Osteopathy for back pain in Hartley Wintney

Most adults will have an episode of back pain. That does not mean every episode is the same. Mechanical low back pain, referred pain from the hip, stiffness after gardening, and nerve-related symptoms each need a different conversation.

NICE guidance for low back pain and sciatica in over-16s emphasises assessment, staying active where possible, and considering manual therapy as part of a package of care — not as a miracle on its own. That is how I work: hands-on treatment, plus clear advice on what to do between visits.

Your first osteopathy appointment at Health at Hart is 60 minutes. I take a medical history, ask about work, sleep, sport and previous injuries, then examine how you stand, bend and move. Treatment might include soft-tissue work, gentle joint movement and muscle stretches, depending on your age, fitness and what the examination shows.

I am registered with the General Osteopathic Council, which is the UK regulator. That matters if you want assurance that you are seeing someone who is qualified to treat people from babies through to later life.

If pain followed a fall, if you have a history of cancer, or if symptoms include unexplained fever, progressive weakness or changes in bladder or bowel control, you need medical assessment first. I will say so plainly.

For many people with mechanical back pain, a combination of osteopathic treatment and simple changes to how they sit, lift and move is a reasonable, non-invasive place to start.