WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?
Osteopathy could be described as “holistic manual medicine”. Osteopathy is a system of health care that focuses on diagnosis and treatment of the physical body’s structure in order to optimize physiological functioning. Manual palpation and Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) are used in conjunction with biomechanical, orthopedic and neurological clinical assessment.
Osteopathy is best know for treatment of neuro-musculo-skeletal disorders such as back and neck pain, sciatica, sporting injuries and postural strain. Put simply, optimizing structural balance allows the physiology to perform optimally.
The practice of osteopathy combines current medical knowledge with the osteopathic philosophy. Scientific plausibility and evidence-based outcomes have a high priority in patient treatment and case management. Osteopathy is a patient centered approach to health care rather than disease centered. Osteopathic manual practitioners assess and treat the whole person, not just the symptomatic region
Osteopathy is the philosophy of healing Neuromusculo-skeletal disorders (joint/muscle and body pains) naturally through gentle Manipulations, Mobilizations, Stretches, Therapeutic exercises, Soft tissue therapies, Muscle Energy Techniques, Myofascial Release, Heat therapy and client self-help.
It is worth checking with one’s insurance plan, as most extended health plan (EHP) providers pay an annual portion for Osteopathy; which is approximately $300 to $500 per year in the province of Ontario (coverage varies as per each individual policy).
Ontario auto insurers cover osteopathy treatments if patient is injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident.