What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a unique style of hands-on therapy that looks at the body as a whole and examines the way different parts of the body interact. An osteopath uses many different treatment techniques to help the body heal itself. Osteopathic technique has been scientifically validated.

Osteopathy is a holistic, or whole body, system of manual therapy, based on biomechanical principles, which emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease and uses a wide range of techniques to treat musculoskeletal problems and other functional disorders of the body.

It was developed in America in the 1870’s by a Missouri doctor, Andrew Taylor Still, and has developed to the point where it is now widely recognised throughout the world as one of the most scientifically validated and effective health sciences. The World Health Organisation recognises the osteopathic concept of “somatic dysfunction” as being scientifically proven, and the British Medical Association also recognises osteopathy as a discrete medical discipline. In Australia, osteopaths are statutorily registered practitioners and five year, full-time university training is required, which covers anatomy, physiology, neurology, pathology and general medical diagnosis in addition to osteopathic technique.