What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy has recently been described as, "an established, recognised system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural and functional integrity of the body. It is distinctive by the fact that it recognises that much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from the abnormalities in the function of body structure as well as damage caused to it by degenerative, inflammatory or infectious processes which are collectively called pathology. Osteopathy recognises the need for medical investigation into symptoms when indicated and uses many of the diagnostic procedures used in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength, however, lies in the unique way in which the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint and manual methods of treatment applied that suit the need of the individual patient rather than specific treatment for a specific problem" (General Osteopathic Council, 2005).
The profession was initiated by Andrew Taylor Still in 1870's, who established the first school of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri in 1892. Born in Virginia, Andrew Taylor Still initially trained as a doctor according to the medical training available at that time, but unlike his contemporary physicians he shined away from the administration of the crude drugs available and encouraged the application of physical therapy as a specialized form of treatment, which he referred to as Osteopathy. This system of diagnosis and treatment was first brought to Britain by Dr J Martin Littlejohn, a student of Still, in 1917 and was the first school outside of the USA. In 1993 the Osteopaths Act was passed, making it a criminal offence for someone to call themselves an osteopath who is not registered with the General Osteopathic Council. This register came into being in May 2000.