The discipline

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a hands-on approach to healthcare that focuses on helping you move better, recover from injury, and improve your long-term health. Rather than simply treating where it hurts, we look at how your whole body is working to understand what is driving your symptoms.

OCNZ-registeredACC-funded for injuriesHands-on, evidence-based

Why people choose an osteopath

Not just because of pain, but to understand it

Most people don't choose an osteopath because they are in pain. They choose one because they want to understand why it is happening, and what they can do to recover well.

  • Understand why the pain keeps coming back
  • Receive clear answers and honest advice
  • Benefit from hands-on treatment
  • Reduce the chance of future injuries
  • Leave with a personalised recovery plan

Our goal is not simply to help you feel better today. It is to help you move better, stay healthier, and get back to the life you love.

How we look at your health

We look beyond the symptom

Most healthcare appointments begin with the question, "where does it hurt?". At Better Health Osteopathy we take a different approach: we look at the whole picture, to understand why your symptoms developed, what is preventing recovery, and the best path back to better health.

  • The person

    We get to know you: your lifestyle, work, goals, activities, previous injuries, and what matters most to you.

  • The problem

    We identify and understand your symptoms and how they are affecting your daily life.

  • Contributing factors

    We look at what may have contributed to the problem developing in the first place.

  • Barriers to recovery

    We identify what might be slowing your recovery down or getting in the way.

  • Opportunities for better health

    We find opportunities to improve your movement, strength, resilience, and overall wellbeing.

By understanding the whole picture, not just the painful area, we can create a personalised treatment plan designed to help you recover well, reduce the chance of future problems, and get back to the life you love.

What to expect

What happens at your appointment

Our goal is simple: to help you understand what is happening, recover well, and make confident decisions about your long-term health.

  1. Step 1

    We listen

    We start by understanding you: what is going on, how it affects your day, and what you want to get back to.

  2. Step 2

    We assess

    A hands-on examination of the sore area and the regions that share its load. Part of this is ruling out anything that needs your GP, and if imaging would help, we can refer you directly.

  3. Step 3

    We explain

    We tell you what we have found in plain language, so you understand what is happening and why.

  4. Step 4

    We treat

    Hands-on treatment: soft-tissue release, joint movement, and gentle techniques where they suit you.

  5. Step 5

    We plan

    You leave with a personalised plan and a few simple things to do at home, so the results last.

Worried it will be forceful? It does not have to be

Many techniques are gentle and involve no clicking at all. The 'crack' some people expect is just gas releasing from a joint as it moves, not bones going back into place, and nothing happens without your say-so. For babies, during pregnancy, and for anyone who would simply rather, we use low-force, gentle techniques and get the same therapeutic effect.

Common reasons people come

What osteopaths help with

Most people come in with everyday musculoskeletal pain. These are the reasons we see most often across our Fendalton and Cashmere clinics.

Back and neck pain

The most common reasons people book.

Learn more

Headaches and migraines

Tension and neck-related headaches.

Learn more

Sports injuries

Strains, sprains, and getting back to training.

Learn more

Joint and tendon pain

Shoulder, hip, knee, foot, and more.

Learn more

Pregnancy and postnatal

Comfort through pregnancy and recovery after birth.

Learn more

Babies and children

Gentle care for unsettled babies and growing kids.

Learn more

From newborns to seniors, athletes to office workers, we see a wide range of people. Browse what we treat or who we help.

Why you can feel confident

A registered profession, trained and regulated in New Zealand

Osteopaths are registered healthcare professionals in New Zealand. Every osteopath must meet national standards for education, registration, ongoing development, and patient safety.

Registered with the OCNZ

Every osteopath here is registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the same law that regulates doctors and nurses. The title osteopath is protected: by law you cannot use it unless you are registered.

University qualified

Four to five years of university training in anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, and clinical practice, at Ara in Christchurch or Unitec in Auckland.

Continuing professional development

To practise, every osteopath holds a current Annual Practising Certificate and keeps up ongoing education, a code of ethics, and professional indemnity insurance.

Working within our scope

We assess, diagnose, and treat musculoskeletal conditions, and refer on when another healthcare professional is needed. We do not prescribe medication or perform surgery.

Clinical oversight at Better Health Osteopathy is led by Lorraine Herity, Principal Osteopath, registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand.

How it compares

Osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and massage

These professions overlap more than the marketing of any one of them suggests. Osteopathy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic are all registered, evidence-based, and ACC-funded in New Zealand. The differences are mostly in emphasis.

Osteopathy

Whole-body assessment and a wide hands-on toolkit. Hands-on treatment is about half of a typical session, with assessment and advice filling the rest.

Physiotherapy

An emphasis on measurement and progressive exercise rehabilitation. Hands-on work is usually a smaller part of the session.

