Experienced Osteopath in Pinner & Northwood

Daraius Cooper offers a first class care and expert advice, tailored to you.

I aim to make you feel at ease and with over 35 years experience I look to take your expectations into account. Offering osteopathy for people of all ages, with a wide range of conditions.

Q&As

Q: What happens on the first visit?

A: I would take a history, perform an osteopathic examination including orthopaedic and neurological tests. We would then give a diagnosis, a prognosis (forecast) and then usually treatment will follow on the same day.

Q: Do I need to see a GP first?

A: No, osteopaths are primary healthcare specialists able to make a diagnosis and refer the patient to a GP if necessary.

Q: Are you available to offer advice over the phone?

A: Yes

Q: Are you available across the weekend?

A: Yes I am open on a Saturday.

Q: Will I feel sore after treatment?

A: Not always, but when a treatment reaction occurs it is often accompanied by positive change taking place in the body and can typically last a few days. I would always encourage you to stop me at any point in the treatment to ask questions if there are any concerns.

Q: Do I treat more than back problems?

A: Yes. Osteopaths are trained at least up to second MB in medicine with a major emphasis in anatomy. We are trained to handle and treat any part of the body, such as wrists, ankles, the jaw etc.

Q: Do I provide massage?

A: Osteopathy is a medical system which uses a range of techniques including massage-type techniques which we call soft-tissue techniques. I encourage you to share your expectations of treatment so that I can understand & discuss your needs in more detail.

Q: Will you 'click' my back?

A: Patients are asked what their expectations of treatment are. Some people very much desire for a joint to be 'clicked' in treatment. Others desire the opposite of this, and some are indifferent. I would discuss this with you in detail.

Q: Do I need to undress?

A: Osteopathic evaluation requires me to examine not only the area of complaint but how that can link with other areas of the body, in order to get the best possible diagnosis and outcome. Therefore the patient is usually required to undress down to underwear, keeping underwear on, for an orthopaedic examination. This is always explained to the patient beforehand and the patient is given choice whether they need to undress. There are ways to modify this approach, and this is often the case with teenagers and can be discussed with me. After the examination, if the patient prefers, they can dress in loose clothing for the remainder of the appointment.

Q: Can I bring someone with me?

A: Yes, you are welcome to bring a friend, spouse or family member for the duration of the consultation and treatment.

Q: How can you treat a baby that moves about?

A: Often there are methods to treat a baby whilst they are moving a little, toys can be used for distraction or if the mother wishes the baby can be treated while being bottle or breast fed. Various methods of treating babies and young children can be discussed with me.

Q: How can a long standing complaint improve with treatment?

A: It is important to recognise that within the philosophy of osteopathy it is an ethos that we look for health not just for disease. Therefore very often, there is a part of the problem that is naturally motivated to try to get better for itself, and it is my job to use my hands to guide the body in that direction.

Q: Do I have to come with symptoms?

A: Very often it is easier to diagnose and treat a patient when they do not have symptoms. Osteopathic examination uses very keen visual and hands on evaluation which is sufficient to find and treat the pre-existing problem. Some patients visit me purely for a general health evaluation and often they are sports people, dancers, mums to be who are worried about future pregnancy given a history of a back problem.