Manual Therapy (or otherwise called Physical Therapy) encompasses Osteopathy, Chiropractic, and Physiotherapy. The Similarities. Each Profession: - Specialises in treating Musculoskeletal pain and injury. - Prescribes Rehabilitation Exercise. - Treats the body using Manual Therapy techniques. - Provides Private Consultations outside of a National Health Service. - Is part of Primary Healthcare. The Differences: - Osteopathy and Chiropractic share similar roots from the USA and the UK. Many of the hands-on techniques that Osteopaths and Chiropractors use are the same or appear very similar. - Physiotherapy is the ‘physical therapy’ side of conventional medicine. Physiotherapists use less hands-on techniques and their skills for this are more narrow than Osteopaths' and Chiropractors'. - Osteopathy is more holistic in its Manual Therapeutic approach as Osteopaths have a more rounded biomechanical view of the body e.g. a lower back problem could have been caused by a twisted hip from an old ankle fracture. With this an Osteopath would manipulate each area to effect an improvement in the back pain. Chiropractors and Physiotherapists tend to treat locally to the pain, which commonly only gives short term pain relief. - Physiotherapists use more Electrotherapy local to the pain. Osteopathic and Chiropractic Manipulation is more effective at improving joint mobility and reducing pain. - Osteopaths and Physiotherapists tend to give longer Consultation times than Chiropractors who commonly treat only in 10-15 minutes. This is too short to effect longer lasting improvement in your presenting complaint. With longer Consultations, Osteopaths have more time to gather information from you as to what is causing the presenting health complaint, pain or injury; and any potential contributing factors; and still have ample time to attend to the soft tissue muscle aspects of the problem as well as the mechanical side. Watch ''The Osteopathy Episode'' of The Pain-Free Podcast hosted by Manual Therapist Malta's Principle Osteopath Gareth Milner via www.manualtherapistmalta.com/pain-free-podcast (www.manualtherapistmalta.com/pain-free-podcast)

When evaluating a Client, Osteopath Gareth Milner conducts a detailed assessment that typically includes: Medical History: A detailed Case History will be taken where Gareth Milner will ask all about the presenting complaint, how it started, how it is affecting you, what aggravates or relieves it and so on. Gareth will ask questions about past injuries, accidents, surgeries, prescribed medications taken and chronic conditions. Most of the information gathered is pre-Consultation via a Questionnaire sent by email or WhatsApp. With complete responses by the Client, this enables more time for the Physical Examination, Functional Assessment and Osteopathic Manual Therapy. Physical Examination: Depending on the Case History information, and what signs and symptoms you present with, Gareth Milner will use traditional Medical Clinical tests including Orthopaedic (Joints and Bones), Neurological (e.g. Reflexes & Muscle strength), Respiratory (e.g. listening to the lungs and breathing using a Stethoscope) and Cardiovascular (i.e. Blood Pressure and Pulse rate). Functional Assessment: Gareth will examine your posture, spinal range of motion and weightbearing. Gareth will use his Osteopathic palpation skills, feeling the soft tissues to identify areas of pain and tenderness, tight muscles and restricted joints that may be contributing to the discomfort. He will then specifically assess the movement quantity and quality of the joint areas that are contributing to your pain and mobility issues. Diagnosis: Through this thorough assessment process, both Medical and Osteopathic, Gareth comes to a ‘working diagnosis’ of your presenting complaint tailoring a Manual Therapy treatment plan specific to your body, which would be explained to you in simple, easy to understand language. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (Manual Therapy): Gareth performs a range of Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques to improve spinal, pelvic and peripheral joint mobility; improve posture and reduce muscle spasms and contracture. Electrotherapy including Interferential, TENS and/ or Therapeutic Ultrasound may also be considered as part of your treatment plan. You can watch Videos and view Photos of Gareth performing an Osteopathic Treatment on www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta (https://www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta) Exercise Rehabilitation: You will be prescribed Exercises for home practice using a gym mat. Video access to these Exercises will be given.

