Your questions about seeing an osteopath

Do I need a referral from my doctor?

No. Osteopathy is directly accessible in France: you can book an appointment without going through your doctor. That said, if you have already seen someone about this problem, your doctor’s opinion and any tests you have had are useful to us. Bring them with you.

Should I bring my X-rays, MRI or CT scans?

Yes, if you have them, even old ones. These documents tell us what has already been investigated and ruled out. They sometimes change the way we approach the session. The written report is enough for us: the images themselves are useful, but secondary.

What should I wear?

Come as you are. The consultation usually takes place in your underwear, because we need to observe your posture and reach the areas we are treating. If you prefer, bring a pair of soft shorts and a vest top: they do not get in the way of the treatment at all.

How long does a session last?

Allow between forty-five minutes and an hour for an adult. Consultations for babies and young children are shorter, around half an hour, as their bodies respond more quickly and also tire more quickly.

Do you see patients on Sundays?

Yes, by appointment, Monday to Sunday. Available slots are shown on Doctolib. If none of them suits you, message us on WhatsApp: we do everything we can to find a solution.

Can I be seen urgently?

Sudden locking, lumbago (acute low back pain) or a stiff neck are all the easier to treat the earlier we step in. If no online slot suits you, message us on WhatsApp at +33 6 51 77 41 86: we do everything we can to find a solution quickly.

However, some situations call for a doctor first and foremost: pain after a violent impact, fever along with the pain, loss of strength in a limb, problems passing urine. In these cases, contact your doctor or go to the emergency department.

What happens at a first consultation?

It begins with a conversation. You tell us what brings you in, and also your history: your medical background, any accidents, even old ones, any operations, your daily life, your sleep, your digestion. These details guide all the reasoning that follows.

Next comes the examination. We test your mobility and rule out anything that needs a doctor. Then, with the ASSAL test, we identify the area where the imbalance originates, which is often a long way from where you feel the pain.

Treatment follows, then a new test. Together, we see what has changed, in real time. The session moves forward like this, layer by layer.

Does it hurt?

Most techniques are painless. Some areas under tension can be tender while we work on them, and you will feel it, but pain is never the aim, nor something you have to go through. Tell us what you feel and we adjust.

Will you crack my joints?

Only if it is called for, and never without warning you. The cracking sound is a harmless physical phenomenon, linked to a change in pressure inside the joint, and it says nothing about the quality of a treatment. Many sessions take place entirely without it. If this technique worries you, just say so: other approaches give equivalent results.

Will I have to undress completely?

No. You keep your underwear on, and you are covered with a sheet as soon as an area is no longer being treated. If this makes you uncomfortable, just say so and we will adapt.

Why do you ask me questions that have nothing to do with my pain?

Because they often do. A fall onto your bottom fifteen years ago, an appendix operation, a period of intense stress, a change of glasses: these events leave traces in the way your body is organised. It is precisely this information that helps us find the origin of pain that will not go away.

How will I feel afterwards?

Reactions vary. Some patients feel immediate relief, others temporary tiredness or aches similar to those after a workout. These reactions are normal and a sign that your body is reorganising itself.

Allow two to three days for things to settle. It is a bit like restarting a computer: it takes a little time for everything to fall back into place.

What should I do in the days that follow?

Move normally, drink enough water and avoid strenuous exercise on the day itself. There is nothing special to do, other than let your body do its work.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on how long the problem has been there. Recent pain often needs only a few sessions, sometimes just one. Pain that has been there for years needs more, because the layers of compensation have to be released in the order in which they were built up.

What is different with our method is that you see the change during the session itself, rather than waiting several weeks to judge.

How often should I come?

Whenever you need to. We do not sign anyone up to a package of sessions. Many patients come for a maintenance session once or twice a year, others only when they have an episode of pain. We will tell you what we think is useful, and the decision is yours.

What if I feel no improvement?

Tell us. If nothing has changed after a few sessions, it means either that we have missed something, or that your situation is beyond the scope of osteopathy. Either way, we would rather know and point you in the right direction than carry on without results.

How much does a session cost?

At the Paris 8 clinic, an adult consultation costs €100, and €50 for a baby or a child up to the age of 10.

At the Vitry-sur-Seine clinic, an adult consultation costs €70, and €40 for a baby or a child up to the age of 10.

