Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding osteopathy. Is your question not listed? Please feel free to contact us.

1. Is osteopathy in the insurance package?
2. Do I need to have a referral from the family doctor?
3. How does osteopathy differ from other forms of therapy?
4. What is the difference between osteopathy, manual therapy, chiropractic and physical therapy?
5. Can osteopathy be combined with other therapies?
6. Is osteopathy safe?
7. What can an osteopath do for me?
8. What kind of training does an osteopath have?
9. What are the costs?
10. How long does a consultation last?
11. How many treatments do I need?
12. What complaints can I see an osteopath with?
13. Do you also treat babies and children?

1. Is osteopathy included in the insurance package?
Osteopathy is fully or partially reimbursed by most health insurance companies, from the supplementary package. Click here for more information.

2. Do I need a referral from the general practitioner?
It is not necessary to get a referral from your general practitioner, even for the insurer to get reimbursed for the treatment(s). Of course, your family doctor may be informed of the treatment, if you wish.

3. How does osteopathy differ from other forms of therapy?
Many regular forms of therapy focus on subareas in the human body. For example, one specializes on the nervous system (neurologist) on the bones, joints and muscles (orthopaedist) or on the internal organs (internist). These specialists have extensive knowledge of a subfield in the body. This is valuable, but sometimes specialist treatment is not enough to make the symptoms disappear. An osteopath tries to see the big picture and analyzes the main movement losses and functional disorders based on which the cooperation between the different body systems is not working properly. By addressing causes, we try to ensure that the body repairs itself again.

4. What is the difference between osteopathy, manual therapy, chiropractic and physical therapy?
Osteopathy treats all structures in the body. Manual therapy is limited to bones, joints and the muscles (the musculoskeletal system). Osteopathy treats the musculoskeletal system, the organ system and the nervous system and treats holistically. An Osteopath (usually originally a physiotherapist) works only with his hands while a Physiotherapist also uses appliances and/or equipment. A Chiropractor focuses mainly on the spine and tries to restore the complaints with manipulations (cracking). A Manual Therapist, a Physical Therapist and a Chiropractor will not treat the abdomen directly, an Osteopath will.

5. Can osteopathy be combined with other therapies?
Osteopathy can in many cases be combined with other therapies. This must be discussed with your osteopath. There is regular collaboration with eg physiotherapists. As a rule it is better not to be treated on the same day by an osteopath and by another practitioner.

6. Is osteopathy safe?
As a basis, osteopaths in the Netherlands have training and experience as physiotherapists or physicians. Just as today to a physiotherapist, the patient may also go directly to an osteopath. In training, osteopaths are trained to rule out contraindications! Signs of underlying diseases and abnormalities are recognized. If necessary, consultation with your general practitioner and/or specialist will take place. The techniques applied by an osteopath are safe. An osteopath may occasionally apply so-called manipulations. As a rule, this happens less often than a chiropractor or a manual therapist. With babies never manipulations are applied. Both the N.V.O. (Dutch Association for Osteopathy) and the N.R.O. (Dutch Register for Osteopathy) monitor the quality of osteopathy in the Netherlands through visitation, post- and continuing education. More information via www.osteopathie-nro.nl and www.osteopathie.nl. In addition, osteopathic quality is ensured by the fact that every registered osteopath is obliged to adhere to disciplinary and complaint law. Hayes and Bezilla conducted a large-scale study in 2006 on the safety of osteopathic treatment in 500 children. They reported no complications after osteopathy.

7. What can an osteopath do for me?
The original cause of complaints can be accidents, sports injuries, overuse, inflammation, surgery, scars that cause adhesions, etc. We often see that complaints do not arise where the primary cause is and that there can be a significant period of time (sometimes years) between the origin and the complaint for which the patient seeks treatment.

• An ankle injury can cause back pain or headaches years later.
• A fall on the tail bone can cause migraines or dizziness over time.
• Forceps delivery can result in children, learning, behavioral or motor disorders.
• Abdominal surgery can cause chair gait problems, back pain, headaches, neck and shoulder pain over time.

Complaints occur when movement blockages occur in or between the systems. The body itself will try to compensate for or remove these blockages. Usually this works. If it fails, the osteopath is the appropriate person to remove these blockages through his treatment.

8. What kind of training does an osteopath have?
An osteopath in the Netherlands, after his basic training as a physiotherapist or physician, has completed a five- or six-year course at an internationally recognized osteopathy school. Each year must be completed with transitional exams in subjects such as anatomy, pathology, physiology, biomechanics, neurology, embryology, radiology and practical skills. Upon completion of the training, the prospective osteopath takes an examination before an international jury and can then be included in the Dutch Register of Osteopathy. To bear the title DO, the osteopath must write a so-called thesis based on scientific research.

9. What are the costs?
The rate at Hogewoning Osteopathy is € 95, – euro per consultation. Whether this is reimbursed by the health insurer depends on the care package you have taken. Check this well.

10. How long does a consultation last?
The guideline for a consultation is 50 minutes. Depending on the complaint, it may sometimes take longer or shorter.

11. How many treatments will I need?
The number of osteopathic treatments needed depends on the type and severity of your complaints. After a few treatments you will already notice if the osteopathy is effective. Generally, three to five sessions are sufficient to relieve acute complaints. For chronic or persistent complaints, the recovery process may take longer and more treatments may be necessary.

12. With which complaints can I contact an osteopath?

An osteopath helps with common complaints. Consider:

13. Do you also treat babies and children?
Treating babies and young children involves more care and attention, which we like to handle with precision. That is why we are doing extra training in order to be able to treat babies better and better. Feel free to contact us and ask us about the possibilities?