Sam McCarthy - Osteopath

Dr Sam McCarthy, Osteopath, is a long established and well-respected practitioner in the Eastern Suburbs. He has contributed to the health and wellbeing of the local community for over 20 years. And been involved in healthcare for almost 30 years. Sam works with patients of all ages from newborns to many in their 90’s, on a daily basis.

Sam has established successful clinics in Canberra, Kyoto and several in Sydney. Although he is now solely based in his new clinic in Spring St, Bondi Junction, he continues to treat patients from across greater Sydney and rural areas. Dr Sam continues to build a strong reputation based on education, honesty and results.

Sam tailors his treatment plans to achieve both immediate pain relief, and medium to longterm health outcomes and goals. He is very focused on empowering his patients to understand their problems, and to assist them in finding a way back to health through education and engagement. He has built an extensive network of skilled movement therapists, allied health, and medical professionals who are also involved in musculoskeletal medicine, to assist in achieving better patient centred outcomes.

Sam’s passion for, and interest in, health care commenced with his introduction to Asian medical and spiritual philosophy while studying a Bachelor of Asian Studies at the Australian National University in the early 1990’s. Embracing his new interests, Sam went on to pursue 4 university degrees and a wide range of studies in natural therapies at Certificate and diploma level over the next 13 years, finishing with his accreditation as an Osteopath after completing a Masters of Clinical Medicine Osteopathy at UWS.

He completed courses at certificate or diploma level in nutrition, counselling, acupuncture, dry needling, shiatsu, reiki, polarity therapy, remedial massage, sports massage, Rolfing, myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy, aromatherapy, and lymphatic drainage.

Sam has published internationally on manual therapy treatment of centrally mediated chronic neck pain, based on his Masters dissertation, and co-authored a paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Fascia in Amsterdam.

Sam has strong interests in the fields of fascia, scar tissue, Pain Medicine, trauma, tissue healing and body centred therapies. Combined they are providing fascinating insights into acute and chronic pain experiences in patients, and the future of manual medicine. Sam regularly attends conferences in these fields, continuing to engage with a wider group of practitioners from around the world who are at the forefront of their respective fields.

Sam’s treatment approach has evolved over 30 years but always begins with diagnosis and education. A treatment plan is then established with an approximate timeline for positive outcomes to be achieved, based on tissue healing times and the individuals age and health profile. A detailed explanation is then given of the time needed for passive care, treatment given by Sam, and the time needed for active care, exercise and rehabilitation. Sam always encourages patients to take active ownership of their recovery in order to achieve the best possible outcomes, by being very proactive in this second stage.

Appointments

• Eastern Suburbs Medicare Local, Allied Health Board Member, 2012-2016
  Osteopathic Council of NSW, 2015-pr

Publications

Peer-reveiewed Papers

• McCarthy S, Rickards LD, Lucas N. Using the concept of ideomotor therapy in the treatment of a patient with chronic neck pain: a single system research design. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 2007;10:104-112.

Associations

• Australian Osteopathic Association, Member, since 2005
• B.AppSc, M.Osteo, B.Arts, B.AsianSt, Cert.Acup, Dip.MFR