What is Osteopathic Manual Practice?

Osteopaths use their palpatory skill to identify areas of the body that are restricted (not moving normally) or constricted (strangled or squeezed). These areas can be in any of these systems:

  • musculoskeletal
  • respiratory
  • cardiovascular
  • digestive
  • reproductive
  • nervous

Osteopaths identify and then gently ease the restrictions or constrictions so the body can function normally again.

Sore back.

Manual osteopathy is based on 4 basic principles:

  1. Each structure in the body supports the body's functions. If a structure is damaged, out of place, or otherwise not working properly, the body will not function at its best.

  2. The natural flow of the body's fluids - lymphatic, vascular, and neurological - must be preserved and maintained.

  3. The human body is the sum of its parts. Its physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and cognitive systems don't work independently -they work in harmony.

  4. When the body has no restrictions, it has the inherent ability to heal itself.

Osteopaths recognize that a patient is an integrated whole. When all the body's components are in balance, a person is complete and in total health.

 

Why Choose Osteopathy?

Osteopaths assess and treat your body as a whole, because:

  • symptoms sometimes show up in a different part of your body from where the problem actually is
  • there may be several factors contributing to the symptoms you experience

Osteopathic treatment is efficient, which helps to minimize the number of visits you need.

Osteopaths go through many years of training to develop their highly refined palpatory skills.

Conditions

Here are some examples of conditions and problems that osteopaths can help treat.
Note: It is important that you speak with your medical doctor for the complete diagnosis of any medical condition.

Boy with inhaler.

Children's Issues

  • colic
  • spitting up
  • sucking difficulty
  • delayed development
  • birth trauma
  • otitis media

Pain

  • neck pain
  • back pain
  • sciatica
  • headaches and migraines
  • jaw pain and TMJ syndromes
  • pain resulting from motor vehicle accidents
  • pain resulting from over-use and sports injuries

Systemic Problems

  • neurological syndromes
  • digestive disorders
  • genitourinary problems
  • chronic infectious disease
  • circulatory problems

Pregnancy Issues

  • back Pain
  • digestive upset
  • edema and swelling

Respiratory Illness

  • asthma
  • bronchitis
  • pleurisy
  • allergies

Ear, Nose and Throat Problems

  • chronic ear infections
  • recurrent sore throats
  • frequent colds
  • glaucoma
  • sinusitis
  • tinnitus

Note: It is important that you speak with your medical doctor for the complete diagnosis of any medical condition.

 Information from the Ontario Association of Osteopaths, http://www.osteopathyontario.com

 

 

History of Osteopathy

On June 22nd 1874, Andrew Taylor Still, who was a medical doctor and surgeon by profession first elucidated the method and applications of Osteopathy.  Dr. Still was the first to treat patients as a whole while searching for the causes of dysfunction rather than treating symptoms.

A.T. Still

Devoted to his patients he was blessed with great success in restoring the dynamic equilibrium of the structures and the quality of the natural functions of the organism. Andrew Taylor StillAmerican School of Osteopathy was registered May 10th1892. The Kirksville School welcomed everyone regardless of race or religion. created the first school of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. The first charter of the

At the dawn of the 20th century William Garner Sutherland a student of Dr. A.T. Still
pursued his work and applied the osteopathic concepts to the cranial field and the cranio-sacral functional unit.By continuing his work, several osteopaths such as Rollin Becker, Thomas Schooley, Ann Wales, Viola M. Frymann, Harold I. Magoun have played an important role in the history and evolution of Osteopathic Tradition, by transmitting the biodynamic aspect of Osteopathy. You will become familiar with their discoveries and therapeutic methods during your studies.

Osteopathy, a beneficial natural medicine, was officially recognized in the United States under Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. He had personally been successfully treated with Osteopathy.

In the United States, Osteopathy has evolved within the practice of medicine, leaving behind Traditional Manual Practice Osteopathy based on palpation and manual therapeutic methods. However, the American Academy of Osteopathy is doing everything in its power to preserve the philosophy Osteopathy. Osteopathic medicine is presently taught in fifteen (15) Universities in the United States, graduates are granted a medical degree.

