Students interested in pursuing a healthcare practice may be unsure of which one to choose. Considered to be a form of manual therapy, osteopathy provides patients with a unique approach to treatment. Those seeking to become osteopathic manual practitioners can earn a Master of Practice Diploma in Osteopathic Manipulative Sciences—which will allow them to treat musculoskeletal issues, involving joints and muscles, through a non-invasive and drug-free practice.
Osteopathy is viewed as a type of complementary medicine that embraces a holistic and patient-centered approach. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll be primarily focused on the structure of the human body when assessing your patient’s overall health. Manual manipulation using a set of principles alongside your understanding of functional anatomy are key aspects of the practice.
Read on to discover what makes osteopathy different and how our school prepares you for success in the field!
Understanding the Approach and Principles of Osteopathy
Osteopathy is founded on the principle that the human body is a unified and connected system, where body parts are linked to each other so that no aspect is distinctly isolated. In this model, bones, muscles, and joints all function together in tandem. In addition to this concept, osteopathic manual practitioners embrace the idea of the body healing itself.
In osteopathy, practitioners use their hands to manipulate different areas of the body—relying on a variety of techniques to provide treatment. By going to osteopathy school, you can learn to use your training to better understand your patients and deliver real results that contribute to improving their health.
Key Foundations of an Osteopathic Assessment and Treatment
Working as an osteopathic manual practitioner means doing a comprehensive structural assessment and identifying compensation and lesioning patterns that need correction. Typically, this form of manual therapy is considered an effective way to treat lower back pain, neck pain, and sports injuries. This is done through non-invasive therapeutic techniques, such as gentle manipulation of the layers of structure, which are designed to facilitate a physiological response.
Unlike some other forms of manual therapy, osteopathy focuses more on the manipulation of all layers of structure, including hard structure, soft structure, and fascia. Those looking to become practitioners must also be ready to undergo rigorous training, studying different subjects, including anatomy and physiology as well as osteopathic history and theory. Doing so allows them to gain the knowledge and experience they need to develop a holistic view and succeed in the field.
How Our Osteopathy School Prepares You for a Successful Healthcare Career
Through our comprehensive four-year osteopathic program, you are able to develop a classical and principles-based understanding of osteopathic thinking, assessment, and treatment. By studying theory, anatomy, and physiology, you’ll gain a strong foundation that sufficiently prepares you for the field. This would then be combined with supervised clinical training to help you build your confidence and real-world experience.
During your training, you’ll have the opportunity to learn directly from active osteopathic manual practitioners within small class sizes that promote individual attention. As a result, you can gain real industry insights and insider tips that can help you get further ahead in your career. Our school also works diligently to prepare students for career success, providing lifelong career support to help you reach your professional goals.
Are you interested in becoming an osteopathy professional?
Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy for more information!