Many people who book their first appointment with me have never tried osteopathy before. Perhaps they have seen a physiotherapist or chiropractor, but are curious whether there is more to be gained. Or they have been sent by a friend who swears by it. Either way, it is completely normal not to know what you are getting into – so here is an honest look at what an osteopathic treatment with me actually involves.
Before you arrive
You are welcome to eat and drink normally before treatment. The only thing I will say is that a very heavy meal right beforehand can make things a little uncomfortable – particularly if we are working with the visceral system (the organs), which we often do. On the other hand, your body and nervous system do not function optimally when you are hungry and restless either. So eat normally, drink water, and come as you are.
Duration – how long does it take?
An osteopathic treatment typically lasts around 45 minutes. I set aside 45 minutes for each consultation, so there is time for both a thorough examination and an in-depth treatment – not just a quick check and off you go.
First consultation: we start with a conversation
A treatment with me does not begin with you lying down on the table straight away. We start with a conversation, where I ask about what brings you in, your history, and what is going on in your daily life. Not just the physical symptoms, but also stress, sleep, working posture, and what makes things better or worse.
That is because osteopathy does not just treat the place that hurts. We look for the connection. Neck pain can come from a tight diaphragm. Migraines can be rooted in tension in the connective tissue at the front of the chest. Recurring back pain can be linked to the mobility of the organs. The conversation is part of the examination.
After that I carry out a functional assessment. I look at your posture, movement and how your body organises itself. And then we get started.
What happens on the table?
The short answer: I use my hands to examine and treat. But what that specifically means varies greatly from person to person and session to session.
I work with a broad range of techniques and always choose based on what the body shows me, not based on a fixed protocol.
Osteopathic treatment techniques
Joint mobilisations and manipulations restore mobility in joints that are locked or restricted. A manipulation is what sometimes sounds like a small “click”. It is not something breaking, but a quick movement that releases pressure in the joint. It is always voluntary and never happens without us having talked about it first.
Myofascial release is work with the connective tissue – the tissue that surrounds muscles, organs and bones and holds everything together. Fascia can become tight and restrictive, and this can pull on structures far from where you feel the pain. It is soft, slow work that often creates a sense of something releasing.
MET (Muscle Energy Techniques) are active muscle techniques in which you as the client participate actively. You push against my resistance in a specific direction, and we use this to restore movement and reduce tension in joints and muscles.
Muscle inhibition is a technique where I use a still, sustained pressure to reduce muscle tension via the nervous system (without stretching or pressing). It may seem subtle, but it can make a significant difference to tension levels.
Visceral treatment is the mobilisation of the organs and their attachments. The organs do not simply float freely inside the body. They are suspended in connective tissue and fascia that can become restrictive. A tight liver can pull on the diaphragm. A tense colon can affect the lower back. Visceral treatment is gentle and precise, and many clients are surprised by how much they feel it.
Craniosacral therapy is the most subtle work I do. It involves very gentle techniques that work with the skull, the spinal canal and the rhythm of the nervous system. It is particularly used for stress, headaches, migraines and an overloaded nervous system.
Lymphatic pump techniques support fluid circulation in the body and help reduce stagnation in the lymphatic and fluid systems.
Neural mobilisation addresses the nervous tissue’s ability to glide freely within its surrounding structures. Nerves that are restricted in their ability to glide can cause everything from tingling sensations to radiating pain and tenderness.
The techniques are always combined and adapted to your body and your day. A treatment rarely looks the same twice.
What is the goal?
The goal is not to “fix” you. Your body is not broken – it is out of balance. And the body has a remarkable ability to find its way back to balance when guided in the right direction.
What I work with is reducing what is holding it back: restrictions in tissue and joints, tension in the nervous system, structures pulling on each other in ways that create pain or limitation. When that releases, the body can do the rest itself.
That is why many people find that the effect of a treatment continues in the days that follow, as the body integrates and adjusts further.
How do you feel afterwards?
It varies. Some people leave the clinic feeling light, more mobile, calm in their nervous system. Others notice a mild fatigue or soreness in the following 24–48 hours. This is completely normal and a sign that the body is working. It is rarely more than that.
I usually say: drink a little extra water, take it easy for the rest of the day if you can, and pay attention to what you notice. The bodily awareness you take home with you is actually part of the process.
Follow-up treatments
The next time we meet, we always start with a follow-up: what have you noticed since last time, what has changed, what is still there? This is important information that guides the treatment going forward.
I continuously assess the response since last time, changes in symptoms and function, and any new or remaining tension patterns. Some issues resolve in one to three treatments. Others require a longer course, particularly if something has been held in the body for a long time. I am always honest about what I consider realistic for you specifically.
Want to give it a try? – book an appointment for osteopathic treatment with me in Nørrebro
You are welcome to book an appointment for osteopathic treatment with me at Livets Klinik in Nørrebro. If you have any questions before booking, you are always welcome to write to me.
See you on the table!
Camilla
