Developed in the 1800s by Dr Andrew Taylor Still, Osteopathy is a form of drug-free non-invasive manual therapy that focuses on whole body health. It was introduced to Australia in the early 1940s with Osteopaths in Australia required to complete 5 years of University in either a double bachelor or Masters degree. The final 2 years include clinical training under the supervision of registered Osteopaths in student clinics. They are required by law to maintain ongoing professional development and be registered with AHPRA (Australian health practitioner regulation agency) in order to practice.
The philosophy of Osteopathy and subsequent treatment techniques is what makes it different from other modalities. Osteopathic principles recognise that the body’s systems function together in an integrated fashion to achieve health. They also recognise that the body has it’s own natural self-healing mechanisms; treatment aims to assist these by improving mobility and structural stability.
Osteopathic treatment involves manually accessing the body’s musculoskeletal framework (bones, joints, muscles) to influence the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems. It aims to correct mechanical dysfunctions that hinder optimal health. Osteopaths regularly help treat sports injuries, neck and back pain, sciatica, headaches, stiffness, arthritis, repetitive strain injuries and postural strains. Common techniques include soft tissue therapy, stretching, muscle energy technique,counterstrain, joint articulation and mobilisation. Advice on stretches and exercises is also a common part of an Osteopathic consultation.
If you imagine healthcare to be represented by a wheel, with each individual spoke representing different aspects of medical care, e.g. GP’s, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists etc, you can see how all these different modalities can complement one another to achieve optimum health for the patient depending on their particular ailment. Osteopathy is one of the spokes on this wheel.