What is it all about?

Frequently we are asked by other health professionals to explain more fully about Osteopathy.  We enjoy being asked this question as it seems that in Canada, especially Alberta, manual Osteopathic therapists are very rare and access to more information about the modality is hard to come by.

Brief history

Osteopathy was first practiced in the U.S. in the early 1900s by doctors who noticed that structural corrections with their hands led to functional improvements in their patients without the use of drugs.  As the pharmaceutical industry improved Osteopaths in the U.S. decided to make their training similar to that of Medical Doctors and there are Universities in the States that produce Osteopathic Physicians.  At present there are no schools outside the U.S.  Meanwhile, other Osteopaths decided to specialize in treating people with their hands and this is the manual Osteopathic therapy that is available in the U.K., Europe, Australasia and Canada.  For more information on the two different types of Osteopathy click here.

How does it work?

There is no specific technique that Osteopathic therapists rely on.  The treatments are very individually based.  However there are some common themes.  Everyone will get a comprehensive initial consultation that covers their physical and mental health from their presenting complaint to childhood injuries.  If there are no contraindications to treatment the Osteopathic therapist will examine the patient using a variety of orthopedic tests and movement screens.  From this information the Osteopathic therapist will use the most appropriate techniques to help the patient’s body to recover.

Did you know that aspects of physiotherapy, joint manipulation, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, Rolfing and craniosacral therapy all have their origins in Osteopathic therapy?

What do other health professionals say about Osteopathic Therapy?

Please click here to find out.

“I recently had the great pleasure of working and training with a group of

U.K. educated Osteopaths at the GIFT Fellowship program in Applied

Functional Science this past year.  The skills that Ed and the other Osteo's

displayed were absolutely excellent - smooth, gentle, on the spot, and very

effective!  But they also had a unique and refreshing passion for their

craft.  We spent hours practicing and sharing techniques and working on

each other.  Ed is an Osteopath who not only is great at what he does in

terms of skills, but has a truly caring heart and desire to help others.  I

only wish I lived closer so that I could have a more formal working

relationship  with Ed.  I'm confident that he would help my patients who

need expert manual techniques beyond what I have been trained in.  Based on

my experiences with Ed I would encourage anyone to see him as a great choice

in healthcare to help restore them back to painfree function!”

       

Michael R. Napierala, PT, SCS, CSCS

NAPIERALA SPORTS TRAINING  

 161 E Commercial St

East Rochester,

NY 14445

585-218-0240