Osteopathy is a hands-on, holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on restoring mobility and function to the body’s tissues. By engaging various bodily systems and harnessing the body’s natural healing abilities, osteopathy promotes balance and overall well-being. It emphasizes the relationship between structure and function, recognizing that optimal health depends on unrestricted movement.
Osteopaths use a variety of manual techniques, including stretching, fascial release, mobilization, and muscle and joint manipulation. These techniques help improve mobility, relieve tension, and enhance blood flow and nerve function. In addition to treatment, osteopaths work closely with patients, providing education and guidance to support long-term health.
Movement is essential for proper body function, and osteopathy is centered on restoring and maintaining this freedom of movement. Restrictions – whether caused by external forces or internal processes like tissue overload – can lead to pain or discomfort. Osteopaths take a comprehensive approach, assessing the entire body, including soft tissues, organs, blood vessels, and nerves, to identify and address movement restrictions.
Osteopathy complements other healthcare practices, working alongside physiotherapists, personal trainers, and other professionals to create a well-rounded strategy for health and well-being.
The appointment cost must be paid in-clinic. The treatment invoice can then be submitted to your insurance company. Most health insurers will reimburse the treatment in whole or in part, if alternative healthcare is included in your supplementary package and provided that the treatment is performed by a registered osteopath. Contact your insurer directly to confirm your reimbursement amount.
Osteopaths can be registered with the NOF (Dutch Federation for Osteopathy) and NRO (Dutch Register for Osteopathy). Contact your insurer directly to confirm your reimbursement amount.
The Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (WKKGZ) determines what good care entails and how complaints about it should be handled. Discuss complaints as openly as possible with your osteopath. In most cases, a good conversation leads to a satisfactory solution.
If you cannot resolve the matter together, you can contact the complaints officer of the Dutch Federation for Osteopathy (NOF). They will assist you further in submitting your complaint. If you still cannot resolve the matter, you can use the dispute settlement procedure. Your problem will then be submitted to the Osteopathy Disputes Committee.
More information about the complaints and disputes procedure can be found in the Osteopathy Complaints Procedure Brochure and on the NOF website.
