Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral.
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2. What is the difference between osteopathic manual therapy, chiropractic and physiotherapy?
The main differences between these practices is in their philosophy.
​Chiropractics focuses on the spine as this is where nerves branch out from into the body. Based on this structure, the philosophy for chiropractics is that by treating the spine, you treat the whole body.
​Physiotherapy involves work primarily with the musculoskeletal system. The goal is to work with a particular muscle or joint to relieve pain or discomfort or to strengthen that area after an injury or surgery.
​Osteopathy holds the philosophy that the body works as a whole. Therefore, when treating a part of the body all systems or areas of the body are assessed versus focusing just on the affected area or one type of structure or system.
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3. What should I wear to my appointment?
Something comfortable and loose such as sweat pants, yoga pants or shorts along with a t-shirt or tank top. Please avoid jeans or any type of thick fabric.
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4. What should I expect on my first osteopathy visit?
During your first visit, your medical history will be taken and your primary health concern(s) will be discussed. A thorough orthopedic assessment will be conducted to determine possible issues and restrictions. At the conclusion of this assessment, you will have a better understanding of your body's current health status, and your osteopathic manual therapist will be able to form a clinical impression as to what is causing your pain / discomfort.
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Your therapist will then discuss a treatment plan with you. Treatments may involve various osteopathic methods such as soft tissue manipulation, osteoarticular joint mobilization, muscle energy technique, craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulations. After discussing the results of the assessment and the treatment plan, with your consent, your osteopathic manual therapist will begin your first treatment. The treatment is conducted with you fully clothed and in various positions on the treatment table. For some conditions, you may be required to sit, stand or bend.
5. What should I expect on my biofield tuning appointment?
During an in-person Biofield Tuning session, the client lies fully clothed, face up, on a treatment table while the practitioner applies the handles of vibrating tuning forks to specific points on the client's body. The practitioner also slowly moves tuning forks over the recipient's body. Patients will feel the difference in the vibration of the tuning forks depending on which spot is being touched. They will also hear how the sound of the tuning fork changes depending on where the fork is held over the body.
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The practitioner works towards the body starting from about 5-6 feet away, listening for "noise" in the "signal" and feeling for a sense of resistance. When they encounter an area of perturbation, they pause. The introduction of the coherent frequency of the tuning fork into a patient's area of incoherence causes the body to “auto-tune” itself, resulting in a resolution of the "noise" and a releasing of the resistance held in relationship to it.
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The resistance or charge that was held in that particular area is then dissolved and "swept back" into circulation. The simple action of treating areas of dissonance in a client's energy field creates targeted and immediate relaxation that can bring resolution to a wide variety of ailments.
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6. How many osteopathic treatments will I need?
A treatment plan will be discussed between you and your osteopathic manual therapist at your initial appointment. Each plan differs given each patient’s unique medical history, health issue and body.
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7. How many tuning treatments will I need?
Biofield Tuning is cumulative; every session builds on the one prior to it. Like chiropractic trains the bones to find their balanced relationship, Biofield Tuning trains the magnetic/electric system of the body to flow in a balanced, rhythmically harmonious way. If a person has had long-term, extreme, non-beneficial inputs, it will take longer to achieve balance. Younger people respond more quickly than older people. Generally, a minimum of three sessions is recommended to begin. Often, a presenting symptom can be cleared within three sessions. If there is no change in a condition after three sessions then it is likely that Biofield Tuning will not be able to help with that particular condition.
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8. Who Can Benefit From Osteopathy Treatments?
Osteopathy is effective for people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. It offers an approach with gentle non-invasive techniques. An osteopathic assessment is so refined that the osteopathic manual practitioner can detect dysfunction without necessarily even having the benefit of a specific complaint, often difficult to obtain from young children.
Osteopathy is equally beneficial to athletes (whether professional or amateur), individuals with problems stemming from a sedentary job or life style, those exposed to occupational hazards, and to people suffering from a wide range of traumas. Osteopathy can be a complement to medical care for women throughout their pregnancy and to mothers immediately after the delivery. In fact, osteopathy can be very effective in assisting the mother’s body to restore and resume function in the post-partum period.
Osteopathy assists patients to "manage" their own health so that "good health" is restored and maintained whenever possible. The philosophy of osteopathy promotes ‘health’ as opposed to ‘illness’, teaches people to learn to appreciate a quality of life and encourages opportunities to live it to the fullest.
Osteopathy customizes treatments for each individual according to his or her age, physical characteristics and specific reactions to treatments.
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9. Is manual osteopathy treatment covered by Alberta Health Services, or private insurance?
Alberta Health Services does not cover osteopathy, however it is covered by most insurance companies. Please check with your insurance company prior to your visit about your plan and its coverage for osteopathy. Our osteopathic manual therapists are part of the National Manual Osteopathic Society (NMOS), which provides accreditation for osteopathy to insurance companies.
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10. Do you offer direct billing?
No, we do not offer direct billing. Receipts will be provided for insurance reimbursements. Please check with your insurance provider for services reimbursable to you.
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11. How do I book an appointment?
The easiest method is online booking. You can also call or text at 403-431-6232, please leave a message, and it will be returned as soon as possible. When you are booking your followup appointments you can do it yourself online or at the end of your treatment.
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