How Much Change Should I Expect — and How Quickly?

One of the most common questions we hear in clinic is: “How long will this take to get better?”
It’s a perfectly reasonable question — when you’re in pain, you want to know what to expect. But the honest answer is that it depends. Healing isn’t something that can be rushed or precisely scheduled. Every body — and every situation — is different.
At Oval and Vauxhall Village Osteopathy, our goal is to support natural recovery through safe, hands-on treatment and movement advice — helping you understand your body and find lasting relief from musculoskeletal pain.

Osteopathy vs Physiotherapy: Different Journeys.  While both osteopaths and physiotherapists treat musculoskeletal issues, we often see different types of patients. Physiotherapists tend to work more frequently with people recovering from major injuries or surgery, where the damage is clear and rehabilitation follows an established protocol with predictable milestones.

Osteopaths, on the other hand, often see people whose symptoms seem to have appeared “out of nowhere” — sometimes longstanding, sometimes affecting several areas of the body at once. These problems don’t always follow neat timelines, which makes setting clear expectations more challenging.

If you’re searching for an osteopath in Vauxhall or osteopathy near Oval, it’s worth knowing that osteopathic care is particularly effective for these kinds of complex, overlapping problems — the ones that don’t always fit neatly into a medical box.

Factors That Influence RecoveryThree main factors determine how much change you can expect, and how quickly:

1. What the problem is
2. How long you’ve had it
3. What else is going on in your life

You can’t cheat biology — healing takes the time it takes.
If tissues are torn or disrupted, the body must first repair them before they can safely be strengthened and conditioned again.

• Mild sprains or strains (micro-tears in ligaments, tendons, or muscles) often take a few weeks to settle.
• More severe sprains or muscle injuries may need up to 12 weeks of recovery.
• Simple fractures typically heal within 12 weeks, though more complex breaks — especially those requiring surgery — can continue to improve for up to a year.
• Herniated discs can take up to 12 weeks to resolve, provided healing proceeds naturally.
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) may take around 18 months to recover without intervention, though combining a steroid injection with targeted manual therapy can significantly speed this up.

A Note on Sprained Ankle Recovery. 
A common issue we see at Oval and Vauxhall Village Osteopathy is the sprained ankle. A typical recovery protocol might look like this:

• Days 1–3: Rest, ice, gentle compression, and elevation (RICE).
• Days 4–14: Begin gentle range-of-motion exercises once pain allows.
• Weeks 2–6: Gradual strengthening and balance work.
• Weeks 6–12: Return to normal activity, ensuring the ankle is strong and stable before resuming sport.

(Severe sprains may take longer and can benefit from osteopathic treatment to ensure full recovery and prevent recurrence.)

What About the Common “Everyday” Pains?   
Much of our day-to-day osteopathic work involves problems that don’t fall neatly into a traumatic injury category — non-specific low back pain, a stiff neck that appeared overnight, or discomfort your GP may have advised you to “just manage with pain relief.”
These are often very painful and disabling, yet they can be harder to predict because pain is influenced not only by tissues but also by your nervous system.
Persistent pain can actually change the way your body processes discomfort — increasing nerve sensitivity, spinal connections, and even the area of your brain dedicated to that pain. This helps explain why newer pain often responds more quickly, while longstanding pain can take longer to shift.
For an episode of acute back pain or neck stiffness not caused by trauma, we’d generally expect to see significant improvement within 2–3 weeks and around three treatments.
If there’s little change after that, it’s worth exploring what else might be influencing your recovery.

Factors That Can Slow HealingSeveral things can interfere with recovery:

• Ongoing physical strain (from work, posture, or sport)
• Emotional or psychological stress
• Lifestyle factors (such as poor sleep, diet, or general fitness)
• Undiagnosed inflammatory or autoimmune conditions

At our osteopathy clinics in Vauxhall and Oval, we look beyond symptoms to consider the whole person — lifestyle, habits, and stress levels — so treatment supports your overall wellbeing, not just your joints and muscles.

Can Osteopathy Help with Chronic Pain?
Yes — though perhaps not in the way you might think. Chronic pain can often be managed rather than “cured.” Through treatment, advice, movement, and support, many people find their pain reduces to a tolerable level, allowing them to return to normal life.
Over time, as the nervous system becomes less sensitive, pain can gradually fade further. We’re always honest about expectations — no miracle fixes, but steady, meaningful progress.
If you’re struggling with chronic back pain, shoulder tension, or longstanding musculoskeletal discomfort, osteopathic treatment can help guide your body back to balance.

And What About Postural Change?
Posture is complex. Sometimes a joint is simply “stuck”, affecting posture, and can be freed quickly with manual therapy. But many postural imbalances develop over years and involve changes in bone shape or long-term muscle shortening.

Meaningful postural change usually happens over months or years, supported by consistent work in the gym, yoga, or Pilates studio. Our role as osteopaths is to help you integrate those changes safely, reduce pain, and guide your body through the transitions that come with new movement patterns.

Speaking personally, I’ve spent over a decade working on my own posture — reducing kyphosis and scoliosis, freeing a shoulder and hip that were held twisted inwards for years. Osteopathic treatment helped me at key moments when change was uncomfortable or progress stalled.
So while we don’t “correct posture” as a service, we can absolutely support you on your journey toward your best possible alignment and function.

At Oval and Vauxhall Village Osteopathy, our aim is not just to relieve pain but to help you move better, understand your body, and make confident progress toward long-term wellbeing.
Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing back or neck pain, or seeking help with postural issues, our experienced osteopaths in Oval and Vauxhall are here to help you feel and function at your best.