What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a great healing method that has been defined in the following way by the Medical News Today:

Osteopathy is a form of drug-free non-invasive manual medicine that focuses
on total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal
framework, which includes the joints, muscles and spine. Its aim is to
positively affect the body's nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.

This therapy [osteopathy] is a unique holistic (whole body) approach to
health care. Osteopaths do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area,
but use manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body, to provide
overall good health and wellbeing.

On the other has, to the question “What is Osteopathy?” the Australian Osteopathic Association says:

Osteopathy is a "whole body" system of manual therapy, based on unique
biomechanical principles, which uses a wide range of techniques to treat
musculo-skeletal problems and other functional disorders of the body.

It was developed in America in the 1870’s by a Missouri Doctor, Andrew
Taylor Still, and has developed to the point where it is now widely recognised
throughout the world.

The World Health Organisation recognises the Osteopathic concept of somatic dysfunction as being scientifically proven, and the British Medical Association also recognises Osteopathy as a discrete medical discipline.

In Australia, Osteopaths are statutorily registered practitioners and
five year, full-time university training is available, which covers anatomy,
physiology, pathology and general medical diagnosis in addition to Osteopathic
technique.

Osteopaths are primary care practitioners, and are trained to be able
to recognize conditions which require medical referral. They are also trained to
carry out standard medical examinations of the cardiovascular, respiratory and
nervous system.

To add on that, here’s what British Osteopathic Association tells what osteopathy is about:

Osteopaths have a holistic approach and believe that your whole body will work
well if your body is in good structural balance, Imagine, for example, a car
that has one of its front wheels not quite pointing straight. It may run well
for a while, but after a few thousand miles, the tyre will wear out. You can
apply this example to the human body, which is why it is so important to keep
the body in good balance. We use a wide range of techniques, including massage,
cranial techniques (sometimes referred to as 'cranial osteopathy') and joint
mobilization and this breadth of approach allows us to focus on every patient’s
precise needs.

Most people think of osteopaths as ‘back specialists’. However, osteopaths treat many conditions with great success from cough to sport injuries, from pregnancy back pain to baby colic.
If you are looking for osteopaths in Singapore, find one at OsteopathySingapore.com

About Osteopathy and Finding an Osteopath in Singapore

Osteopathy is quite well known in the United Kingdom, the rest of the European Union, Israel, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and is gaining more and more popularity in Asia, especially in Singapore. Many of the osteopaths in Singapore are trained and registered in the U.K.

Registered osteopaths are university trained, government registered, allied health professionals. Currently an osteopath undertakes a 5-year, University Masters degree to achieve registration in Australia or in the U.K.

What is Osteopathy in the First Place?

Osteopathy is a holistic healing method that works with the structure and function of the body.
The method is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.

From an osteopathic point of view, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. So an osteopath will work to restore your body to a state of balance without the use of drugs or surgery.

What Happens during an Osteopathic Treatment?

An osteopath uses gentle touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. Because osteopathy is gentle healing method, even newborn babies can be treated with osteopathy.

During the treatment you’ll remain dressed. In addition to the gentle manual manipulation of your muscles, joints and nerves, your osteopath may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.

In your first consultation your osteopath will ask questions about your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle and diet. You may be asked to carry out movements, such as to sit, stand or walk. Some osteopaths also use X-rays and other conventional medical tests, such as blood tests, to help them make a diagnosis.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Osteopathy is a holistic healing method that aims to maintain and restore the idealistic balance of your body functions. Adverse side effects or complications of osteopathy are very rare. Please make sure that you visit only properly educated and registered osteopaths.

How to Find Registered Osteopaths?

In the UK, osteopathy is regulated by the General Osteopathic Council, while The Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the national professional body representing Osteopaths in Australia. Many of the Singapore osteopaths are registered in the U.K.

Who and What Osteopaths Treat?

Osteopathy is suitable for most people. In your first consultation your osteopath will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, and if your condition requires other kind of treatment, your osteopath will refer you to another health care professional.

Osteopathy can help the young, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women, newborn babies, children and sports people.

Because the main idea behind osteopathy is that the structure and function of your body are closely linked, it means that any problems or pain associated with the structure of your body could also have an effect on your internal organs.

Therefore, if problems with the structure of your body are corrected, it will ease pain on the outside of your body and help treat any illness inside your body.

An osteopath will try to identify what is wrong with the structure and function of your body and restore this to normal.

Osteopaths is Singapore

Benjamin Loh (BSc (Hons) BOst) is a Registered Osteopath practising osteopathy in Singapore. Visit http://www.osteopathysingapore.com/ to find more about osteopaths in Singapore.