Osteopathy
Osteopathy – Origin, Benefits, Efficacy, and Precautions
In the search for effective treatments, man has
developed a wide array of therapeutic systems. Now-a-days, the focus is on
evidence-based medicine that has scientific proof of its efficacy and its safety.
However, there are several other branches of medicine that do not strictly
adhere to this norm. One such branch is that of alternative medicine, of which
osteopathy is a part.
What is it? Where did it originate?
Osteopathy was first practiced in the United States in
1874. Andrew Taylor Still, a physician and a surgeon, came up with the term
“osteopathy.” This branch of medicine involves treating patients primarily by
moving, massaging, or stretching the muscles and joints of the body.
Practicians of osteopathy believe that the body cannot stay healthy unless
there is harmony between the muscles, ligaments, bones, and connective tissue.1
Still founded what is now called the A.T. Still
University of Health Sciences in 1982 to teach osteopathy. The Journal of
Osteopathy was begun by the American Institute of Osteopathy in 1898, giving
wider recognition to the practice.1
How is it beneficial?
Osteopaths claim that the treatment can cure several
disorders, including:
- Lower back
pain or stiffness
- Neck and upper
back pain or stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Chronic
conditions, such as asthma and arthritis
- Digestive
problems
- Pain during
menstruation
- Injuries
sustained during sports
- Back pain due
to pregnancy
- Effects of
trauma, such as whiplash
- Issues with
the hip, ankle, foot, and knee
- Issues with
the wrist, forearm, elbow, or upper arm
- Strain
sustained at the workplace
- Stiffness
related to wear and tear
- Problems due
to improper posture
Studies/research on its efficacy
Osteopathy has not proven to be effective in large, scientific
trials. However, there is limited evidence that osteopathy may work in certain
situations.
- The UK back
pain exercise and manipulation trial (UKBEAM) conducted in 2004, involving
1334 participants, concluded that patients who received manipulation,
exercise, and advice responded to treatment better than those who did not,
both in the short-term as well as the long-term.
- Also, as of
February 2008, the NICE guidelines for osteoarthritis recommend
manipulation and stretching, strengthening exercises, and advice as part
of the treatment system.
How is it done?
During an osteopathic consultation, patients describe
their symptoms, their past illnesses or injuries, and their immediate
environment. Osteopathic manipulative treatment can be categorized into four
methods:
- Active
method: The patient voluntarily performs a
motion directed by the osteopath.
- Passive
method: The patient does not voluntarily
perform muscular movements.
- Direct
method: A restrictive barrier is used and an
activating force is used to correct dysfunction.
- Indirect
method: The restrictive barrier is removed
and the dysfunctional body part is moved away from the barrier until
tissue tension is equalized.
How can people get started with osteopathy?
Osteopaths use a highly skilled technique called
palpation to touch and move your body, in order to identify the dysfunction as
well as treat it. Massaging, stretching stiff joints, articulation, and
high-velocity thrusts are used to treat the disorder.
Precautions
Usually, osteopathic treatment does not cause pain.
However, if the patient is suffering from a painful inflammation, there may be
some pain during treatment.
Citations:
1. DiGiovanna E.L., Schiowitz S. Dowling D.J. An
Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment, 3rd ed. Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins; 2005. 707 p.
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