Chiropractic

Historically focused on spinal joint motion and adjustment. Modern practice varies from clinic to clinic.

Remedial massage

Not a registered profession in New Zealand. A good complement for muscular tension, but a massage therapist is not trained in clinical assessment, diagnosis, or screening for the red flags that need a doctor.

For the head-to-head detail, read the full guides.

The evidence

Is Osteopathy evidence-based?

Yes, for the things people most often come in with, and we will always be straight with you about what the evidence does and does not show.

For common musculoskeletal pain, back pain, neck pain, tension headaches, and many sports injuries, the research supports a moderate, short-term benefit from hands-on treatment, broadly similar to physiotherapy and other manual therapies.

For babies and children the evidence base is smaller and still developing, though it is encouraging for some feeding and settling issues. We do not claim Osteopathy cures or fixes everything, and we will tell you honestly if we think something else is a better fit for you.

If you want to go deeper on one common example, our guide to understanding back pain walks through what the evidence says.

Common questions

Questions about Osteopathy

Are osteopaths real doctors?

Osteopaths are registered health professionals, not medical doctors. In New Zealand they complete four to five years of university training and are registered with the Osteopathic Council under the same Act that regulates doctors and nurses. They assess and treat musculoskeletal pain by hand; they do not prescribe medication or perform surgery.

Do I need a referral to see an osteopath?

No. You can book directly, with no GP referral. If an accident or event caused your pain, ACC will usually fund part of the cost, and we lodge the claim for you at your first visit.

What can osteopaths help with?

The most common reasons people see an osteopath are back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports injuries, joint and tendon problems, and pregnancy or postnatal pain. We also regularly see babies, children, office workers, and athletes. See what we treat and who we help for the full picture.

Will it crack my back?

Sometimes, with your consent and only where it suits you. The 'crack' is gas releasing from a joint as it is briefly moved, not bones going back into place, and many techniques make no sound at all. If you would rather avoid higher-velocity adjustment, just say so, and we can get the same result with gentler techniques.

How is Osteopathy different from physiotherapy or chiropractic?

All three are registered, ACC-funded professions, and they overlap more than the marketing suggests. Osteopathy tends to emphasise whole-body assessment and a wider hands-on toolkit. Our comparison guides walk through the differences in detail.

Is Osteopathy evidence-based?

For the most common reasons people come in, back pain, neck pain, tension headaches, and sports injuries, the evidence supports a moderate short-term benefit, similar to physiotherapy and other manual therapies. The research base for treating babies and children is smaller but encouraging for some feeding and settling issues. We practise in line with current evidence and explain what it does and does not support for your situation.

Have a different question? Browse all FAQs →

Our team

The osteopaths who'll look after you

A team of registered osteopaths across our Fendalton and Cashmere clinics, all working to the same standard of care.

Meet the full team

What patients say

Trusted across Christchurch

Rated 5.0 from 381+ Google reviews across our Fendalton and Cashmere clinics.

  • Google Review
    ★★★★★
    "I started at Better Health Osteopathy 3 weeks ago. Sam, on reception was exceptionally helpful, even calling one of the osteopath's out to answer my questions and putting my mind at ease. Ella, the osteopath assigned to me is amazing. I would totally recommend her and the practice."

    Brian & Linda C.

    2 months ago
  • Google Review
    ★★★★★
    "Such an awesome clinic. Fixed me every time and helps me to feel stronger and healthier as a result. Couldn’t recommend more. They are worth their weight in gold."

    Mel S.

    4 months ago
  • Google Review
    ★★★★★
    "I have been going to Better Health Osteopathy for just on three years. Lorraine, my osteopath, is amazing. She is extremely professional and caring. She has helped me greatly. She listens and explains all the treatment she is going to give me. I have no hesitation in recommending Lorraine and Better Health Osteopathy to anyone who needs treatment. The whole team are welcoming and friendly."

    Jo R.

    6 months ago
  • Google Review
    ★★★★★
    "Excellent experience ! I came in with pain after lifting something too heavy, and I already feel so much better. The osteopath was very attentive, professional, and explained every step, which really made me feel at ease. The place is clean, calm, and very welcoming. I’ve finally found the place to go to relieve my pain. Highly recommend !"

    Anais Grilo p.

    3 months ago
  • Google Review
    ★★★★★
    "Have recieved great service over the years for a number of issues, totally recommend."

    Amy S.

    3 months ago
  • Google Review
    ★★★★★
    "First session in cashmere beautiful facilities. Very confident and direct care. Made me feel like I was an expert hands. Thank you"

    Henrietta L.

    3 months ago
See all patient reviews

Ready when you are

Ready to take the next step?

Whether you are dealing with pain, recovering from injury, or simply want to move with greater confidence, we are here to help.

Book an appointment Call 0800 67 77 00
  • Same-day appointments often available
  • ACC handled in-house
  • No referral needed