October 8, 2021
3 Minute Read

Osteopathy, Manual Osteopathy, or European-Style Osteopathy, as it is known and practiced in different countries and locations around the world began in 1874 by an American physician known as Dr. Andrew Taylor Still.

While different from Osteopathic Medicine, which is also known as American-Style Osteopathy (requiring a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from a recognized United States medical school), Manual Osteopathy focuses on the osteopathic treatment of neuro-musculo-skeletal disorders with the aim of restoring optimal biomechanical function in the human body through the use of Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT), which is very well known for it’s ability in treating low back pain, neck pain, sciatic and pseudosciatic pain, postural pain, sports related injuries, and more.

This differs from Osteopathic Physicians which are recognized to give medical diagnoses, deliver medical treatment, perform surgeries, and prescribe medications.

What makes Manual Osteopaths truly distinct amongst healthcare professionals is their highly refined sense of palpation which they’ve developed, as well as their analytical skills in relation to human biomechanics which are used in assessing and treating the whole body.

The profession of Osteopathy combines up to date medical knowledge with osteopathic philosophy, an example of this combination includes the principle of the inter-relatedness of the body’s systems and tissues, this allows practitioners to deliver a holistic and evidence based approach in their treatment.

As a profession, Osteopathy has been recognized by the British Medical Association as being a truly unique health discipline.

Osteopathy in Quebec.

It’s important to distinguish that Manual Osteopaths and Osteopathic Physicians are not interchangeable professions, nor terms.

Under Canadian and Quebec law, a Manual Osteopath is unable to provide a medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or prescribe medication. Furthermore, Osteopathic Manual Therapy in Quebec, Canada falls into the Complementary Therapy or Adjunct Therapy healthcare bracket.

As a profession, Osteopathy is currently in the process of becoming a regulated healthcare profession and the Quebec government is going to be voting in order to create a Professional Order for Osteopaths.

Why I Studied Osteopathy?

While choosing to study Osteopathy I was already a Naturopath, so therefore, What inspired me to pursue studies and to become a Manual Osteopath?

One of my biggest motivating factors is my clients, doing right by them and helping them in any way I can, to help improve their overall quality of life. Many individuals have walked through my doors with complaints of low back pain, neck pain, pseudosciatic pain, and more.

When taking a physical assessment of these individuals, I saw different postural issues, one example being, individuals with misaligned arms (one arm being perceived as longer than another because of their posture). All these biomechanical issues I’ve witnessed were areas in people’s health which I was unable to affect change in.

One day, I had a need to see an Osteopath, and I fell in love with the profession. I decided that this was a service which I wanted to offer my clients, because of this intrigue, I decided to pursue studies in Manual Osteopathy.