If you are in acute pain, the Osteopathic Assessment and Osteopathic Manual Therapy Treatment will come first, during the first hour of the 2 hour Home Consultation. This will reduce the pain so that the Exercise Rehabilitation can be practised safely and effectively under Gareth's instruction. Otherwise, Principle Manual Therapist Malta Osteopath Gareth Milner performs your Osteopathic Treatment after the Exercise Rehabilitation 1 hour session. Osteopathic Treatment is calming for your mind, nervous and musculoskeletal systems hence why this is generally the second hour of the 2 hour Home Consultation.

With acute musculoskeletal pain and injury cases i.e. where have a significant level of pain and mobility impairment, generally 3 Consultations are needed over 2 weeks, to significantly reduce your pain and improve your functional mobility. With chronic musculoskeletal pain and injury cases i.e. where you have suffered for a number of years with the condition, 4-5 Consultations are needed over 3-4 weeks to significantly reduce your pain and improve your functional mobility. After this, a Consultation every 3-4 weeks as a maintenance programme will help you have less bouts of acute pain, as well as significantly improve your quality of life. With presentations where you have a Medical Condition (that has been diagnosed by a Medical Doctor) that you seek Osteopathic Manual Therapy for, 3-4 Consultations will be needed where after Gareth Milner will evaluate with you the treatment success. With improvement in your health, a maintenance programme of treatment will be recommended which is generally a Consultation every 3-4 weeks. During each Consultation Gareth Milner will give you an up-to-date evaluation of your case.

The Osteopathic Home Consultation is always 1 hour in length. On Initial Consultations the Medical History, Physical Examination and Functional Assessment take around 30 minutes. The Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (Manual Therapy) and Electrotherapy is for the remainder of the 1 hour Consultation. On Follow-Up Consultations, if there are NO new presenting healthcare issues or complaints, the Functional Assessment takes 10 minutes, allowing 50 minutes for Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (Manual Therapy) and Electrotherapy. If you have booked Osteopathy & Exercise Rehabilitation 2 Hour Home Consultation, the Osteopathy Consultation is 1 hour and the Exercise Rehabilitation is 1 hour.

Yes. Gareth Milner BSc. (Hons) Ost. tailors each treatment to the age of the Client, selecting from the range of Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques. High Velocity Thrust Manipulations are generally avoided in people who are older than 70 years old however they are still very safe and effective in an Osteopath's highly trained and skilled hands, if deemed necessary after examination. Soft tissue massage, joint articulation and Cranial techniques are generally performed by Gareth on older patients, with daily Exercise Rehabilitation prescription. Regarding children, High Velocity Thrust Manipulation is generally applied for children 7 years old and over, and only if this is a real necessity from the presentation and symptoms (i.e. a moderate, functional scoliosis). Soft tissue massage, joint articulation and Cranial techniques are generally performed by Gareth on young children, with weekly Exercise Rehabilitation prescription. You can watch Videos and view Photos of Gareth performing an Osteopathic Treatment on www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta (https://www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta)

Generally receiving an Osteopathic Treatment is a pleasurable, relaxing experience. If you are in acute pain Gareth Milner can treat you on the treatment plinth in the side lying position and/ or on your back supine. This avoids repetitive moving on the treatment plinth. With acute pain presentations, Gareth will perform Osteopathic techniques that involve little movement of the joint or body area that hurts, which minimises pain during the treatment. High Velocity Thrust Joint Manipulation is not painful to receive when performed by a Qualified Osteopath, the signature of our Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques repertoire. If you have chronic pain, especially involving the neck, lower back, shoulder or knee, you will have soft tissues including muscles and ligaments that are chronically inflamed. Treatment can be uncomfortable at points, but some techniques have to be performed like Neuromuscular Technique (deep massage) in order to effect a reduction in your chronic pain as well as improve your joint mobility. As Consultations progress with your health complaint improving and pain reducing, Osteopathic Consultations are something to look forward to! Gareth's and your aim is Target-Zero pain*; and optimal body function for your age. Patients always feel better after the 1-hour Osteopathic Treatment; more relaxed; in less discomfort; having better mobility. To view Videos and Photos of Gareth Milner performing an Osteopathic Treatment (with descriptions) scroll down the following page www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta *Supported by your Exercise Rehabilitation prescription, as well as following the recommended lifestyle changes and other advice Gareth gives you. You can watch Videos and view Photos of Gareth performing an Osteopathic Treatment on www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta(https://www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta)

