Frequently asked questions

Yes, visitors parking is free and the car park is barrier controlled with disabled parking bays located outside the main entrance.

Not a problem, you can cancel by email, telephone or via the cancellation link sent out in your booking confirmation email. However, Gemini Osteopathy does have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you fail to turn up to your appointment or give less than 24 hours’ notice you may be required to pay the full fee.

You can book anytime. If you want to get treated ASAP and there’s an appointment available, then simply book yourself in and I’ll see you shortly.

Any medical reports you may have (X-ray, MRI, Blood tests etc), a list of medications you may be on and your GP’s name and address.

Please wear appropriate underwear to be examined in (no loose or revealing). Gym clothes are fine. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Certainly. If you wish to bring a chaperone with you, please let us know when you book the appointment.

At your initial appointment (which will usually last around 60 minutes) I will be asking questions relating to your presenting complaint, medical history, lifestyle and leisure activities. This will enable me to diagnose your problem and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. Treatment will usually be included in the initial appointment but this will depend on how complex the presentation is and if you are safe to treat without need for referral. Subsequent treatments may be necessary which are 45 minutes per session. Everything will be explained so you fully understand and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to ask any questions.

Shockwave Therapy is completely safe, non-invasive and incredibly effective with rare side effects – no more than you may get with a sports massage. Shockwave Therapy is approved and recognised as a safe and effective treatment by The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE), with a rapidly growing body of evidence to support its success. Shockwave Therapy has a high success rate across a vast range of conditions, with 80-90% of patients reporting a significant or total reduction in pain within 3 months of treatment. In fact, 20% of patients see an improvement within just 2 weeks of treatment.
A small percentage of patients do not respond to the treatment. This is often due to the underlying health of the tissues and can usually be determined within 5 weeks of the initial treatment. Like all treatments, success cannot be guaranteed. But in most cases, Shockwave Therapy is extremely effective in treating common tendinopathies, reducing the need for surgical intervention.

The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) approves and recommends Shockwave Therapy as an effective treatment for:

• Tendon Pain & Injury
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Shoulder Pain — e.g. Calcifications of the Rotator Cuff
• Lateral Hip Pain (Gluteal Tendinopathy)
• Tennis Elbow
• Patella Tendinopathy (Runner’s Knee)Shockwave Therapy can be an effective second-line treatment for patients who fail to respond to regular treatment within 4-6 months.

Shockwave Therapy works by passing acoustic shockwaves through damaged tissues, stimulating your body’s self-healing mechanisms.
The impulses are delivered to the painful area through a handheld device that is connected to a Shockwave machine. During treatment, contact gel is applied to the skin to improve the transmission of the shockwave.

Before any treatment begins, we recommend an initial consultation to assess if Shockwave Therapy is required and to discuss a treatment plan. As the effects of Shockwave Therapy are cumulative, we recommend having one treatment per week over 3 to 5 weeks for most conditions. The treatment course will be followed by 3 to 5 subsequent appointments, consisting of regular osteopathic treatment and rehabilitation exercises. It is vital that you do these exercises, as they allow the tissue to reform and the tendon to heal — significantly aiding your recovery.
The complete treatment process takes between 12 to 16 weeks.

Shockwave Therapy is a straightforward, non-invasive treatment that requires little preparation. However, you will be asked to stop any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for 14 days prior to the course of treatment. This allows the body’s natural healing mechanisms to respond effectively.

Shockwave Therapy can provide immediate pain relief, with many patients reporting improvement after the first session.
However, the full benefits of Shockwave Therapy will not be felt until 12 to 16 weeks after the last treatment. This is because it takes this long for tissues to remodel themselves. This is one of the reasons your rehabilitation programme is so essential for the long-term success of Shockwave Therapy.

Shockwave Therapy may feel uncomfortable for some. While many patients report no unpleasant sensations during treatment, others can experience some pain and discomfort.
Throughout your treatment, your osteopath will communicate with you to ensure they are working within your comfort zone. If you are experiencing pain, let your practitioner know and they will adjust the impulse level accordingly. The treatments are very short, lasting just 2 to 3 minutes at a time.

The side effects of Shockwave Therapy are minimal. However, as the therapy stimulates your body’s natural healing response, it is natural to feel some discomfort after your treatment. For most patients, this pain is tolerable and fades within a few days.
Following your treatment, you may also experience reddening of the skin, but this should settle within 3 to 5 days. Very rarely, patients experience mild bruising in the targeted area. We will ensure that these effects have faded before continuing with your treatment.

The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) advises against treatment in the following cases:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have a blood clotting disorder (including thrombosis)
• If you are taking oral anti-coagulants
• If you have received a steroid injection in the tendon within the last 6 weeks
• If you have a Pacemaker fitted
• If tumours are present at the treatment site
• If you have an infection or skin abrasion at the treatment site
• If you are under 18 (except in the treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease
• If the treatment site is over an air-filled area, including the lungs or bowels

It is recommended that patients cease from strenuous, pain-inducing activity or high-impact physical activity, especially one that would involve the treated region, for 48 hours following each treatment session.
If you experience discomfort from treatment, it is not recommended to take anti- inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, or use ice packs. This is due to the Shockwave’s purpose to stimulate an inflammatory response in the body, and these can interfere with the body’s healing mechanism.
However, you can take over the counter painkillers, such as paracetamol.