Osteopathy

History

Osteopathic Medicine was developed in 1874 by Dr Andrew Taylor Still, who believed that all diseases have a cause-and-effect relationship. A doctor sees the effects of a disease and must find the causes in order to restore a patient's health. He further believed that a body's functions are determined by its structure.

In 1892 Still founded the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri.

In 1996 there were 17 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States and two teaching centres in Great Britain. Entrance to the London College of Osteopathy is limited to medical graduates, the British School of Osteopathy has no such requirement.

Theory

Still hypothesised that a localised area of disease process may occur in a bone, muscle, ligament or other tissue. He called these localised areas "osteopathic lesions". Still believed that these lesions may be produced by injury, strain, infection, reflexly from disease elsewhere, or simply by nervous influences. As a result, movement of various affected parts become impaired and the flow of blood slows down, causing acidosis affecting nerves and distant organs.

Although osteopathic philosophy has undergone considerable change, it still holds that the body is a unit that possesses the inherent ability to overcome most curable diseases.

Practice

Although the concept of the "lesion" still persists, apart from slight additional emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment, the scope of osteopathy is identical to that of medicine. Manipulative treatment however, and the extent to which it is used, has fallen steadily over the years.

A consultation may involve observing a person's general posture, and the way they sit and walk. How you express yourself is also taken into consideration, as osteopaths believe there is a connection between the mind and body — stress factors causing tensions. A variety of procedures are used, including manipulation of soft-tissue, although this to a lesser extent with new graduates. Soft-tissue manipulation or soft-tissue mobilisation are osteopathic terms for what is actually a massage.

Assessment

Still maintained that the spinal cord regulates what is happening throughout the body via its link-up with the nervous system. Should the vertebrae be slightly out of position, this could allegedly affect the blood, cause stomach aches, headaches, skin and other disorders.

As in chiropractic, many medical practitioners will argue that the "lesion" concept may not be testable. The osteopathic concept of "lesions" does not coincide with the normal medical understanding of the word.

The medical definition is (1) a wound or injury, (2) a pathological change in the tissues. Although osteopaths use the term the same way they postulate something in or near the spine that is vaguely described and defined.

Many, perhaps most, osteopaths, practice in the same way as medical doctors.

References:

Belshaw, Dr. Chris. Osteopathy: Is it for You? Element Books

British Medical Association. 1986. Alternative Therapies, British Medical Association, London.

Hope, Murry. 1989. The Psychology of Healing, Element Books Ltd., Shaftsbury, Dover