Osteopathic principles & philosophies

Osteopathy is a form of health care that encompasses the whole person. By referring to the principles outlined below, you can gain an understanding into the thought processes of an Osteopath in their approach to any presentation that comes into the clinic.

The principles have developed from the teachings of A.T. Still - the founder of Osteopathy. It is amazing to read of his teachings and how accurately this resonates with the modern day Osteopathic approach to health and wellbeing.

1. The body is a unit

“We know that if we ever know the whole, we must first know the parts.” - A.T. Still

This principle is something which encompasses Osteopathy beautifully as it is another way of describing our ‘holistic’ approach. The approach to any presentation to the clinic should be that of the whole person. An important part of the Osteopathic consult is the history taking process. Not only is this an opportunity for the practitioner to get an idea of what is going on physiologically but also, mentally and emotionally.

It is old news when it comes to the link between the mind and the body. They affect each other just as much siblings do. They can work in unison beautifully or, they can battle it out like it’s WWII, all while living under the same roof. The body, mind and soul are one - they can be separated and examined on their own however in order to achieve total equilibrium, they also need to be considered as one.

2. The body has its own self-protecting & regulating mechanisms

An excerpt from “The Core Principles of Osteopathic Philosophy” Paulus (2013).

“Nature does the repair, renovation, restoration of motion, and creative compensation. We as Osteopaths only assist Nature by removing the impediments … Still taught that, ‘Harmony only dwells where obstructions do not exist’”

When you injure yourself, the body has an incredible ability at further protecting the area. When spraining a joint for example, the body provides further protection by spasming the muscles around the joint of concern. So instead of only having pain from the sprained joint, you now have pain and potential restriction of movement from the spasm in the muscles.

This response needs to be respected. Yes, we can achieve better mobility and flexibility from an Osteopathy treatment or movement-based therapy however, the body is sending you physical signals in order for you to be conscious of protecting the area of concern. This is where listening to your body becomes vital. Listen to what it is trying to tell you (through pain signals), and respect it. Listen closely enough and you might hear those 2 siblings getting along.

3. Structure & Function are reciprocally inter-related

“Osteopathy is that science which [helps the body] regain its normal equilibrium of structure and function.” A.T. Still

What are the tissue causing symptoms? What functionality have you been limited to? Was it sitting at your desk all day that caused tightness through the hip flexors? Or was it a build up tightness through the hip flexors that created the discomfort you experience when sitting at your desk? Which came first? Does it really matter? So many questions!

What is important is that both structure (ie. joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons etc) and function are considered when assessing the functionality of specific body parts or the body as a whole (eg. can you walk, sit and/or stand without discomfort?). The link between structure and function is what an Osteopath will investigate. They will ensure the structures of your body are intact and capable enough to allow optimal functionality and equilibrium.

4. Rational treatment is based on the previous principles

To tie the above principles together,

“The goal of an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment is to restore the natural ability to self-heal—or to creatively compensate—by augmenting the local and global health of the body and by removing obstructions to proper blood flow, fluid flow, or nerve function allowing for the restoration of motion”

Be aware, be intuitive and be inspired by your body’s ability to heal itself - it really is an amazing thing. Osteopathy should be used as something to guide and support this process - to book in for an Osteopathic consult, use the form below.

REFERENCES

Paulus, S. (2013). “The Core Principles of Osteopathic Philosophy”. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 16(1), 11-16