Osteopathy is described as a way of detecting and treating
muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints which are damaged or
not functioning fully.
Osteopaths develop a very high standard of hands-on skill
(palpation) which is applied through various techniques. At
Colne Osteopathy a wide range of techniques are employed,
which includes:
- Spinal manipulation.
- Soft tissue manipulation, connective tissue massage (CTM), deep tissue massage, inhibition technique, functional release (unwinding of fascia).
- Joint articulation, harmonic technique and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), strain counter strain, positional release.
- Muscle Energy Technique (MET).
- Cranial osteopathic technique.
- Visceral Osteopathy.

There are many slightly different approaches in
musculo-skeletal health between professions such as
osteopaths and physiotherapists as well as between
therapists of the same training. Osteopathy applies
implicitly the tenet that the body is a unit. This means
that if a patient presents with a shoulder pain David wont
just look at the shoulder but will want to examine whole
spine and legs and feet as part of a postural assessment.
Shoulder pain can sometimes occur because of a foot knee
hip problem not just a local shoulder injury or impairment.
“Finding the cause of a muscular pain offers the best
results.”.
David de Andrade does not use laser, ultrasound, or
electrotherapy. Instead he prefers to apply his hands-on
palpation skill at treating patients. The osteopathic moto
is "Safe in our Hands" David is enthusiastic about
osteopathy and a multi-diciplinary approach to health, as
such he encourages patients to see other practitioners
where appropriate such as podiatrists, physiotherapists,
acupuncturists, dentists, and of course GP's. Where
possible he contacts other practitioners who are treating
the same patients to enhance a co-ordinated approach.

A course of osteopathic treatment will usually be a recommended minimum of three treatments. If the osteopath is of the opinion that a longer course of treatment is necessary the patient will be advised and the osteopath will work with the patient to pursue the most pragmatic injury management.