What is an Osteopathic Manual Therapist?

With a background in either western/conventional/allopathic medicine (i.e. medical doctor, registered nurse, physical therapist etc), eastern medicine (i.e. acupuncture, ayurveda) or body work (massage therapists, rolfers, athletic therapists etc), an osteopathic therapist or practitioner is a professional who receives post-graduate training in osteopathic manual therapy.  Schooling of traditional osteopathic colleges is usually 2-4 years.  Osteopathic therapists use many techniques such as muscle energy, counter strain, myofascial release, cranial manipulation, visceral manipulation, neural manipulation, etc. In the US, osteopaths are licensed as conventional doctors.  Non-physician osteopathic therapists we belong to are popular in many European countries, Canada, Australia, and some Asian countries.

Are you like a Chiropractor?

Chiropractic care and osteopathic care are very similar in a few ways and very different in many ways.  We believe chiropractors used only thrusting techniques (high velocity & low amplitude tech) when they diverted from early osteopathic history.  Chiropractors and osteopathic practitioners agree that structure governs function.  Chiropractors tend to be concerned more with the position of structures (mostly the spine) and Osteopathic practitioners are more concerned with the mobility and vitality of a structure (not just in the spine, but every structure of the body – bones, connective tissue, muscles, organs, and brain). Generally speaking, chiropractic care is focused on adjustments of the spine.  Where osteopathic manipulation does involve some adjustments of the spine – it is rare.  However, the majority of hands-on gentle manipulation is throughout the entire body using a variety of techniques written above.