As people start embracing the warmer weather and getting back into the swing of activity, Osteopathic Manual Practitioners may find their services in need to help individuals adjust to changes in their bodies.
Osteopathy focuses on facilitating the health of all layers of structure in the body, not just joints and muscles. It does this through non-invasive manual therapy, helping to strengthen the framework of the body and support the body’s healing.
Students completing the osteopathy program at the CAO will take a two-fold approach to their training that includes both classroom learning and clinical experience. In the process, students will come to terms with the osteopathic principles and theory while putting their knowledge into practice. Read on to learn more about how you can support the health and well-being of individuals in the new season.
Tune into the Needs of the Individual
Winter can be a difficult time for one’s emotional and physical well-being. As spring comes around the corner and brings a change in activity levels, individuals may face lingering difficulties with their mobility and overall health. As an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, you may be working with patients experiencing problems such as neck stiffness, headache, back pain, digestive disorders, and more. In each case, your work begins with the individual.
It’ll be your job to listen to a patient’s needs and concerns and consult with them to arrive at a personalized course of action. By taking into account the interrelated systems and functions of the human body, you can work to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level.
Take the Time to Study Your Osteopathic Principles
The best way to offer more comprehensive support to patients is to go beyond skills and techniques to the underlying principles of osteopathy. Our osteopathy school prioritizes this area in a curriculum that focuses on teaching principles-based, classical osteopathy. This classical training grants students an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, which they can use to comprehend some of the changes in the body that individuals may experience as the seasons change. For example, the increase in activity may bring to light some past trauma or pre-existing physical conditions in the body. With a strong understanding of the systems and functions of the body, graduates will be better able to treat the root of the problem to best serve their clients.
Here’s what CAO student Amanda McLeish had to say about her experience with this kind of training: “The emphasis on the roots of the profession gives the curriculum substance and depth unlike the majority of other programs which are technique-driven.”
“Anyone can be taught technique, but the art is integrating all the techniques, understanding why you’re applying them and taking into consideration the entire physiologic effect of treatment according to the principles of osteopathy,” said Amanda.
Make the Most of the Clinical Experience at Our Osteopathy College
Clinical training at our osteopathy academy is a chance for students to put those principles to practice. In the CAO’s free public clinic, students work on treating real-life patients and gain the first-hand experience they need to practice safe, effective, and ethical manual osteopathy. Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care, exposing students to real-life scenarios that they may encounter in their careers.
CAO’s program is designed to suit the needs of students who are already working full-time or part-time. During the classroom semester, students attend in person once a month for intensive hands-on training and online lecture days are condensed together for easy scheduling. During the clinical semester, clinical days are lumped together for the convenience of students. With a flexible format to accommodate working professionals, graduates will be ready to offer personalized support to individuals throughout the year.
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Start a rewarding career with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy!