Frequently Asked Questions

Osteopathic treatment is considered as a hands-on approach which means that Osteopaths use manual therapies and different Osteopathic techniques to address musculoskeletal disorders. For example, techniques like Myofascial Release, Counter-Strain, Remedial Massage, Balanced Ligamentous Tension, Muscle Energy Techniques or Spinal Manipulation involve the use of the practitioners hand on various parts of your body.

Additionally, it is important to note that Osteopathic treatment uses a holistic approach which means that nutritional advice, well-being tips, exercise regimes and lifestyle management can be implemented within the treatment.

Before any type of treatment, you will be informed about each technique, the purpose, the therapeutic application and why it is used. However, it is your right as a patient to say NO. For example, if you do not understand the technique, do not want to have a certain type of manipulative treatment or do not wish to have hands on treatment in specific areas, please let your Osteopath know.

Osteopathic care is recognised as being safe for a wide range of conditions. However, it is important to inform you that some health care procedures, such as manual therapies, can induce adverse effects or complications. Most of these adverse effects or risks are rare but you should be aware of them before the treatment.

An increase of symptoms can occur 24-48 hours after treatment and generally subside after this period. However, it is important to contact your practitioner after 2 to 3 days if increased symptoms are still present.

Manual therapies involving spinal manipulations (HVLA) of the cervical spine (neck) include some risks and side effects. Although those risks are rare, some treatments of the neck can damage blood vessels and even give rise to stroke like symptoms. It is believed the risk may be approximately 1-2 strokes per 1,000,000 neck manipulations. Research into the common responses to manual therapy treatment shows that local discomfort, tiredness, headache or stiffness can occur after treatment in approximately 10%-20% of patients.

No, you can make an appointment directly without a referral. If you have been diagnosed with a specific medical condition, consider bringing your X-ray, MRI, doctor’s reports or other related information.

Important to note – If you have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition and need complex care you may be eligible for Chronic Disease Management Assistance (CDM). Your doctor must complete a special referral form to refer you to Mana Health Clinic. EPC (Enhanced Primary Care Package) or 5 visits from your GP is usually given to you for chronic conditions. This means that medicare covers $52.95 of your sessions. As this does not cover the full rate for our length or quality of service we do charge a small gap on top of this.

Many private health funds include Osteopathy as part of their extra cover. We recommend you check your private health insurance to ensure your level of cover includes Osteopathy. We have HICAPS at the clinic and can claim any rebate applicable which means you only pay the gap.

You must bring your private health fund card to benefit from the rebate. If you forget your card, you will need to pay the full consultation fee. A receipt of payment will be provided to will allow you to claim your benefit online.

If you have sustained an injury and you are covered under your WorkCover or MVA/3rd party, you can benefit from Osteopathic care for your rehabilitation. However, you must have your claim number from your insurer and the contact details of your claims officer or insurer prior to any bookings.

In addition, in order to get Osteopathic treatments, you will need a referral letter from your GP or medical specialist. Your insurer must be advised that you have chosen Osteopathy as part of your treatment as you cannot see different Allied Health practitioners simultaneously. Every case is different and billing processes can differ. Therefore, it is imperative that you understand that you are responsible for the cost of the consultation at all times.

Your Osteopath will ask you personal questions regarding your general health, symptoms and the problems you are facing. This includes your medical history, any medications you are taking and other factors that may not appear to be directly associated with your condition.

The examination may include a physical assessment (passive or active), orthopaedic assessment, postural analysis or neurological tests.

We look at the whole body and assess the interconnection between all elements.

After discussing the possible causes of your problem, Osteopaths can use manual therapies, dry needling, soft tissue massage, vacuum cupping or taping to address the issue. We will provide you with education and management strategies to help between consultations. In addition, we will support you with specific exercise rehabilitation programs for you to maintain your optimal health and be pain free.

As of 31st of January, the WA government requires people to present their vaccination certificate before entering any venue within the WA region.

Mana Health Clinic WILL NOT REFUSE treatments to unvaccinated people, however, some important measures will be put in place for the safety of everyone attending our premises and ourselves.

Our policy is in place to protect everyone without any discrimination.

COVID 19 is highly transmissible regardless of someone’s vaccination status, however, unvaccinated people are more vulnerable to the virus (both in terms of becoming infected and the range of symptoms experienced). COVID 19 has a high risk of a severe disease profile and can last for months in unvaccinated people.

We are committed to providing osteopathy to support every member of our community during this challenging time. And to ensure the safety of everyone (you and the practitioners), we have developed some guidelines and policies to navigate our new way of life with COVID 19.

Like any medical premises, there is no guarantee that we can 100% prevent the spread of infection during a treatment. However, we have processes in place to minimise the spread of infectious diseases and germs.

Mana Health Clinic will work on the following to limit the spread of infectious disease and germs through the following:

The treatment room will be opened to promote air flow in the room before and after trading hours.

We will clean all the surface area with anti-bacterial and disinfectants wipes and products before and after each appointment.

An air flow machine with an HEPA filter is installed within the room to promote air flow and filter air.

Sufficient time between clients will be allowed to ensure that cleaning safety procedures are continuously provided through the day.

At this end of each day, the room will be completely cleaned again (windows, massage table, EFTPOS machine, desks and rehabilitation equipment).

Practitioner will sit 1.5 metres distance from the patient to undertake the medical interview.

Practitioner will wear gloves and masks during osteopathic assessments, treatments, and exercise rehabilitation activities.

MANA HEALHT CLINIC WILL NOT REFUSE TREATMENT BASED ON VACCINATION STATUS.

We want to ensure that you are safe to visit the premise and that you can access your osteopathic care anytime during the week. However, we required you to contact us via our mobile phone to organise your appointment.

Perspective Consulting Building is a multidisciplinary clinic where other practitioners are also in contact with many clients. Therefore, the premise is subjected to a lot of traffic during its peak hours from Monday to Friday.

People who are vaccinated can still be positive to COVID 19, however, they might be more likely to be protected against the virus and its complications.

For everyone’s safety, we will require you to stay in your car at the back entrance of the buildings ( Turn in Johnson Avenue, Busselton). Your osteopath will come to greet you at your car and welcome you to the treatment room. We want to make sure that we provide services to the whole community and provide a safe environment for everyones osteopathic care the best we can.

Our priority in 2022 will be to minimise the disruption to the support we provide to you and other members of our local community. Mana Health Clinic has been increasingly busy and as we begin to live with Covid, it is essential that we continue to use every appointment we have available to support as many people as possible. Therefore, we have changed our cancellation policy.

The following policies and practices will apply when face-to-face appointments are not possible because you or your therapist cannot attend due to COVID 19 directives:

If you or your practitioner test positive to COVID 19 or are physically well but due to COVID 19 directives have been asked to isolate/quarantine your appointment WON’T be cancelled. Instead we will automatically offer to change your appointment to a Telehealth or if preferred by you we will reschedule to a later date. If you choose to cancel your appointment, the late cancellation fee will NOT apply. However, we ask that you provide proof of either case.

With less than 24 hours notice if you are physically well and without any COVID 19 directives and you wish to cancel your face-to-face appointment:

We will automatically offer to reschedule your appointment however if you decline this option you will be charged a late notice fee of $60.

If you need to cancel an appointment due to sudden illness or other mitigating circumstances, please call Mana Health Clinic with as much notice as possible to avoid the late cancellation fee.