Osteopathy is a distinctive
and complete system of health care, based on broad principles
that ?offer a way of thinking and acting in relation to
questions of health and disease? (Dr. I. M. Korr). The procedures
it uses in diagnosis and treatment promote healthy functioning
in a person by correcting mechanical imbalances within and
between the structures of the body. By structures we mean
the muscles, bones, ligaments, organs, and fascia. The fascia
is a very thin layer of tissue that is found under the skin.
Correcting the mechanical imbalances in the structures is
done by restoring, maintaining, and improving the harmonious
working of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.
The name osteopathy (given to the therapy by Dr. Still)
comes from the Greek osteon (bone) and pathos (to suffer),
so it literally means suffering of the bone. The name has
created some confusion, leading people to think that an
osteopath treats only conditions of the bones. However,
Dr. Still chose the name because he recognized the importance
of a properly functioning musculoskeletal system for the
total well-being of the individual.
Osteopathy and orthodox medicine have many things in common:
they both use the scientific knowledge of anatomy and physiology,
as well as clinical methods of investigation. In this respect,
they have a similar language. The greatest differences,
however, lie in the way patients are evaluated and in the
approach to treatment. As a general rule, the orthodox medical
approach focuses on the end product of the problem ? that
is, on the illness. Treatment aims to redress the balance
by giving drugs or carrying out surgery.
