Osteopathy can be described as an integration of science, philosophy and art. It is a philosophical view of health and healthcare. However, health is not simply the absence of disease or pain. It is a state of balance between the body and mind of a person. In health a person should be able to respond to events and their body should restore itself to optimum health in case of dysfunction, given the right healthcare support. Some people are not in full health, because they are carrying an accumulation of the effects of different traumatic events that have happened to them during their life.
Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body, as balanced mechanical structure supports optimum body function. In this way anatomy and physiology are linked.
Osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners who are trained to recognise conditions which require medical referral, they treat a wide age range and may assist in treating musculoskeletal conditions ; work strain issues; pregnancy ante and post-natal care, sports injuries, headaches, neck and back pains, to degenerative joint pain of the elderly.
These are an example of some complaints that osteopaths may help manage, using a wide variety of treatment techniques to restore function and balance.
Osteopaths take into account someone's age, occupation, lifestyle and postural considerations. A 2010 review by UK government's advertising standards authority 'The Bronfort et al Review' states they accept osteopaths may help a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
Osteopathic treatment techniques include:
(1) Franke H., Franke J. D. and Fryer G.Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Non-specific Lower Back Pain: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2014.
(2) Schwerla F.A., Bischoff A. B. et al, Osteopathic Treatment of Patients with Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Efficacy, published Forsch Complementmed 2008.
(3) Posadzki P. and Ernst E., Spinal Manipulation for Tension-type Headaches: a systematic review of randomized control trials, published Compliment Thera Med 2012 . - Chaibi A. , Tuchin P. and Russell M., Manual Therapies for Migraine: a Systematic Review, published in Journal Headache Pain (Chaibi) 2011. - Voigt K., Liebnitzky J. et al., Efficacy of Osteopathic Treatment of Female Patients with Migraine: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial, published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, March 2011
(4) Licciardone J. C. et al., Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment of Back Pain and Related Symptoms during Pregnancy: a Randomized Controlled Trial, published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, January 2010 . - Pennick V. and Liddle S.D., Interventions for Preventing and Treating Pelvic and Back Pain in Pregnancy, published on Cochrane Database 2013. (Osteopathic Research for Lower Back Pain and Lower Back Pain in Pregnant and Postpartum Women)
(5) Bratingham J., Cassa T. and al., Manipulative Therapy for Shoulder Pain and Disorders: Expansion of a Systematic Review, published in Journal of Manipulative Physiotherapy 2011 .
(6) Knebl JA, Shores JH et al., Improving Functional Ability in the Shoulder of the Elderly via the Spencer Technique, an Osteopathic Treatment: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of American Osteopathic Association, July 2002
(7) Cucciaa AM et al., Osteopathic Manual Therapy Versus Conventional Conservative Therapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Vol. 14, Issue 2, 2010
(8) Leaver A.M, Maher C.G. and al., A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Manipulation with Mobilisation for Recent Onset Neck Pain, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabilitation 2010.
(9) Fernandez-de-la-Penas, Fernandez AP (Osteo and Physio) et al., Dorsal Manipulation and Whiplash Injury Treatment: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Whiplash and Related Disorders, Vol. 3, 2004.
(10) Mandara A, Ceriani A et al., Osteo Manipulative III for Chronic Neck Pain: a randomized placebo controlled trial on the effect of pain and disability, International Journal of Osteopathy Medicine, 2010.
(11) Kim BJ, Ahn J, Cho H, Kim D, Kim T, Yoon B, Rehabilitation with Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment after Lumbar Disc Surgery: a randomized, controlled pilot study, International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, Nov. 2014
(12) Tuncer AB, Ergun N, Tuncer AH, Karahan S, Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Home Physical Therapy in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Vol. 17, Issue 3, July 2013
(13) Cruser DA, Maurer D, Hensel K, Brown SK et al., A Randomized Controlled Trial of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Acute Low Back Pain in Active Duty Military Personnel, Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, Feb. 2012
(14) Chaibi A, Tuchin PJ, et al., A Manual Therapy for Migraine: a systematic review, Journal Headache Pain, 2011.
(15) Schwerla F, et al., Osteopathic III of Patients with Long-Term Sequelae of Whiplash Injury: effect on neck pain disability and quality of life, Journal Alternative Complementary Medicine, 2013.
(16) Jarski RW, Williams J et al,. The Effectiveness of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as Complementary Therapy Following Surgery: A Prospective, Match-controlled Outcome Study, Alternative Therapy Health Med, Sept 2000
(17) Castro-Sanchez AM, Arroyo-Morales M et al,. Effects of Myofascial Release Techniques on Pain, Physical Function and Postural Stablility in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Rehabiliatation Sept 2011
(18) Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in conjunction with Medication relieves Pain associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Results of a Randomised Clinical Pilot Trial, Journal American Osteopath Association, June 2002
(Based on all the positive outcomes of research findings above, more rigorous multi centre studies are warranted to further assess these approaches)
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