Plain-English definitions of the terms used across osteopathy and musculoskeletal care — so you know what an osteopath does, what each technique involves, and which approach fits your situation.
Also known as: Osteopathic treatment, Manual osteopathy.
A regulated manual healthcare profession that assesses, diagnoses, and treats musculoskeletal problems by working with the body's structure — joints, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue — using the hands. In the UK it is a "protected title": by law only practitioners registered with the General Osteopathic Council may call themselves an osteopath.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: GOsC.
The statutory UK regulator for osteopaths, established under the Osteopaths Act 1993. It sets the standards every osteopath must meet, maintains the statutory register, and is the body you can check to confirm a practitioner is qualified and insured to practise.
Source: www.osteopathy.org.uk
Also known as: MSK.
Anything relating to muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, or the connective tissue that links them. MSK conditions are among the most common reasons people seek manual care, and most respond to hands-on treatment, exercise, and advice without surgery or imaging.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Hands-on assessment and treatment of joints and soft tissue — including mobilisation, manipulation, and soft-tissue release — used to reduce pain, restore range of motion, and prepare tissue for movement. Most effective when combined with exercise and advice rather than delivered in isolation.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Soft-tissue massage, Myofascial technique.
Hands-on work applied to muscles and the surrounding tissue — stretching, kneading, and sustained pressure — to ease tension, improve mobility, and reduce pain. Often used early in an osteopathic session to relax an area before joints are mobilised.
Also known as: Joint mobilisation.
A gentle, rhythmic passive movement of a joint through its range, used to reduce stiffness, ease pain, and improve mobility. Articulation is slow and low-velocity — distinct from a manipulation thrust — and is one of the most commonly used osteopathic techniques.
Also known as: Manipulation, Adjustment.
A quick, precise, short-range manipulation applied to a specific joint — the technique most associated with the audible "click". It is used to restore movement at a restricted joint. An osteopath screens for suitability first; it is not appropriate for everyone or every region.
Manual treatment applied to the joints of the spine to improve movement and reduce pain. UK guidance recognises manual therapy — including manipulation and mobilisation — as part of a package of care for low back pain, used alongside exercise rather than on its own.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
The study of how forces act on the body during movement. A biomechanical assessment looks at how posture, joint mechanics, and muscle balance contribute to pain — and where treatment will have the biggest effect across the whole structure, not just at the painful site.
Also known as: ROM.
How far a joint can move through its normal directions of movement. Reduced range — from stiffness, injury, or guarding — is something an osteopath measures at assessment and aims to restore, then re-checks to track progress.
Also known as: Postural pain, Desk-related pain.
Pain and stiffness — typically in the neck, upper back, and shoulders — driven by sustained positions, most often prolonged desk and screen work. It is common but not inevitable: it usually responds to hands-on treatment combined with workstation changes and movement breaks.
Source: www.hse.gov.uk
Also known as: RSI, Work-Related Upper Limb Disorder.
An umbrella term for pain in the forearm, wrist, and hand caused by sustained or repetitive low-load activity — most commonly desk-based work. Distinct from a single-event injury, it tends to settle with workstation correction, movement variation, and graded loading rather than rest alone.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Lumbar pain, LBP.
Pain in the lumbar region. Most cases are classed as "non-specific" — no single structure can be pinpointed as the cause. UK guidance recommends staying active, exercise, manual therapy, and reassurance over imaging or rest; most episodes ease within weeks with appropriate management.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Lumbar radiculopathy.
Pain radiating from the lower back down the leg, caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or its lumbar nerve roots. Most cases improve over several weeks with movement, manual care, and exercise; persistent or severe nerve symptoms warrant medical review.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Cervicogenic headache, Tension headache.
The most common type of headache — a constant, band-like ache or pressure across the head, often linked to neck and shoulder tension, posture, and stress. Where it stems from the neck, hands-on treatment and posture advice can help; new or unusual headaches should be assessed by a doctor.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Adhesive capsulitis.
A condition in which the shoulder becomes painful and progressively stiff as the capsule around the joint tightens, limiting movement. It often resolves over time; in the meantime hands-on treatment, mobility work, and exercise aim to maintain range and manage pain.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Lateral epicondylitis, Lateral epicondylalgia.
Pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow caused by overload of the forearm tendons that attach there — common in desk workers and manual tasks, not just racquet sports. Managed with load management, soft-tissue work, and progressive strengthening of the forearm.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Soft-tissue injury, Sprain or strain.
Damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, or joints sustained during exercise or sport — from acute sprains and strains to overuse problems that build gradually. Osteopathic care supports recovery through hands-on treatment and a graded return-to-activity plan tailored to the injury.
Source: www.nhs.uk
YB Osteopathy's signature head-to-toe assessment — a thorough screen of how the whole body moves, where it compensates, and what may be driving pain or stiffness. It gives you a clear picture of your alignment and a personalised plan to stay mobile, rather than treating one painful area in isolation.