What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy, that considers the indivdual being treated as a whole biopsychosocial being. The treatment is customized for the patient based on considering their particular anatomy and physiology. Bringing the structure and function of the body to balance is essential for supporting the physiology and optimizing health. Philosophically osteopathy seeks to find and boost health in the body so there is less room for disease.


Where is it from?

Osteopathy is the oldest form of manual therapy in North America, and it was founded by a doctor called Andrew Taylor Still in 1874. He was not satisfied with the methods used in the medicine of his time, but questioned them and started a search for more efficient forms of treatment. Still was obsessed with anatomy, and believed the human body would always seek health if given the right environment. He used manual techniques to improve the functioning of the body by improving tissue health - and he noted even serious illnesses could subside if the circulation to the symptomatic tissues was normalized.


How is it different from other therapies?

Osteopathy has a unique philosophical approach to health. The techniques used may not be exclusive to this style of therapy, but for osteopaths, the how and why of treatment is of prime importance - that way the treatment is optimized for each individual patient. It’s all about having a strategy to work with the body as a whole, and going through progressive steps to achieve the goals you have for yourself.