FACTS & QUESTIONS | osteopathy

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a drugless form of manual therapy that approaches treatment through a system of principles based on an in-depth knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics as outlined by its founder, Dr. A. T. Still in 1874.

Osteopathy is a complete system of healing that is adjustive in application and vitalistic in nature, since it is applied to bring balance to the entire body so that our self-healing and self-regulating abilities can be restored and health can flourish where disease and dysfunction are present. Practitioners of Osteopathy strive to have a strong effect on the anatomical structures of the body so that the physiology of the body can operate without obstruction. The results of proper Osteopathic treatment can be curative, preventative, and/or palliative. It is important to note that Osteopathy is not something that can be described as a series of techniques.

What is Classical Osteopathy?

A Classical Osteopath is a highly educated manual Osteopathic practitioner, who is trained to work without the use of drugs or surgery by using a manual approach to achieve a clear Osteopathic diagnosis of where the problems are originating. This precise diagnosis allows the operator to render a safe, effective, and efficient treatment that is non-invasive and rational in thought. An individual who is trained in Classical Osteopathy can offer treatment that is adjustive in nature, gentle in application, and effective in results. Treatments are commonly 20 – 30 minutes in duration and the cost is affordable so that anyone can receive the benefits of its application.

Who Can Benefit From Osteopathic Manual Therapy?

Anyone at any age can benefit from Osteopathic Manual Therapy by a qualified practitioner. An Osteopath does not simply treat symptoms but rather he or she works to address the root cause of someone’s chief complaint by addressing the whole body as a complete unit of function, where we understand that a balanced anatomical structure will allow for a proper physiological expression and thus promoting health and well-being on all levels.
Women who experience pain during pregnancy have experienced great relief while receiving OMT. Through proper treatment, many women have experienced less back pain, reduced or eliminated pelvic pain, increased circulation, decreased edema in the extremities, better sleeping patterns, fewer headaches an easier birthing process and a faster recovery following the birth. Babies are commonly treated for the traumas that occur during the birthing process, as well as for certain conditions that become problematic during the months following birth such as colic, digestive problems, irritability and restlessness.
Concerning treatment of the elderly, the approach centers on balancing the body in order to help relieve the discomforts of arthritis, increase motion in restrictive joints, decrease stress, facilitate better circulation throughout the body, enhance digestion and increase vitality.
Athletes are commonly treated with OMT to resolve previous injuries that limit performance. When the body is properly aligned and the forces are distributed properly, there is less chance of the athlete becoming injured during training or the event that he or she participates in.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, DO, MD

Is Osteopathy Like Chiropractic?

No, Osteopathic Manual Therapy is not like Chiropractic.
Osteopaths trained in Canada do not use HVLA or thrust type adjustments.
Although Osteopathy is adjustive in nature; an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner who is trained in a classical sense does not focus their attention on subluxations like most Chiropractors, but rather treats the whole body in an integrative fashion.
Osteopathic manual therapy brings balance to the body through a gentle approach which addresses the pelvis, spine, cranium, ribs and extremities as well as the soft tissues in the body such as muscles, ligaments and visceral organs.
They focus their attention to the fine details that support health and well being by relieving pressures and obstructions that restrict the natural flow of nerves, arteries, veins, lymphatics, and cerebrospinous fluid so that the person receiving treatment can heal through the inherent forces that are naturally driven.

Osteopathic Training in Ontario

An Osteopathic practitioner that is skilled in its classical essence will have received extensive training in the art and science of Osteopathy. The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy has been proven to provide unparalleled excellence in Osteopathic education as it offers a 4 year, 4400 hour program that encompasses all elements required to produce the very best Osteopathic Manual Therapists in Canada today. Upon completion of this program, the graduate will receive a Master Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Sciences (M.OMSc). Once this is completed he or she is eligible to apply for membership with the Ontario Osteopathic Association. In order to become a member of the Registry with the Ontario Osteopathic Association, an applicant must successfully pass a national level examination which will test all areas of education so that the public can be assured that the practitioner has been trained adequately.

NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION OF OSTEOPATHS (MANUAL PRACTICE) MEMBERS’ STATEMENT:

I am a member in good standing of the Nova Scotia Association of Osteopaths (NSAO) Ø As a member of the NSAO,

I am not an Osteopathic Physician, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, formerly Doctor of Osteopathy), nor do I practice Osteopathic Medicine

In Nova Scotia, Osteopathic Manual Practice is not regulated by the government, however the NSAO is actively seeking government regulation to protect the public and our profession

Osteopathic Manual Practitioners are not members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)

I am simply trying to teach you what you are; to get you to realize your right to health, and when you see the cures wrought here, after all other means have failed, you can but know that the foundation of my work is laid on nature’s rock.
—Autobiography of A. T. Still