At Aurora North Medical Centre, osteopathy is gentle, hands-on care for aches, stiffness and movement that doesn’t feel right. Your practitioner looks at how you stand and move, finds the tight or stiff areas that may be causing your discomfort, and treats them with their hands.
Our physiotherapy, chiropractic and massage therapy teams work in the same clinic in Aurora, Ontario, so if another type of care would help too, it’s all under one roof.
What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a hands-on treatment that looks at how your whole body moves, not just the spot that hurts. Your practitioner finds the tight or stiff areas that may be adding to your discomfort, and each treatment is tailored to help you move more easily and feel better.
Treatment is done by hand and may include:
- Gentle joint movement (joint mobilization) to loosen stiff joints
- Soft-tissue work to ease tight muscles
- Stretching to help you move more freely
- Muscle-energy techniques, where you gently push against your practitioner’s hand to help a joint move better
Osteopathy, Physiotherapy or Chiropractic: Which One Do I Need?
All three can help with aches and stiffness. The main difference is the approach:
- Osteopathy looks at how your whole body moves and uses gentle, hands-on techniques such as joint movement, soft-tissue work and stretching.
- Physiotherapy helps you rebuild strength and movement, whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a long-term condition or wanting to perform better.
- Chiropractic care focuses on stiff joints and muscle or joint pain, such as pain from long hours of sitting, an accident or repetitive strain.
Not sure which one to book? Call us at (905) 727-6669 ext. 2 and our team will help you choose. They’re all in the same building, so you can see more than one without going anywhere else.
What Osteopathy Can Help With
Osteopathy can help with things like:
- Back and neck discomfort
- Stiff joints that don’t move as far as they used to (reduced range of motion)
- Tight, tense muscles
- Strain from sitting or standing for long periods, such as at a desk
- Aches from doing the same movement over and over
- Aches and pains from sports or being active
Osteopathy works alongside your regular medical care, not instead of it. If something you tell us needs a doctor to look at it, we’ll let you know, and our medical team is in the same building.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Your first visit is 60 minutes. Your practitioner will ask about your symptoms and health history, then check how you stand and move.
Follow-up visits are 30, 45 or 60 minutes and focus on the areas found at your first visit. Jasmine is also certified in restorative matwork and reformer Pilates, and she brings movement into her treatments. She may suggest simple stretches or exercises to help you build strength and move better between visits.
Treatment is gentle. Some people feel a little sore for a day or two afterward.
What to wear: comfortable clothes you can move in. Workout clothes are ideal, since your practitioner may need to see and reach the area being treated.
Meet Your Osteopathic Manual Practitioner
Jasmine Mendez
Osteopathic Manual Practitioner
DOMP, National Academy of Osteopathy
Honours Bachelor of Health Studies, York University
Osteopathic Manual Practitioners are not medical doctors, and their profession is not currently regulated in Ontario. You can see the rest of our clinical team on our About Us page.
Pricing & Insurance
For current prices and appointment times, visit our Jane Online Booking Site.
Most extended health plans cover osteopathy, usually as its own benefit, separate from physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage therapy. Each insurer has its own rules about which practitioners it will pay for, so please check your osteopathy coverage with your insurer before you book.
We can bill your insurer directly for osteopathy where your plan allows it. Bring your insurance details to your first visit and our team will help with the rest.
Coverage limits, deductibles and referral rules vary from plan to plan, so please confirm the details with your insurer.
Why Choose Aurora North Medical Centre?
- Many services, one clinic. Osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, chiropody, acupuncture and our walk-in medical clinic are all at the same Aurora location.
- Help choosing where to start. Not sure what to book? Call (905) 727-6669 ext. 2 and our team will help.
- Direct billing where available.
- Convenient location at 16015 Bayview Avenue in Aurora with free parking, serving Aurora, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, King City and the surrounding York Region communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get osteopathy in Aurora, Ontario?
Osteopathy is available at Aurora North Medical Centre, 16015 Bayview Avenue, Unit No. 1, Building B, Aurora, ON L4G 3L4, with Jasmine Mendez, Osteopathic Manual Practitioner. Book online through our Jane booking site or call (905) 727-6669 ext. 2.
Is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner the same as an osteopath?
Not in Ontario. Here, the title “osteopath” is protected by law under Ontario’s Medicine Act, and only members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario can use it. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners are not medical doctors, and their profession is not currently regulated in Ontario. What our practitioner offers is hands-on osteopathic care: checking and treating how you stand and move.
Is osteopathy covered by insurance?
Most extended health plans cover osteopathy, usually as its own benefit, separate from physiotherapy or massage therapy. Insurers have different rules about which practitioners they’ll pay for, so check your plan before you book. We can bill your insurer directly where your plan allows it. OHIP doesn’t cover osteopathy, so it’s paid for privately or through your extended health plan.
Do I need a referral to see an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner?
No, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to book with us. Some insurers do ask for one before they’ll pay you back, so check your plan if you’re making a claim.
What is the difference between osteopathy and massage therapy?
Registered massage therapy focuses on muscles and other soft tissue, whether for ongoing pain, a sports injury or relaxation. Osteopathy also works on soft tissue, but adds gentle joint movement and stretching, and looks at how your whole body moves.
How many osteopathy sessions will I need?
It depends on how long you’ve had the problem and what’s behind it. Your practitioner will talk you through a realistic plan after your first visit.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your first osteopathy visit online through our Jane booking site, or call (905) 727-6669 ext. 2 if you’d like help choosing the right appointment.
Aurora North Medical Centre, 16015 Bayview Avenue, Unit No. 1, Building B, Aurora, ON L4G 3L4. See our full range of rehabilitation and wellness services, including chiropody (foot care) and Traditional Chinese Medicine & acupuncture.