How do osteopathic practitioners assess and treat?
An appointment begins with an extensive case history and assessment.
The osteopathic approach is based on the understanding that the body is always striving to self-heal and self-regulate. The structure and function of the body's systems do not work in isolation - they are connected to all other systems, as well as to the environment, the mind, and the spirit. Imbalances in one area or structure often create compensations or impaired function in another. Using hands-on techniques, osteopathic practitioners work on these interconnected stresses and strains to help the body to correct imbalance.
Osteopathic practitioners have a comprehensive understanding of the connections within the body, based on a thorough knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of body systems in both health and disease. Osteopathic techniques involve refined and specific palpation based on this understanding. Osteopathic techniques include visceral (working with internal organs), cranial (working with bones, membranes and fluid systems), fascial (working with connective tissue systems), and musculoskeletal (working with joints and muscles). Techniques are applied to each patient in a unique and individual way.
Who do osteopathic practitioners treat?
Osteopathy can benefit patients of any age, with a wide variety of conditions. Depending on the condition, treatment can be aimed at preventative care, reduction/elimination of symptoms, or supporting conventional medical treatment.
What conditions do osteopathic practitioners treat?
Osteopathy for Babies and Children
Osteopathy During and After Pregnancy
Osteopathy for Adults and the Elderly
What is osteopathic medicine?
Osteopathy, or osteopathic medicine, is considered to be both an art and a science. It is a form of manual medicine comprising of an enormous body of techniques, spanning disciplines based on structural adjustments to the very gentle cranial and fascial approach and many more.
Osteopathy was founded in the late 1800s by an American physician, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, and a Scottish physiologist, John Martin Littlejohn. Since that time osteopathy has been implemented into the curriculum of a large number of medical schools in the U.S., and has become its own profession separate from conventional medicine in many other countries.
It is currently practiced widely in the USA, England, Australia and New Zealand. In these parts of the world osteopathy is legislated and has a strong educational system with many choices for full-time university degrees. In much of Europe and Asia the profession is growing rapidly. In Canada the profession is still in its initial stages of development but is beginning to grow.
