Welcome to Osteopathy Cape Town, South Africa
Osteopathy in brief
Osteopathy is a medical practice based on a drug-free non-invasive manual therapy. As an approach to healthcare, it emphasises the role of the musculoskeletal system in the maintenance of optimal health and the prevention and treatment of illness.
It is underpinned by a philosophy of the body as an interrelated unit of structure and function. Alteration in the structure of the body leads to reduced or impaired function in its organs and tissues. Compensation gradually builds up until the body is unable to accommodate more change, at which time it may break down at the weakest part, even after something quite trivial.
Osteopaths therefore focus on manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body, rather than focus on isolated problem areas. These therapeutic interventions facilitate the patient’s inherent recuperative powers.
Osteopathy in practice
Osteopathy is a ‘hands on’ manual therapy which takes into account a patient’s personal and medical history. In combination with dietary, postural and occupational advice as well as counselling, it is a practical and effective treatment for the treatment of a range of illnesses and injuries and also assists in the ongoing management of pain and disease.
By paying attention to the significance of any change in structure or function (the joints, muscles, ligaments, bones and connective tissue) an osteopath is able to interpret whole patterns of aches, pains and general health problems.
Headaches, for example, are the final symptom of lower back or foot related problems. An osteopath therefore will find and treat the underlying cause of the problem rather than treat the symptoms of a problem with drugs and medication.
Osteopathy in History
Osteopathy as a medical practice was established in the late 1800s, during the American Civil War by physician Dr Andrew Taylor. Following his disillusionment with conventional medical treatment, Taylor sought to heal his patients through a hands on therapeutic technique that would improve circulation and correct altered biomechanics. He called this school of medicine “osteopathy” denoting “the bone” or ‘osteon’, as a starting point for the detection of pathological conditions. More information at Wikipedia