Reigate Osteopathic Clinic - About Osteopathy

Osteopathy is one of the nine regulated healthcare professions in the UK alongside doctors, dentists etc. Osteopaths in the UK are regulated by The General Osteopathic Council. This means that osteopaths are bound by a strict code of practice and conduct. It also means that the title "osteopath" is protected by law and only those included on the UK Statutory Register are entitled to practice as osteopaths.

All osteopaths follow a course of training of at least four years to degree level. Osteopaths are trained to a very high level in anatomy, physiology and medical examination as well as a range of manual techniques for treatment. This means that osteopaths are highly skilled specialists in musculoskeletal care and will be able to provide a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan. Osteopaths are also trained to recognise conditions that are beyond the scope of their practice and will endeavor to make sure the patient is referred to an appropriate practitioner.

A recent description of osteopathy is:

Osteopathy is an independent system of primary contact healthcare that focuses on the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal and other related disorders without the use of drugs or surgery. It is a patient-focused, rather than a condition/disease centred, approach to healthcare.

Osteopaths, in close collaboration with the patient, seek to identify the causes of impaired health and restore the optimum functioning of the body, aiding its own intrinsic ability to heal. Diagnosis involves the use of a combination of specific osteopathic and conventional medical examination procedures. A particularly well developed skill in osteopaths is the use of touch (palpation) to evaluate the state and motion of tissues and joints, and the ability to monitor changes in these.

Treatment is based on the skilled application of osteopathic manipulative techniques tailored to the individual person, and reinforced by other self-help measures, such as guidance on diet, lifestyle, coping strategies and exercise. The approach emphasises the integration of the musculoskeletal system with other body systems and the influence that the impaired function of each has on the other. It also seeks to empower patients in assisting their own recovery to good health.