Common Myths About Osteopathy, Busted
Osteopathy gets misunderstood a lot, so I wanted to clear up a few things I hear regularly from new clients.
Myth 1: It's just for back pain
Back pain is a big part of what I see, but osteopathy covers a lot more than that. I treat neck pain, shoulder issues, hip and knee complaints, sports injuries, headaches related to neck tension, and general movement restrictions. If it involves how your body moves and functions, it's usually within scope.
Myth 2: You need a referral to see an osteopath
You don't. You can book directly with me at Border Osteo & Performance without going through a GP first. That said, if you have a chronic condition and want to access a Medicare rebate through a GP care plan, a referral for that specific purpose can help, it's just not a requirement to walk through the door.
Myth 3: It's all just cracking joints
Manipulation, the technique that produces that cracking sound, is one tool among many, not the whole toolkit. Treatment might include soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, stretching, and increasingly, strength and conditioning advice. Not every session involves manipulation, and it's never the only thing happening.
Myth 4: One session should fix everything
Sometimes people feel significantly better after one visit, but for most complaints, especially anything that's built up over time, real change happens over a few sessions combined with some work on your end between visits. Anyone promising an instant permanent fix in one go is probably overselling it.
Myth 5: It's only for people already in pain
Some of the most useful work I do is with people who aren't in pain yet but want to move better, build capacity, or address something that's been nagging before it becomes a bigger issue. Prevention is a legitimate reason to book in, not just crisis management.
Myth 6: Osteopaths and physios do the same thing
There's overlap, but the training and approach differ. Osteopathy tends to take a broader, whole-body view of how different areas influence each other, not just treating the site of pain in isolation. Neither is universally "better", it comes down to what suits you and the specific issue.
If you've had questions about what osteopathy actually involves, hopefully this clears a few things up. If not, feel free to ask when you come in.
Ready to book?
If this sounds like what you're dealing with, book a session at Border Osteo & Performance and we'll build a plan around what your body actually needs.
FAQ
Do I need a GP referral to see an osteopath? No, you can book directly. A referral only matters if you're trying to access a Medicare rebate through a chronic disease management plan.
Is one session enough to fix a problem? Sometimes people feel a big difference after one visit, but lasting change for most complaints usually takes a few sessions combined with some work on your end in between.
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About the author
Dr Harry Shirley is an AHPRA-registered osteopath and founder of Border Osteo & Performance, based inside Club Forma Gym in Richmond. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy) and a Bachelor of Health Science, with 8+ years of experience in musculoskeletal and sport health. Harry has worked within Golf Australia and Golf Victoria's High Performance programs and is currently completing a Master's in High Performance Sport at ACU.
