Osteopathy provides effective, safe and natural treatment for problems affecting the mechanics of the body — the muscles, joints, ligaments and skeletal structure. These conditions may be problems in isolation but they may also be symptoms of other conditions or the result of compensation for poor mechanical function elsewhere in the body. Osteopaths take an holistic approach to examination and treatment, taking into account the structure and function of the whole body, as well as external factors like work position. The osteopath is involved in assessing ways that all of these factors affect the body and cause the areas of injury and pain to occur. Osteopathic treatment is hands-on and takes the form of massage and stretch to the muscles, tendons and ligaments and mobilisation and articulation of joints.