Osteopathic manual practitioners open the door for their patients to pursue healthier and happier lives. By addressing the root causes of each ailment, these professionals can change the quality of life for anyone needing physical relief.
Osteopathy is a patient-centred practise by nature. This means that osteopathic manual practitioners treat every patient as a unique individual, and provide an extensive and holistic approach to address their every need. This can come in many forms, so continue reading to learn more about how to adopt this technique as you complete your studies at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.
Osteopathic Principles Allow for Customized Techniques
Here at the CAO, you will receive a hands-on, principles-based curriculum. A comprehensive understanding of the founding osteopathy principles will allow you to determine the ‘who, what, where, when and why’ behind each osteopathic treatment.
Sticking to the principles-based curriculum, you’ll learn how to break down your findings into natural law once you complete osteopathy college. This saves you from resorting to simply memorizing techniques from a book and allows you to dive into the history and intricacies of the body. Having the freedom that comes with understanding the overarching principles of the practice, you will be able to better assess each patient to come up with a unique and effective treatment plan that will best help them on an individualized level.
Providing More Than Simple Physical Care as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner
While physical treatment is important as an osteopathic manual practitioner, it is essential to deeper than simple, surface-level care. Adopting a true patient-centred approach includes a personalized treatment that is customized based on the patient’s unique anatomy and lesioning patterns.
Taking the time and care to fully assess each individual patient, you will base your treatments off of objective findings in the patient’s body once you begin your osteopathy career. Working thoroughly and carefully, you can palpate the body and create valid reasoning for treatment based on your foundational knowledge of osteopathic principles. Deeply assessing every part of the body allows for an individualized experience for each patient, keeping each patient and their health at the centre of your practice.
Cultivating Trust and an Ongoing Relationship
Practicing listening, connecting and communicating effectively with your patients will help you build a strong relationship with each one. When a patient feels seen and heard, they will begin to trust you as their care provider.
Trust is essential to any osteopathic manual practitioner and patient relationship. By working with the interrelated systems and functions of the human body, osteopathic manual therapy can return the body to normal health so it can self-heal and self-regulate. However, if the patient doesn’t trust their professional, they may not continue to seek healing. While working in the student lab at the CAO, you will be able to practice your osteopathic techniques, as well as your patient-centred approach to your craft.
Interested in exploring an osteopathy specialization?
Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy for more information!