Osteopathy is a system of healing that was developed around the turn of the 20^th century by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still an American physician. It was later further developed and interpreted in the U.K by Dr. J.M Littlejohn.

It’s guiding principles have a basis in the healing power of nature believing that:

“The body is not a machine but a vital living organism with a normal tendency towards self-healing, elimination and health” and that: “Health is not merely an absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.” (1)

In contrary to conventional medicine’s use of pharmaceuticals to treat pathogens osteopaths believed that disease developed due to certain factors lowering the vital force of a person affecting their capacity to heal.

Some of the ways that the early osteopaths and currently Classical School osteopaths aim to encourage the vital processes is through:

• Releasing contracted muscles and other tissues,
• Helping underactive tissues to contract
• Adjusting and balancing joints, bones, ligaments and tendons to each other and to the rest of the body.
• Release of peripheral nerves and nerve centres to relax tight tissues and improve flow to tissues lacking sensation and strength.

Another important principle of osteopathy stems from their belief that it is impossible to treat a painful or injured area in isolation and that it is necessary to address the problem as part of the whole body. The body adapts to a painful knee for example; however, this affects other parts causing pain and loss of rhythm and coordination in walking and other movements.

The aim of treatment is to assist in restoring rhythm and coordination as well as achieving a stable, unified structure for long term recovery.

(1) What is classical osteopathy?

www.classical-osteopathy.org

This article takes a closer look at each profession to find out what they do and how they are different. It may help your guide your choice in choosing someone.

These days there is some blending between different professions including use of similar techniques and the treating of similar issues. A lot depends on the individual practitioner their approach, and their areas of speciality. Most allied health practitioners do extensive post graduate training creating areas of expertise and particular strengths and skills.

Physio’s and Osteo’s probably have more in common than you think, however there are some differences in philosophy, aims, methods of treating and training.

Aims and philosophy:

The aim of physiotherapy is to improve function through rehabilitation i.e.to improve a person’s ability to move and function.  Physios are experts in rehabilitation of injuries and exercise-based management of conditions. They use their in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology to assess and treat people with a range of health conditions from sporting injuries, neck and back pain, to people recovering from stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, and conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis and cystic fibrosis.

Osteopaths believe that there is a strong relationship between the body’s structure (mechanics) and its function (physiology). They are experts at manual therapy and their treatments are almost exclusively hands on.  Their aim is to improve the body’s structure and hence function by working physically using the hands. They have a holistic approach and follow the principals that “the body is a whole’, that “all the body’s systems are interconnected” and that “the body has self-healing mechanisms”. For example, if you see an osteopath for neck pain, they may also take a look at your upper back, ribs and pelvis. They will ask you about your medical history, and may ask you about other factors that don’t appear to be directly related to your current injury.

In contrast Physiotherapy treatment may focus more on mobilising the site of injury rather than the ‘whole body’ approach.

Training and education:

Physios are trained in a wide range of areas and have a much broader scope of practice than Osteos. They work in all sectors of healthcare, including public hospitals, private practice, rehabilitation centres, sporting clubs and community health centres. In Australia, all physiotherapists must complete at the very minimum a bachelor degree (usually four years) in physiotherapy, however many practicing physios have a masters or professional doctorate.

All physiotherapists must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency. (AHPRA)

Osteopathic training is almost exclusively in the workings of the human body involving medical science and practical skills and technique. It involves developing advanced palpatory and diagnostic skills.  Osteopaths almost exclusively work in private practice.

In Australia Osteopaths undergo a five-year University training with an undergraduate applied science degree and a Master’s degree.

All Osteopaths must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency. (AHPRA)

The aim of osteopaths is to create change in the body structure and so help it to function better.

Osteopaths treat people with problems presenting in the Musculo-skeletal system that are long term, (chronic) or acute.

Commonly used techniques include soft tissue techniques, articulation of joints, stretching, release of nerves and some gentle osteopathic cranial techniques. Osteopaths are trained to treat people of all ages including children, adults, seniors and the elderly.

Included in a consultation is advise on appropriate exercise, lifestyle, diet posture, lifting and walking to help with recovery.

Some things osteopaths look for:

• Difficulties or changes in walking
• Total range of motion in the spine, limbs and joints.
• Uncomfortable movement.
• Asymmetry in the body

In Australia Osteopaths have five years of training at university attaining a Bachelor of Applied Science and Masters in Osteopathy. This includes study of medical science subjects such as anatomy, physiology, radiology, neuroscience and clinical medicine.

Private health insurance covers osteopathy in most cases providing immediate rebates. The insurance needs to have “Extras cover.”

People with chronic conditions may be eligible for Medicare rebates up to five per year. This involves seeing a GP and asking for an EPC referral to see an osteopath.

Injury causes tissues to be damaged and the body repairs them. This can take a varied amount of time depending on the injury and the person’s ability to heal. Chronic pain may continue on without painful stimuli and occurs because of changes to the nerves or nervous system which keeps the nerves firing and signalling pain.

When pain has been around for a long-time other part of the body may become sore and tense as well as the body tries to help the painful area. Osteopathy is well known for finding and addressing other areas of the body that may require attention.

Treatment of chronic pain can be an involved process.  It requires a very gentle approach aimed at taking painful tissues and restricted areas into positions of ease to gently release tension and overall to relax the sympathetic nervous system.

Osteopathy has gentle techniques that help balance the nervous system and may help decrease its sensitivity. Osteopathic cranial techniques, biodynamics, neural and visceral release may be beneficial for use with chronic pain.

At home supportive care may include gentle appropriate activity or exercise, dietary modification and advice on ergonomics, and body usage for everyday tasks as well as mind-body therapies such as Feldenkrais, mindfulness and meditation.

Osteopathy aims not only to relieve symptoms but to help the body to function better in a number of ways. Patients may report other improvements such as feeling more relaxed and sleeping better after treatments.

Though well known for treating spinal problems, osteopaths work with many other parts that make up the physical body including muscles, tendons, ligaments, soft tissues, and nerves.

Additionally, sessions involve giving advice on how to manage conditions such as advice on walking, posture and better ways for individuals to use their bodies that will help lessen aggravation of conditions.

Some conditions that are often helped by osteopaths include:

• General aches and pains.
• Joint pain including shoulder hip and knee pain.
• Tingling numbness and pain in hands or arms
• Neck and upper back restriction, head pain and headaches.
• Stress and tension, poor sleep.
• Lower and upper back pain and restriction
• Sciatica
• Osteo and inflammatory arthritis,
• Stiffness, poor mobility and other problems associated with aging.