If you are able to get to see a Physiotherapist on the NHS they will usually give you exercises,and there is very little hands-on treatment. We will recommend exercise but usually only after the pain has gone, to help with mobility and muscle tone,both of which may prevent recurrence.But whilst you are in pain exercise can often make the pain worse, so we use various techniques to help the body to heal itself.Sometimes this will be gentle manipulation,if joint alignment has been affected; the clicking of joints can help to reduce the muscle tone around an inflamed joint and this may then start to heal.Other times we use gentle movements to improve the blood supply,and stimulate fluid exchange,to help get rid of the inflammation;this can be in conjunction with anti-inflammatory drugs and local hot and cold treatments. Many private physics will work in a similar way, but not many use manipulation as much as Osteopaths.
Physiotherapy can address lots of illnesses and conditions and help with rehab in the hospital setting,whilst Osteopathy concentrates on the bodies framework and how this interacts with other systems of the body.So your poor mechanics maybe upsetting other systems in the body, or visa versa. Either way we can help by improving body function.