What are the osteopathic principles?
There are four main guiding principles of osteopathy. Over the last 150 years, these have been refined and expanded. They are:
- The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
- The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
- Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
- Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
Your body, mind, and spirit influence your overall health. They body is an incredible machine, and all of these components are interrelated: one element or unit affects the others. If there is pain or dysfunction in one unit, it can create dysfunction in another. This principle allows osteopaths to see patients holistically. It is based on a patient-centered rather than a disease or injury-centered approach to health and treatment.
The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
Our natural state is one of health. If you’re suffering from injury or disease, other parts of the body must compensate which may cause further dysfunctions to occur. Osteopaths help to resolve dysfunction through treatment by adjusting and realigning back to your normal state.
The role of an osteopath is to help you identify and resolve barriers to your body’s natural tendency towards self-healing and health. For example, chronic stress, poor quality sleep, an unhealthy diet, or repetitive movement and strain may be barriers to your health that are causing dysfunction. Treatment may include activity and lifestyle modification, or manual therapy.
Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
The various systems (e.g., musculoskeletal, nervous) are interrelated with the functions of the body. Illness or disease in the structures can manifest as issues with the body’s functions. On top of this, both internal and external factors can influence these systems.
Structure and function affect our body’s resilience, capacity to heal, and ability to adapt to change. As osteos, we harness this relationship in order to help our patients to overcome illness and injury.
Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
This means that treatment is based on the application of all aspects of osteopathic principles when assessing, examining, and treating a patient.
In summary, as osteopaths, we take a holistic approach to treatment. Pain and dysfunction are complex phenomena and there are always many reasons behind why someone feels the pain they experience. We can help you to work out what those reasons are and give you the tools to reverse the negative effects they are having on you. And with the best will in the world, help to keep that pain away too. Not only do we provide hands-on treatment, but your friendly osteopath will also provide lifestyle, exercise and diet advice if required.
