| A simple guide to Osteopathy |
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The modern roots of Osteopathy date back to 1872. Dr. A.T Still, a Physician, believed the body was created as a perfect harmonious whole and contained the basics necessary for its own healing. He developed a system for stimulating the immune system naturally. He eliminated the use of addictive and toxic drugs from his practice and considered surgery a last resort as a means of treatment. The first Osteopaths came to Australia in 1908 from the U.S.A. |
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What is Osteopathy? |
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Osteopathy is a manual medicine that focuses on the treatment of the physical body, the joints, muscles and connective tissue with a variety of ‘hands on’ techniques such as deep massage, stretching and manipulation. This, in turn, affects the functioning of the whole body via connections with the nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems. Osteopaths also offer you personal advice on stretching and strengthening exercises, posture, diet,
lifting procedures and stress management. |
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What is an Osteopath? |
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Osteopaths are Government Registered practitioners of manual medicine. In Australia there are three undergraduate Osteopathic courses. All are five years full time. R.M.I.T.: Bachelor of Osteopathic Science and Bachelor of Applied Science (Clinical Science). Victoria University: Bachelor of Science (Clinical Science) and a Masters of Health Science (Osteo). University of Western Sydney (Macarthur): Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Biosciences) and a Master of Osteopathy
Osteopaths are also required by their governing body (Australian Osteopathic Association) to undertake continuing professional development training throughout their career. |
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Answering your questions about
OSTEOPATHY |
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| Do I need a referral? |
| The only times you will need a referral are if you wish
to consult an Osteopath under the Veterans’ Affairs scheme or for WorkCare in Queensland only. (Remember that not all Osteopaths are Veterans' Affairs providers.) Otherwise you can simply contact an Osteopath directly. |
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| Who Pays? Am I covered? |
| With the federal government initiative under Medicare Plus, patients
with chronic conditions may be referred by their GP for osteopathic
treatment under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan. Patients under
the Veterans' Affairs scheme and the various State WorkCare/WorkCover
and Transport Accident compensation schemes have their treatment costs
covered by those schemes. (Not all Osteopaths are Veterans' Affairs
providers, so you should check before making an appointment.) Partial
rebates are available for those members of Private Health Funds with
ancillary or "extras" cover, but the amount of rebate and the conditions vary from insurer to insurer, so check the details of your policy. |
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| How do Osteopaths treat? |
| In carrying out treatments, Osteopaths can call upon what is probably the largest range of techniques used in any manual therapy. These include:
- Massage and stretching techniques
- Articulation techniques, in which joints are mobilised by being passively taken through their range of motion
- Muscle Energy techniques, in which contracted muscles are released by alternately being stretched and made to work against resistance.
- Counterstrain techniques, which achieve release of restriction by placing the affected joint or muscle in a position of comfort, while applying a "Counter" stretch to the antagonists of the tight muscles.
- Functional techniques, which involve gentle mobilisation of joints in a way which "probes" barriers to normal movement until a way is found through the restriction
- Manipulation, which may be used where it is appropriate and safe to do so, though it is not the mainstay of most Osteopathic treatments. Osteopathic manipulations are carried out using minimum force levels in order to maximise safety and minimise patient discomfort
- Many Osteopaths also use what is known as "Osteopathy in the Cranial field", which is a gentle release technique particularly suited to young children and the physically frail.
- "Visceral" techniques are used in the management of conditions affecting internal organs. These involve gentle and rhythmical stretching of the visceral areas
Osteopathic treatments are tailored to the requirements of the individual patient, and techniques are selected which are appropriate to the patient’s needs. |
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