In 1917, Osteopathy established roots in Europe thanks to Dr. John Martin Littlejohn, D.O. a student of Dr. Still. He founded the first osteopathic institution in England the British School of Osteopathy. The European School of Osteopathy in Maidstone allowed Osteopathy in England to flourish and play an important part in their health care system. In 1993 “The Osteopathic Act” which regulates the osteopathic profession in England, granted osteopaths a status equivalent to physicians and dentists, establishing the necessary guidelines for public safety.

A school and literature concerning Osteopathy in France, date its origins inj that country back to 1923. Major Stirling, D.O. stayed in France and taught a group of physicians.

Subsequently, osteopathy really flourished during the early sixties. The first class of Osteopathy applied to the cranial field was given in Paris in 1965 with Thomas Schooley, Harold I. Magoun, and Viola M. Frymann DOs, All three were students of William Gardner Sutherland. Attending the courses were two famous French osteopaths; Francis Peyralade, Bernard Barillon and Denis Brooks a famous English osteopath. The first French Osteopathic Colleges were the corner stones for other osteopathic institutions in Europe. French Osteopathy is well respected and renowned, its evolution is expressed mostly in the visceral approach by the works of Jean Pierre Barral, Jacques Weischenk and René Brien.

Osteopathy in Canada    Maison de lostéopathie

In 1981, Philippe Druelle D.O. founded the first osteopathic school in Canada, the “Collège d’études Osteopathiques” (C.E.O) in Montreal, with the help of Dr.Jean Guy Sicotte M.D, D.O. The objectives of this institution were to unite all the elements of traditional manual osteopathy, regrouping all the different therapeutic methods including the myofascial, osteoarticular and visceral approaches, as well as osteopathy applied to the cranial field and craniosacral unit. This project was a success and the C.E.O is now considered a leading Osteopathic reference in Quebec as well as internationally. Philippe Druelle was the first to establish a complete clinical methodology using the different therapeutic methods, allowing students to answer the specific needs of each individual patient.

In 1982, Philippe Druelle created the Canadian Foundation for Teaching and Research in
Osteopathy (F.C.E.R.O.) with Denyse Dufresne, Dr. Jean Guy Sicotte and Denise Laberge D.Os. The foundation dedicates its efforts to treating physically challenged young children with neuromotor anomalies or dysfunctions and to allowing students to be trained in the therapeutic methods of assessment and treatment appropriate to these children.

In 1991, Philippe Druelle founded the Deutsches Osteopathie Kolleg in Munich, with Barbara Angerer, D.O. and in 1992 the Canadian College of Osteopathy (C.C.O) in Toronto with Marie Colford, D.O. and the teaching staff of the C.E.O. In 1996 the C.E.O - Québec began its operation with Richard D’Anjou Rachelle Audet and Céline Servais, D.Os. An Osteopathic program was established in Vancouver, BC. in 2001 and in Halifax NS in 2002.

For many years D.O.s have made efforts to obtain legal recognition for the Osteopathic Manual Practice profession in Canada. The profession and study programs in osteopathy are not yet recognized by the Ministry of Education. Diplomas are not given under the authority of the Degree Granting Act. The CEO and its members have also actively lobbied for the recognition of Osteopathy by the “Office des Professions”. Since 1992, the association of graduates from the College (ADOQ) and its 350 members have worked to promote the osteopathic profession in Canada. Thanks to its actions and those of the President Isabelle Coindre, D.O. and Pierre Bachand, D.O. they have obtained an amendment to the income tax laws, granting exoneration of federal taxes for osteopathic treatments. This success will hopefully raise the level of recognition of the Manual Osteopathic profession in Canada. Student and graduate associations in Quebec and the Transitional Council of the College of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners of Ontario (TC-COMPO) continue to promote the quality of Osteopathic Manual Practice as well as to raise the issue of recognition for the studies and practice of Osteopathy.

Information from Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques, http://www.osteopathie-canada.ca/

More info about regulations in British Columbia: http://www.osteopathybc.ca/