The Special Niche of Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a variation of conventional medicine. Its practitioners are fully qualified doctors, licensed in all 50 states to practice the full range of medicine. In addition, osteopathic training is quite similar to traditional medical school and residency. Even so, this particular practice is often confused with chiropractic because of its focus on manipulation.
Origins
The system was developed in the late 1800s by Andrew Taylor Still, a country doctor, to overcome what he perceived as shortcomings of orthodox medicine at that time. In 1892, he founded the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, and many of his principles are still followed.
When Is Osteopathy Used
Osteopaths treat the entire spectrum of human disease, and many of their practices are indistinguishable from those of mainstream physicians.
How Osteopathy Works
Osteopathy is based on the premise that all organ systems form an interrelated whole, and that good health reflects a harmonic balance among organs, as well as harmony of mind and body. Any dysfunction of one part is thought to affect the entire organism adversely. Thus, treatment is directed to finding and correcting the underlying cause of the disorder.
What to Expect
In making a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan, an osteopath concentrates on the neuromusculoskeletal system. After taking a detailed medical history, the practitioner typically spends considerable time feeling or palpating the patient's body, looking for areas of inflammation, tenderness, and muscle tightness or spasms. X-rays and laboratory tests may be ordered. A typical treatment often includes manipulation and massage, especially if there is pain.
Like conventional physicians, osteopaths are qualified to prescribe drugs and perform surgery, but they do not rely as much on these modalities as other doctors do. Even when prescribing drugs, an osteopath is likely to perform manipulations as well to increase the effectiveness of the medication. Osteopaths also spend time instructing their patients in self-care, with emphasis on good posture and exercise.
For anyone reading from out side USA don't be confused! Elsewhere in the world Osteopaths are Osteopaths, and will not do the same job as your GP. ie prescribe medication and perform surgery. The same conditions however may be able to be addressed with manual (hands on) medicine, and for musculoskeletal problems, the osteopath's knowledge and expertise in diagnosis and treatment is exceptional.