An Introduction to Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a method of detecting and treating damaged parts of the body such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints and as an approach to general healthcare it emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease.  The term ‘osteopathy’ was first used in America in 1874 by the Civil War Surgeon Andrew Taylor Still.  Osteopathy has become an established system of clinical diagnosis and manual treatment in which a caring approach to the patient and attention to individual needs are of primary importance.  As an alternative medicine it emphasizes overall health and the relation among the body's nerves, muscles, bones, and organs.  Recognized as a system of medicine in which the structure and functions of the body are given equal importance, it advocates the body's natural ability to heal itself under the right conditions.  It promotes the body's ability to heal itself using stretching, mobilizing and manipulative techniques, although it’s not appropriate in the case of people with brittle bones (osteoporosis), infections, bleeding and cancerous tumours.

Treatment

In most countries osteopathy is regarded as a form of complementary medicine, emphasizing a holistic approach and the skilled use of a range of manual and physical treatment interventions (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, or OMM in the United States) in the prevention and treatment of disease, but particularly musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain.  Although treatment varies, Osteopaths primarily concentrate on normalizing the body's "mechanism" In other words, a patient in generally good health will respond more quickly to treatment than a patient with lower vitality.  Some osteopathic doctors or DO’s still use the hands-on manipulation of bones and muscles, or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).  Most people are surprised at the gentle contacts and lightness of touch during the treatment and it is not uncommon to fall asleep but you get more benefit from the treatment if you stay awake.

Techniques

Techniques vary among practitioners more than between disciplines and examples include high-velocity thrusts, myofascial (muscle tissue) release, muscle energy techniques, counter strain, craniosacral therapies and lymphatic drainage stimulation.  Contraindications to various manipulative techniques have been developed by the appropriate professional bodies, and practitioners are trained to screen patients and assess individual risk factors.  Osteopaths use spinal manipulation, gentle mobilization techniques, massage and other techniques to improve alignment, relax the tissues, enhance circulation, and increase mobility and range of movement.  It involves a range of subtle techniques designed to ease the small movements of these bones and to assist the rhythm and flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

The self-healing mechanism is the backbone and a sustainer of the principles and application of the therapy.  However, the belief that osteopathy influenced the early development of chiropractic remains controversial between the two disciplines.  Over recent years there has been increasing interest in osteopathy amongst patients but unfortunately barriers remain to osteopathic provision within the state system; not the least being hostility from the traditional medical profession and physiotherapists.  However as medical science has advanced, defining causes of disease and discovering cures, schools of osteopathy have adopted modern science, incorporating it into their curriculum, and redefined their original theory of disease in light of these discoveries.