The difference reflects the running costs of each location. The method, the time spent and the care given are exactly the same at both clinics. Choose whichever suits you.

Is osteopathy reimbursed by French national health insurance?

No. Osteopathy is not on the list of procedures reimbursed by French national health insurance. The only case where it is covered is a consultation carried out by a medical doctor who has also trained in osteopathy.

Can my top-up health insurance (mutuelle) reimburse me?

Yes. Most top-up insurance policies include an allowance for what they call “médecines douces” (complementary therapies), which covers osteopathy, often as a yearly amount. The amounts vary widely from one policy to another.

To be reimbursed, you need an invoice showing our contact details, our registration number with the Regional Health Agency (Agence Régionale de Santé), the date and the amount paid. We always give you one. No referral is needed: you send the invoice directly to your top-up insurance.

Check your policy before you come: it is the best way to know what you are entitled to.

What payment methods do you accept?

Bank card and cash. You receive an invoice for your top-up insurance at every session.

How do I book an appointment?

Online on Doctolib, choosing the clinic that suits you, or by phone on +33 1 44 09 95 80 for Paris 8 and +33 1 75 37 53 41 for Vitry-sur-Seine. If it is urgent, message us on WhatsApp at +33 6 51 77 41 86.

Online booking is available at any time and shows you the slots that are actually free. The phone is still the most effective option if you need an appointment quickly or if something about your situation needs clarifying before you come.

What if I need to cancel?

Let us know the day before at the latest, through Doctolib or by phone. A slot freed up in time goes to someone who is waiting, often in acute pain. Things come up: just let us know.

From what age can you see an osteopath?

From the first month. The techniques we use with babies and young children are exclusively gentle, with no forceful manipulation, and the session is shorter than for adults. Before six months, we use only mobilisations, never manipulation.

See the Babies page →

Can I see an osteopath during pregnancy?

Yes, from the first trimester right up to the last few weeks, unless your care team advises otherwise. Your weight shifts forwards, your ligaments soften, and your pelvis adapts to a new load within a few months. The techniques we use are gentle and adapted to the stage of your pregnancy. The work most often focuses on making the lower back, the pelvis and breathing more comfortable.

See the Pregnancy and postpartum page →

Do you see athletes?

Yes, both to support you through an injury and for prevention. Athletes who come in when they are not in pain often gain range of motion and recover more comfortably. The after-effects of sprains, tendinitis or returning to sport too quickly account for a large share of our consultations.

See the Sports osteopathy page →

Do you also see older people?

Yes. The techniques are fully adapted, with gentle approaches and no forceful manipulation. The aim is to maintain mobility, make walking more comfortable and help with pain related to osteoarthritis.

Can I come when nothing hurts?

Of course. A maintenance consultation helps spot areas that are starting to stiffen before they become painful. It is also useful after a busy period, a house move, getting back into sport or a change of workstation.

Are there any contraindications?

Yes, and we check for them systematically at the start of every consultation. Some conditions, some treatments and some acute situations rule out all or some of the techniques. That is why we ask about your medical history and any treatment you are currently having.

When there is a contraindication, we either adapt our approach completely or refer you to your doctor. Either way, we always explain why.

How is an osteopath different from a physiotherapist?

The two professions complement each other and often take over from one another. A physiotherapist usually works on a medical prescription, over a series of sessions, focusing on rehabilitation, strengthening and functional recovery. An osteopath can be seen directly, without a referral, over a small number of sessions, focusing on finding the cause and restoring mobility.

Many patients get the best of both: osteopathy to release what is blocked, physiotherapy to rebuild afterwards.

How is an osteopath different from a chiropractor?

The two approaches share common roots and some techniques. Chiropractic has historically focused on the spine and makes greater use of direct joint manipulation. Osteopathy covers a wider field, including the tissues, the internal organs and the skull, and often favours more gradual approaches.

Is osteopathy a regulated profession?

The title of osteopath is recognised and protected in France. Using it requires a diploma from an approved school and registration with the Regional Health Agency (ARS), which issues a number that appears on our invoices.

Are there situations you do not treat?

Yes, and recognising them is part of the job. A fracture, an infection, a suspected organic disease or an emergency calls for a doctor. Some pain is a sign of conditions that osteopathy cannot treat.

That is why the first part of every consultation is about ruling out these situations. If your case is beyond our scope, we refer you to the right professional, without trying anything first.