Osteopathy is the study and treatment of the entire body and the intricate relationships between its anatomical structures and physiological functions.

The philosophy, principles and practice of osteopathy were developed by a man named Andrew Taylor Still in the late 1800’s in the United States. Traditional osteopathy relied on the use of manual therapy to restore function within a body.

Chiropractic, and many other modalities, were extracted from traditional osteopathy. Sometimes one specific modality is all that is needed for a body to heal. Often times, to resolve or relieve chronic issues, we must treat a whole body by addressing all of its systems with a full osteopathic approach. The goal of osteopathic therapy is to restore and/or optimize mobility within the body and across all of its systems to allow for vitality. We take note of the ‘position’ of certain joints, etc. but what really matters to osteopaths are the intricate restrictions and adhesions that are contributing to that ‘misalignment’. Rather than focusing on position, Osteopaths narrow in on mobility or immobility.

Every osteopath has their own unique ways of assessing and addressing a body, and no two osteopaths are the same. Today, in the US, osteopathy has (d)evolved into more of a clinical physician approach to treatment. While “traditional” osteopaths typically specialize in various bodywork modalities, osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), cranial osteopathy, craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation. Schools abroad tend to offer more focus and training on these traditional therapies. Here is a fantastic article talking about the various types of Osteopaths, Osteopathic Physicians, and more by Cranial Academy.

The principles of traditional osteopathy are based on four main tenets…