This is High Velocity Thrust Joint Manipulation. These are the techniques people most commonly associate with Osteopaths. A quick and relatively forceful thrust is applied to the joint, in the range of movement that it doesn’t want to move in which produces the audible cracking sound; resulting in immediate optimal joint mobility and alignment. These techniques are extremely safe in an Osteopath’s hands (after Clinical Assessment) as we have trained over 4 years in these techniques, their application and when they are indicated and when they are not. High Velocity Thrust Joint Manipulation can be applied to all joints across the body, especially to the spinal joints, giving immediate pain-relief and improved musculoskeletal function. Gareth Milner BSc. (Hons) Ost. qualified in 2004 from The European School of Osteopathy in England, receiving his Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Osteopathy. You can watch Gareth Milner apply High Velocity Thrust Joint Manipulation to Luke Cassar's spine on www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta (www.manualtherapistmalta.com/manual-therapy-malta)

For the Osteopathy Consultation to be as effective as possible, as a Man you should wear Sports Shorts, Cycling Shorts or Boxer Shorts underwear and small socks. For Women, a Sports Bra and Sports Shorts (or Cycling Shorts) and small socks are recommended with all jewellery removed. Gareth Milner will place a towel over your body during the Consultation to keep you warm and comfortable. If you prefer to stay covered in a T-Shirt and Sports Shorts, that is fine; however it can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment as soft tissue massage techniques need direct hands-on to have therapeutic effect (i.e. release muscle spasm, reduce pain and aid an improvement in joint mobility).

Yes, of course. Please call or WhatsApp Gareth Milner on 9917 3194 or email manualtherapistmalta@outlook.com (manualtherapistmalta@outlook.com)to arrange a suitable time.

Anyone can refer themselves for Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy. A Medical Doctor referral is not needed, and is a waste of your precious time getting one. Unfortunately, even still, most General Practitioner Doctors in Malta are not fully aware of the Clinical Health benefits of Manual Therapy and more specifically Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy, which has been in existence for over 150 years, having originally come from the USA and the UK. Gareth Milner qualified as an Osteopath in England during a 4-Year Full-Time Bachelor of Science Degree in Osteopathy at The European School of Osteopathy www.eso.ac.uk(https://www.eso.ac.uk/) These are extensive Professional Studies involving expertise in Medical Pathology (Disease), Neurology (Nervous System), Orthopaedics (Joints & Bones), Anatomy (Body Structure) and Physiology, Biomechanics (Musculoskeletal Mechanics) and Differential Diagnosis. With this Gareth Milner can diagnose your health complaint; and if necessary from your Physical Examination and Diagnosis, refer you for further investigations with your Medical Doctor. Osteopathic Treatment is never contraindicated. Watch ''The Osteopathy Episode'' of The Pain-Free Podcast hosted by Manual Therapist Malta's Principle Osteopath Gareth Milner via www.manualtherapistmalta.com/pain-free-podcast (www.manualtherapistmalta.com/pain-free-podcast)

Yes. We can provide emailed receipts for your own personal or business use, or for Insurance Companies so that you can claim back on your policy if required.

To confirm a Home Consultation Booking Manual Therapist Malta requires a deposit payment online. Please view our Pricing website page for more information. www.manualtherapistmalta.com/consultation-pricing-manual-therapist-malta (www.manualtherapistmalta.com/consultation-pricing-manual-therapist-malta) You will receive confirmation of your Home Consultation date and time both by email and WhatsApp. A reminder of your Home Consultation will be sent to you on WhatsApp the day before. Same day Consultations are available. Please call Gareth Milner on 9917 3194 as soon as is possible during the morning. If the Home Consultation is cancelled after booking online and making the deposit payment, the deposit payment is not refunded. If you then require to book another date and time for your Home Consultation, the deposit payment will need to be paid again online.