse taking off any clothing if it makes you feel uncomfortable. After the physical assessment an osteopath will discuss the relevant assessment findings with you and suggest a treatment plan. You will be involved in the decision making regarding the treatment so that the treatment plan is as suitable and individual as it can be for your specific case.
Furthermore, your osteopath will give you a treatment. It will mainly involve manual therapy including techniques such as spine manipulation, muscle release and joint articulation. Also, the osteopath will show you a few exercises to complete at home to help you with self-management.
How can I book an appointment using my BUPA insurance?
First and foremost you have to understand what type of policy you have and how many treatments can be covered by BUPA. Also, you need to ensure that your insurance policy is covering osteopathy treatments as not every policy does that. Moreover, check if there is any excess on your policy as if there is, you will have to fund the agreed amount yourself before starting to use the BUPA cover. After you have obtained all the information, all that is left is to contact us and arrange your appointment with one of our osteopaths and enjoy your treatment.
Finally
We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us 3 mins away from Angel station in Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!
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