what is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a well-established system of health care. The founding principles of which, enables the osteopath to provide a holistic manual therapy that is tailored to the individual needs of the patient. These being: Firstly, that the body has its own innate ability to tend towards health, providing it is in a position to do so. Secondly, that structure governs function, i.e. that each part of the body is designed in order that it may carry out its function efficiently. When its structure becomes damaged or less healthy, this will in turn reduce the body’s ability to function efficently. Thirdly, the body is a complete and fully integrated unit whose ability to function is dependent upon the harmony of interrelationships of each body system, organs, nerves, blood vessels and of course musculo-skeletally – joints, tendons, muscles and ligaments.

history of osteopathy

In 1874, medical practitioner Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, dissatisfied with the current medical model of the time endeavoured to discover a more efficient and appropriate method for gaining health. Dr. Still’s extensive research and clinical studies over a period of ten years, led him to believe that the role of the musculo-skeletal system was imperative with regards to health and disease. Dr. Still was a strong believer in preventative medicine and viewing the patient as a whole and not focussing solely on individual symptoms. The result was the science of osteopathy. Dr. Still went on to found the first school of osteopathic medicine, the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville Missouri in 1892.