What is Osteopathy?
As Osteopaths we constantly get asked ‘what is Osteopathy?’, so we thought we’d explain more about what Osteopathy is and the philosophies it was founded on.
It’s a common misconception that Osteopathy is new. It was actually founded in the late 1800s by Dr A T Still. As a surgeon and physician Dr Still discovered that in order to achieve optimal health, all parts of the body should work together harmoniously. This is when Osteopathy was born.
Osteopathy is based on four principles. The first is The Body is a Unit and encompasses body, mind and spirit. This encourages us as Osteopaths to always treat the body as a whole and to consider how one part of the body influences other parts. For example, an ankle injury may cause a client to limp and favour their other foot. Over time, this imbalance can lead to other injuries, such as soreness in the other ankle, knee or hip, or perhaps back pain.
Secondly, The Body is Capable of Self Regulation and Self Healing. Osteopaths believe that it is our role to return the body back to its most optimal state, allowing our bodies to function at their best. The third principle is that Structure and Function are Reciprocally Interrelated. Tying into the other two principles, Osteopaths consider how the structure of your body will affect its ability to function at its best. For example, if a runner had tight hamstrings it could lead to tension in the pelvis and low back which would affect their function and ability to run.
Our fourth principle is a reminder that in order to achieve an Osteopathic approach to treatment, All of the First Three Principles need to be Considered and Applied.
“To find health should be the object of the physician, anyone can find disease” - A T Still
Osteopaths treat the entire body, not just bones and muscles and are suitable for everyone from babies to the eldery. Attention is also given to the other systems of the body, like the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems, as they are all important in the healing process. While having a predominantly hands-on approach, Osteopaths also offer educational advice about lifestyle, stress management, injury rehabilitation, injury prevention, pain management and offer ongoing support to their clients.
An Osteopath uses a range of treatment techniques, including soft tissue, joint manipulation, mobilisation and articulation and utilises their knowledge of the body’s function to provide exercise prescriptions for management and prevention.
If you think Osteopathy could be what you’ve been looking for, we’d love to see you at Collective Motion! We are conveniently located to service our Bentleigh community as well as its surrounding suburbs including Bentleigh East, McKinnon, Ormond, Glenhuntly, Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Oakleigh, Gardenvale, Brighton East and Hampton East. Click below to book an appointment and let us help you get moving again.
