Osteopathy was started in 1894 when Dr. Andrew Taylor Still opened the first college of osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, USA. Several other colleges were formed later- in Des Moines (Iowa) Philadelphia, Chicago, Michigan etc Graduates are doctors of osteopathy. In the USA the D.O. eventually became of equivalent status to the M.D. degree of the medical doctors there. Inevitably, in the USA, doctors of Osteopathy began to practice medical specialities instead of osteopathic manual therapy (OMT), so at the present time less than 15 per cent of D.O.'s practice OMT exclusively. In the UK osteopathy is still taught pure, i.e. OMT.

Osteopathy has been described as being what osteopaths do! This is a great fudge for avoiding a large list of various forms of OMT, which are practiced by osteopaths. Most people will know we identify areas of tension throughout the body around spinal and other joints, in certain muscles, even throughout deep fascia. We treat aches and pains by reducing tension by soft-tissue massage, articulation (joint-play) and manipulation (more forceful manipulative thrust). Some osteopaths sub-specialize e.g. sports injuries, cranial osteopathy (which uses the so-called involuntary mechanism (IVM)), visceral osteopathy (e.g. treating the diaphragm in bronchial asthma), some use acupuncture as an additional treatment to osteopathic treatment (the two disciplines link together well).

Osteopathy for Sports Injury

Osteopaths have had a long association with treating sports people, due to their understanding of joint and muscle function. In recent years sports people and sporting associations have recognised that the expertise that Osteopaths have in understanding biomechanical relationships and treating their dysfunction, can reduce recovery time following injury and also prevent future injury.

Consequently, Osteopaths are now more involved in treating sports people who compete at a high level and an increasing amount of sports associations employ Osteopaths as part of their medical team.

Sports injury due to trauma or biomechanical dysfunction reacts well to the osteopathic approach. Techniques employed include soft tissue and joint manipulation, foot orthosis, neuromuscular techniques and exercises to balance the mechanics of the body. This helps to prevent future injury and allows the body to function efficiently and promote repair by the bodies own healing mechanism.