Osteopathy Explained

Osteopathy is a manual therapy practice that helps relieve pain, and restore normal range of motion to joints and tissues. The way we like to describe it is that it’s a little like Chiropractic without the “cracking,” and a little like massage without the “rubbing.” Osteopathy is an effective collection of hands-on techniques that are gentle, align the body structures, and lengthen restricted soft tissues that cause bio-mechanical dysfunction. Because the structure and function of the body are a unit, an aligned body is healthier and orients towards greater wellness.

Osteopathy was developed and named by an American physician, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1875. He later opened a school in Kirksville, Missouri and began teaching students manipulation of the human musculoskeletal system to promote health and heal disease. Osteopaths practice in more than 65 countries, but only in the U. S. do Doctors of Osteopathy (D. O) have the same scope of practice as medical doctors ie. the right to practice medicine, diagnose, and prescribe.

Craniosacral Therapy

The osteopathic technique most known to the public is Cranial Osteopathy, also known as Craniosacral Therapy. This has become a popular treatment offered primarily by massage therapists and physical therapists. In the current era, only a small percentage of Osteopathic Physicians (D. O.) practice manual therapy, and even a smaller percentage use Cranial techniques. Most of the manual osteopathic techniques in the U. S. are practiced by practitioners that have a license to touch; besides the aforementioned massage and physical therapists, there are a sprinkling of athletic trainers, chiropractors, nurses, and medical doctors.

Osteopathy Techniques

Manual Osteopathic therapists use a variety of techniques. These techniques can include:
    •    Muscle Energy Technique, an anatomically based method that “adjusts” muscular pull on bones by isometric contraction and stretching
    •    Articulatory Technique in which the therapist moves joints through passive range of motion to increase quality of movement
    •    Craniosacral Technique which focuses on the cranial bones, spine, and sacrum, to influence the central nervous system, and fascia
    •    Ligamentous Articular Strain Technique which releases and balances key ligaments, tendons, and fascia involved in strain/sprains
    •    Counterstrain , an exceptionally gentle technique that takes joints into a position of ease to resolve pain and trauma
    •    Visceral Manipulation, which treats the fascia surrounding internal organs, a source of referred pain, and structural imbalance
    •    Lymphatic Activation, a method of mobilizing the lymph system to relieve lymphatic congestion, sinuses, swollen limbs, and promote immune function
    •    Myofascial Release, a whole-body approach to releasing and aligning the musculoskeletal system through the fascia or connective tissue
    •    Soft tissue Techniques such a Neuromuscular Technique to increase circulation to tissues and joints, and relieve congestion

Practitioners

 These methods work great and have a long record of helping people restore their health. The problem has been to find the practitioners to do them. Look for:

    1    Medical Osteopath (D.O): some of them do manipulation
    2    Manual Osteopathic Practitioner (D.O.M.P) or (D.O.M.T.P.): all of these do manipulation
    3    Bodyworkers or clinicians who specialize in one or more of the above techniques (L.M.T, P.T., A.T., D.C)

The designations D.O.M.P and D.O.M.T.P are popular in Canada and other countries. The initials D.O. are used in countries like Britain and France, but these practitioners do manipulation only.

The author of this article, Laurence Layne, D.O.M.T.P., L.M.T., practices at Healing Waters Clinic in St. Augustine, Florida. He began learning osteopathic manual techniques as a bodyworker, and has post-graduate training in Canada through the Ontario College of Osteopathy.