Case studies : Osteopath: Simon

Prior to training as an osteopath, Simon spent a number of years working within the sports industry. He is now an owner of a complementary health care centre.

Simon, with his wife, a pilates instructor, opened The Practice in 2005. Initially, The Practice consisted of an osteopath and an acupuncturist but now employs a variety of complementary health care specialists, ranging from integrated body work, massage and yoga through reflexology, homeopathy and pilates to psychotherapy.

Simon has taken an integrated approach to health care, providing a business that meets the broad needs of the community. The various complementary health care practitioners will refer - both within The Practice and to practitioners working within the NHS. Osteopaths may refer patients to:

• podiatrists;
• consultants across a range of specialties;
• GPs;
• physiotherapists;
• dentists.

Simon's patients come from all sectors of society and across a wide geographical area.

Prior to training as an osteopath, Simon spent a number of years working within the sports industry. Initially, he concentrated on teaching outdoor sports, such as kayaking, climbing and canoeing. He also did a number of ski seasons and finally found himself within the retail side of the ski industry in the UK. It was whilst working in the Alps that he had his first experience of osteopathy. He had developed severe backache and was prescribed painkillers and rest. As this was obviously going to interfere with his daily work he took up the offer of osteopathic treatment and was amazed by the results. Over the next few years, he carried out research into this therapy, and in 1997, he started a degree in osteopathy at the British School of Osteopathy in London.

On graduation, Simon concentrated on setting up his own business. To support this initiative, he also operated as a locum osteopath at various practices across Devon. One of these locum positions led to an associate position within a practice in South Devon. Osteopathic associates are self-employed but work within another osteopath’s practice on a permanent basis. In Simon’s case, this is one day a week. Associates pass a proportion of their income to the owner of the practice - anything between 40 – 50%.

Simon’s typical week consists of one long day treating patients from 9am to 9pm, a slightly shorter day from 9am to 6pm and two half days from 9am to 1pm. During the rest of the time, he is involved in all aspects of running his own business and managing a group of other complementary health professionals. This includes monthly practice meetings, organising rotas in regard to the availability of rooms for consultations, marketing, business development and furthering his own knowledge through research.

The most common patient problems encountered by Simon are lower back, neck and shoulder pain. The techniques that he will typically use are manipulative, deep muscle massage and cranial osteopathy. He tends not to rely on machines for treatment.

More unusually, he may encounter presentations that relate to unresolved issues to do with birth, e.g. result of forceps delivery or ventouse delivery, (suction cup used for delivery). He may also work with young people and adults suffering from sinus pain and congestion, children suffering from glue ear and babies suffering with colic.

As an osteopath, Simon’s key tasks are to question and listen to patients in order to be able to make a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. He also teaches and guides patients in relation to their own health care, carries out specific osteopathic techniques and makes referrals when appropriate. He also receives referrals from health professionals within the NHS. For example, he recently received a referral from a consultant gastroenterologist.

Simon’s client group consists of approximately 70% women and 30% men. His classic group tends to be females of 40yrs+. The areas of his work that bring the least satisfaction are:

• when he does not get the resolution he and the patient are looking for.
• patients who become unsettled when their expectations are not met within their time limits.
• when a condition does not improve or takes longer to improve because the patient does not follow the health regime agreed.

On the other hand, he particularly enjoys:

• meeting and communicating with a wide variety of people.
• supporting people in pain.
• understanding how people ‘tick’.
• using both his practical and diagnostic skills to regularly achieve positive results.

As he develops, Simon would like to specialise more in working with mothers and babies. In addition, his ambition is to expand his business to include a pilates/yoga studio and fitness suite.