Osteopathy(from the ancient Greek ὀστέον ostéon, bone)was developed during the 19th century by the American Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. This holistic form of therapy is practised with the hands (“manually”). Osteopathy aims to find the root cause of your symptoms. A cause that does not have to be where you feel the discomfort – this may well be in a completely different part of your body. Treating the diagnosed area should provide relief or a full cure. To do this, we actively stimulate the body's own regulatory systems. Osteopathy differs fundamentally from physiotherapy and chiropractic. Depending on the training and education of the therapist, crossovers can be fluid.

FAQs - Osteopathie Zimmermann & Kollegen

Q: What if I have to cancel an appointment?

In order to be able to give you the necessary attention, we only work by appointment. This time is exclusively for you. Should you be unable to keep an appointment, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance. All missed appointments or cancellations/postponements made at short notice are charged a flat rate cancellation fee of € ..., .: This will not be covered by health insurers!

Q: Is osteopathy the right thing for me?

We all have our very own story, which is inscribed in the body. That is why our osteopathic treatment is basically suitable for everyone of all ages. We work with infants - and we also help older people to have a better quality of life. For us, openness, honesty and transparency are essential. And we are fully tuned to your needs.

Q: Do I have to undress for treatment?

For the examination and treatment, it may be necessary to undress down to your underwear. We understand, of course, that this might be a problem for you. If so, then please wear light, comfortable clothing.

Q: Do I have to bring anything to my first appointment?

In principle, no. However, if you have X-ray or MRI images, findings and/or haemograms from your doctor, these are, of course, useful for our collaboration - and a good addition to our medical history discussion. So please bring them with you!

Q: How often will I be treated - and at what intervals?

This question can only be answered on an individual basis because everybody reacts differently to osteopathy. We are not interested in giving you as many appointments as possible: We usually schedule one to six sessions. Experience shows that many patients experience an improvement after just three treatments. In the case of acute problems, one session is often sufficient. If there is no improvement after three appointments, we discuss how to proceed - and see what options we still have or whether osteopathy is the right way for you. Additional examinations by a specialist may also be required. We discuss the intervals between appointments individually. Usually they are between one and four weeks. After the treatment has been completed, many of our patients come back every six to twelve months to receive preventive support for their health and to "stay on the ball".

Q: How can osteopathy help me?

For legal reasons we can’t give you an answer to that question here. For example, osteopathy might take away one patient’s back pain yet the pain will persist for another. Please contact us personally!

Q: Will my private, full-cover or supplementary insurance pay for osteopathy?

Charging is in line with the fee schedule for alternative health practitioners. These are accepted and reimbursed by the private health insurers and alternative health insurance companies. Depending on your policy, you may have to pay a percentage of the fee yourself. If your policy excludes alternative practitioner services, you will be responsible for the full amount. If you are in any doubt, a quick call to your insurer is all it takes!

Thomas Zimmermann