Comments on: Osteopathy in the 21st Century

By: SOG

SOG — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:16:27 +0000

Interesting ideas… I wonder how the Hollywood media would portray this?

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:34:28 +0000

Interesting article. As a UK osteopath, we are trained separate from the medical schools. I believe this training allows the focus to be on osteopathic principles and understanding. I can’t get my head around osteopaths training through the medical schools. It’s two completely different models at work.

True osteopathy is the understanding that you are treating the cause not the symptoms. A problem doesn’t just appear, there is a chain of physiological events prior to the problem (unless it is a trauma). It is the unravelling of these events that a true osteopath is interested in. Supplying medication to “suppress” a symptom is as you mentioned in the article a complete contradiction of this principle.

Osteopathy is really a preventive medicine; however, our society doesn’t really fit with this. No-one goes for a check up on a regular basis; they wait until there’s a problem and then consult someone. When it gets to this stage then all forms of medicine have their place. Perhaps if more people went to their osteopath for a check up - these problems that require further intervention may never be needed (bold statement I know!). After all we service our cars more regularly than our bodies - what’s more important?

By: CranioBrian

CranioBrian — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:51:51 +0000

Great article.
One thing I’d like to point out from my experiences with osteopaths, is that they do indeed perform manipulation, but it is not the gross manipulation one associates with work like chiropractic. The D.O.s I have met use much lighter force, working with the body to make necessary changes. While sometimes manipulation is needed, I believe one can accomplish so much more with subtle work that really listens to what the body needs to achieve homeostasis.

The osteopath I see regularly has training in Cranial Osteopathy (based on the work of William G Sutherland). My D.O. will work from my head for the entire treatment (15-20min) with very, very light force. Yet it is some of the deepest, most relaxing work I receive. (And being a bodyworker, I get a lot of work) His work has effects throughout my entire body from work focused at the cranium.

I believe his ’style’ of work is much more in line with Still’s and Sutherland’s principles of listening to and supporting the body’s wisdom for self-correction. I hope the osteopathic community stays true to it’s roots, else who will show people how they can heal themselves?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:52:02 +0000

great job!

By: Touro University Student

Touro University Student — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:20:16 +0000

Great article. This question is asked so often, and frequently the response is misinformed. I think this explanation does it justice. Wikipedia has a two great articles on this too. Osteopathic medicine in the United States” and Comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medicine.

Both have tons of great references to articles published on the topic.

— Touro University Student

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:53:00 +0000

As a Missourian, the first D.O. School was in Kirksville, Missouri, near the Iowa border.

Great article!