Welcome to Wadsworth Osteopaths  

We are a team of friendly, highly skilled registered osteopaths, based in Hull and East Yorkshire, who provide professional care with a personal touch. For over 30 years, the practitioners here at Wadsworth Osteopaths have been treating and helping to prevent a wide variety of problems in patients of all ages, even from as young as a new-born baby. 
 
If you are unsure whether your problem can be helped with osteopathy, please telephone the surgery and we will talk it through. 
 
When we see you for the first time we will ask questions about your symptoms and general medical history. We will then examine you to find out what has been damaged. Once we have diagnosed your condition we will discuss prognosis and, if treatment is appropriate, what treatment we would recommend. 
Welcome to Wadsworth Osteopaths

Robert Wadsworth Practice Principal 

PPP Specialist recognition. Robert studied osteopathy at the British School of Osteopathy in London. Graduating in 1983 he worked as an assistant in an established practice in York then moved to Beverley in 1985 to set up this practice. 
He has a special interest in working with children and expectant mothers, also in research into osteopathy. He held the position of Chairman of the Northern Counties Society of Osteopaths, was elected Council member of the General Council and Register of Osteopaths, and later served as Chairman of the GCRO public relations department. 
He enjoys gardening and hill walking with his sons Henry (an electronic engineer) and William (a learning science blogger), singing and playing the bassoon. 

Kate Balcomb-Johns  

Kate qualified with distinction from the European School of Osteopathy in 2014. She has a particular interest in the treatment of babies and women during pregnancy. She also has a BSc degree in environmental science. She enjoys yoga, cooking and sailing in her spare time. 

Christine Beckett  

Christine qualified with a Master of Osteopathy from the British School of Osteopathy in 2012. She is very interested in applying osteopathic treatment to animals and has completed to postgraduate diploma in Animal Osteopathy. She also has a BSc in Biomedical Science. 

Questions people ask 

What can I do to help myself? 

Once we have found out what your problem is and what is causing the pain, we will advise on how you can look after yourself – including movements and activities to avoid which may aggravate your condition. We will also give you advice on exercise and fitness when the injury has recovered sufficiently and how you can keep yourself fit once your pain has gone. 

What happens when joints 'pop'? 

When we use thrust techniques (HVT or High Velocity Thrust) to loosen joints we take a joint through a small range of movements quickly. This creates a temporary vacuum effect inside the joint and a small bubble of gas comes out of solution from the joint fluid. This is what makes the ‘click’ or ‘pop’. There are 3 main benefits to this technique – the HVT improves joint mobility, it helps to relax muscles and it can be done positionally if there is any misalignment. 

How long will it take to get better? 

Most back strains will settle with 4 – 6 sessions of treatment, usually with a week or so between sessions. If there is nerve pressure, like sciatica, recovery takes longer and can be 8 – 12 weeks before settling down. Don’t forget, people vary greatly in their recovery times. As a general rule injuries are slower to heal if they have been with you for a long time. If you are generally fit and healthy that tends to speed up your recovery. As you get older healing takes a little longer and, if you are pushing yourself hard physically with perhaps a demanding job or sporting programme, you can expect that your injury will take longer getting better. 
 
Osteopath treatment, shoulder
 

What about adverse reaction? 

Fortunately the risk of adverse reaction from osteopathy is very low. It is quite normal for patients to feel sore for a day or two after osteopathy treatment, in the same way that you might be sore or ache after taking unaccustomed exercise. Occasionally, though, this can last longer or be more severe. If you find that you are getting unexpected symptoms, please telephone the surgery. Although reactions to treatment are infrequent, we can often help to minimise and alleviate the effects. 
 
No medical treatment though, if it is effective, is entirely free of adverse reactions. Drugs and surgery all have their associated risks. 
 
There are varying estimates showing between a 1 in 5 million and a 1 in 50 million chance of a stroke after neck manipulation. To put this into context, the risk is thought to be less than the risk of stroke after using the backwash at the hairdresser. We use techniques to lessen this risk. For patients who have a higher risk, for example those with raised blood pressure or a previous history of strokes, we may avoid neck manipulation. 
 
There is also a rare risk of damage to intervertebral discs from manipulation of the lumbar spine. We will however, examine you and discuss your particular circumstances, and alter our approach to your treatment to suit your individual case. 
Osteopath treatment, shoulder

What happens during a consultation? 

When we see you for the first time we will ask questions about your symptoms and general medical history. We will then examine you to find out what has been damaged. Once we have diagnosed your condition we will discuss prognosis and, if treatment is appropriate, what treatment we would recommend. 
 

How long will a session last? 

We normally allow 30 minutes for a consultation. Within that time we will review progress, re-examine as necessary and discuss management. Depending on the condition, the actual treatment may last anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes – often with fresh injury we have to take things carefully to avoid further aggravation. Some patients need more treatment than others, or sometimes a longer session is required. We can alter the appointment time to suit the individual patient’s needs. 
 

What can osteopathy do to relieve my pain? 

Osteopathy is an assessment, treatment and management system designed to identify injured muscles, joints and associated structures. Treatment consists of manual techniques which help to improve mobility and range of movement, reduce muscle spasm and reduce pain. In some cases there will also be incorrect alignment, which also needs to be addressed. 
 
Osteopath treatment, back pain
Wadsworth Osteopaths, consultation

Do I need to undress? 

We normally ask patients to undress to their underwear so that we can examine the problem areas properly and gain an accurate diagnosis. If you feel uncomfortable with this, we can manage with shorts and a loose top. At Wadsworth Osteopaths we have male and female practitioners. If you have a preference, please speak to our receptionist when you book your first appointment. 
 

Will it hurt? 

Most osteopathic techniques are not painful but sometimes we have to use some force to get the results we need. We try to keep the amount of force to a minimum and we will discuss your treatment with you before we start. 
 
 
If you'd like to know more, or discuss a particular problem that you may have, then please call Wadsworth Osteopaths now on our 24/7 central booking line: 01482 875004  
 
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