Osteopathy
The term osteopathy was coined by American physician Andrew Taylor Still (late 1800’s) comprising techniques to manipulate the joints and bones for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of impairments and disease. Still founded osteopathy and the A.T. Still University (American School of Osteopathy) in the United States. Osteopathy has evolved from manual medicine and treatment to care of the total body and mind through specific specialists.
Growth of Osteopathy
There are now approximately 126 medical schools in America where the practice of osteopathy is taught to those seeking qualifications as medical doctors (MD), and 25 medical schools for those pursuing the qualification of doctor of osteopathy (DO). The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine licenses qualified physicians (DO) to practice in the United States and accredits DO programmes at medical schools. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education accredits medical schools with MD programmes.
Osteopathy vs. Osteopathic Medicine
In the United States, there is a distinction between Osteopathy and Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathy is used to describe the restricted practice of manual therapy by osteopathic practitioners to address musculoskeletal system health. Osteopathic Medicine includes a broader scope of treatments used by American osteopathic physicians for musculoskeletal health and disease.
The main distinction is in the scope of practice and how the practice is regulated in different states. Traditionally, Osteopathy represented a form of complementary medicine. Nowadays the two disciplines merge as complementary or holistic osteopathy treatments are also used in complement with modern medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Best Practice in Osteopathic Medicine
There are more doctors of medicine (MD) in the United States that are trained in other medical disciplines as well as osteopathic practice. The American Medical Association forecasts that there is an expectation of 95,400 qualified osteopathic physicians by 2020. Both the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association oversee best practice within the profession.
Osteopathic principles the practitioners are expected to adhere to, include:
- The Hippocratic Oath for ethical practice
- The Oath of core practice in osteopathic medicine (2002)
The principles of core practice governs a threefold view of health function: interdependence of body function and structure; body unity; and self-regulation. The principles promote a holistic approach to person-centred care for the mind, spirit, and body. These principles are also practiced by osteopaths in about 47 countries globally. Usually, osteopaths in other countries practice osteopathic manipulative medicine in combination with holistic medicine rather than more conventional medical emphasis, such as in the case of MD’s in the United States.