Tessa Craven Osteopathic Clinic

In health, a person should be able to respond to events such as accidents, infections or emotional stress, deal with these events and restore itself to optimum health afterwards. The majority of people are not in full health, but are carrying an accumulation of the effects of different traumatic events that have happened to them during their life. People often wonder.........

What Is An Osteopath? Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners who recognise the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine which facilitates healing by focusing on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as a holistic unit. Osteopaths must be a member of the governing body: Osteopathic Council of NZ which has strict regulations on qualifications and continued professional development. Osteopaths are ACC registered providers. You do not need a GP referral to receive ACC cover. Your Osteopath can make the appropriate referrals to other specialists for you depending on your injury, be it for X-Rays, Ultrasound, Orthopaedic review etc. Osteopathy is suitable for all ages and abilities.

What Do Osteopaths Treat? Here's The Answer.... Osteopathy is most commonly associated with musculo-skeletal medicine - biomechanical back and neck pain, sport or work injuries, or other joint or muscle disorders." (Osteopaths New Zealand). However, as osteopathy is a holistic form of healthcare which helps individuals improve or restore health and well being, there are many other reasons someone may visit an Osteopath To list a few:

• Headaches
• Back & Neck Pain
• Sports Injuries
• Pregnancy Pain & Post-Birth Pain
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• All joints injuries; shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, hips etc
• Arthritis
• Digestive problems
• Muscle strains
• Joint Sprains
• Whiplash
• & much more!

More about Osteopathy Using skilled evaluation, diagnosis and a wide range of hands-on techniques, osteopaths can identify important types of dysfunction in your body. Osteopathic treatment uses techniques such as stretching and massage for general treatment of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) along with mobilisation (moving) and manipulation (clicking) of specific joints and soft tissues using direct or indirect techniques. In New Zealand, osteopaths are university trained in anatomy, physiology, pathology, general medical diagnosis and osteopathic techniques. Osteopaths are trained to recognise conditions which require medical referral. They work with other registered health professionals including general practitioners, specialists and radiologists to provide the best service to their patients. Osteopaths are registered ACC treatment providers, and you do not require a referral from your GP to receive ACC covered treatment. Osteopathic treatment is also covered by some private health insurers." (Extract taken form the Osteopaths New Zealand Website)

Osteopathic Techniques The most commonly used Osteopathic techniques include:

• Soft tissue massage to reduce muscle tension
• Articulation or gentle joint movement to improve nutrition in and around the joint cavity and to increase the joints range of motion.
• Inhibition / Neuromuscular Release to specific points on a muscle to release acute "muscle spasm", without causing further irritation to inflamed tissues....this is sometimes called 'Trigger-Pointing"
• Manipulation ('clicking') and mobilization (moving) to increase the range of motion of a specific joint
• Visceral techniques to influence the body's organs - reducing soft tissue adhesions and improving circulation and function.
• Osteopathy in the Cranial Field is a technique often used to treat babies and children but can be used in the treatment anyone. It is a very gentle technique that works on the subtle involuntary movements of our skeleton, soft tissues & fluids.
• Stretching of tight or shortened muscles. (which you may also be shown how to do at home)
• Your Osteopath may show you strength exercises to do at home to strengthen weakened muscle groups and create better stability for your body.

Coupled with manual techniques advice is also provided on posture, ergonomics (mechanical use of the body) and nutritional supplementation. Osteopaths use their hands....no gadgets or machines. Homework With exercise prescription we aim to empower you to manage and maintain your body's muscle balance and health, to reduce vulnerability and help prevent future re-injury.

Treatment Costs

Osteopathy:

Initial Consultation  Private: $85 ACC Subsidised: $55

Follow-Up Treatments Private: $80 ACC Subsidised: $50

$5 Discount for Children Under 16years Community Card Holders Gold Card Holders

Canine Osteopathy: $70

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture: 

Initial Consultation:  Private: $90  ACC: $45

Follow-Up: Private $80  ACC: $40

$5 discount for students, Gold Card and Community Service Card holders.

Our Team:

We have two Osteopaths (Tessa Craven & Victoria Huggett)  and one Traditional Chinese Acupuncturist (Filipe Faria) at the clinic.

About Tessa

Tessa is a UK trained Osteopath. Graduating in 2002 with an Honours Degree in Osteopathic Medicine. She has been living and working in NZ since late 2002. Initially working for a short spell in Rotorua/Matamata & Papamoa, and then later with the Mount Osteopathic Clinic, Health 4 U & Papamoa Family Osteopathic Clinic.

Tessa has been running her own clinic since 2009, initially in Papamoa & for the past 11years in Mount Maunganui.

Work Interests: Tessa has an particular interest in working with rehabilitation, pregnancy pain, neck pain/headaches, although treats a full spectrum of issues. Her methods are mainly 'structural' (mobilising joints and using massage & manipulation) but also practices Cranial Osteopathy, Visceral Osteopathy (working with the abdominal and pelvic organs) and functional Osteopathy (a very gentle method of mobilisation).

Tessa worked with the Mount Premier Rugby Team for two years providing pitch-side first aid and injury rehabilitation. She also taught mat Pilates for 5 years. Tessa has also been known to treat our four legged canine friends for their aches and pains too with some Canine Osteopathy!

About Victoria

Victoria is Russian/Ukrainian, she has been a sports therapy practitioner prior to graduating with a Masters of Osteopathy from British School of Osteopathy in 2016.

She then moved to New Zealand and practiced osteopathy in Rotorua specializing in Classic, Visceral, Structural osteopathy & Kinesiology taping. 

Victoria enjoys treating a wide range of problems with a view of achieving optimal health of the patient, not only through the treatment, but also by education of the patient and prescription of the stretches and exercises tailored for each individual. 
She also enjoys treating pre- and postnatal women.

In her spare time, she is doing a Postgraduate certificate in Health Science, yoga, boxing, walking, cycling, and swimming.

About Filipe

Filipe is an Acupuncturist trained by the New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine (NZCCM) in Auckland. He has learned from and has been supervised by some of the most skilled and experienced Chinese medicine practitioners in New Zealand.His interests in health go beyond Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), they also include yoga, nutrition, psychology and neuroscience. 

Filipe is keen to get you pain-free and help you to recover from any injuries. However, he enjoys practising the full spectrum of TCM and can treat many other issues such as digestive complaints, insomnia, stress, psycho-spiritual challenges, infertility and others.

Besides his Bachelor of Health in Acupuncture, he also has another Bachelor of Science in Biology which complements 

About Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

The origins of Acupuncture in China can be traced back at least 2000 years, making it one of the oldest and most long-standing health care systems in the world. Today, Acupuncture is an effective, natural and increasingly popular form of health care that is being used by people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds.

Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment.

What is QI & how does it affect the body?

When healthy, an abundant supply of QI (pronounced chee) or “life energy” flows through the body’s meridians (a network of invisible channels through the body). If the flow of QI in the meridians becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of QI, then the body fails to maintain harmony, balance and order, and disease or illness follows.

This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors and becomes evident to TCM practitioners through observable signs of bodily dysfunction. TCM practitioners look carefully for these signs of health and dysfunction, paying particular attention not only to the presenting signs and symptoms, but also to the medical history, general constitution, and the pulse and tongue.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific sites (Acupuncture points) along the body’s meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow of QI through the individual. The practitioner may also stimulate the acupuncture points using other methods, including moxibustion, cupping, laser therapy, electro-stimulation and massage, in order to re-establish the flow of QI.