If you are interested in trying osteopathy, here are 5 things you should know:
1. 𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮.
This means that 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 can say that they do osteopathy, regardless of whether they have received proper education & training or not (!!).
Most provinces have associations affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths (CFO) whose members must have adequate training, continuing education requirements, and follow bylaws and ethical standards.
To find a practitioner in your area, please refer to www.osteopathy.ca/en/associations/
𝟮. 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁.
From 5 years of in person learning + a thesis to merely months of online programming educational institutions for studying osteopathy vary greatly in Canada.
The WHO has published Benchmarks for Osteopathic Training and describes 2 pathways to studying osteopathy:
Type I: 4200 hours as entry level, with high school or college education.
Type II: 1000 hours in addition to prior training in healthcare.
In addition to supervised clinical hours and may include a research component. Must be in-person, not online.
3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 ‘𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵’ 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.
In BC, members of the association OsteopathyBC use the term ‘osteopathic practitioner’.
4. 𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀.
• Muscle Energy Technique
• Craniosacral / Cranial Osteopathy
• Myofascial Release
• General Osteopathic Technique
• Visceral Manipulation
• Joint Mobilization
• Lymphatic Drainage
• Pelvic Floor treatment (external approach)
𝟱.𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀.
From persistent pain to digestive issues, headaches, body tension, and even urinary incontinence, osteopathy can be helpful for a range of conditions and symptoms. We also treat people of all ages and stages of life, from newborns to older adults, during pregnancy, postpartum and people will all types of abilities.
Check out my website for a more complete list of symptoms and conditions I work with.