Osteopathy 

Introduction 

Back pain guide

Back pain guide

Explore this guide for information about different types of back pain, ways of preventing it and advice on treatment

Osteopathy is a way of detecting, treating and preventing health problems by moving, stretching and massaging a person’s muscles and joints.

Osteopaths believe that problems with the way bones, muscles and joints fit and work together can affect all other parts of the body. They believe their treatments allow the body to heal itself. Osteopaths use a range of techniques but do not use drugs or surgery.

Most people who see an osteopath do so for help with back pain or other problems related to muscles and joints. Some osteopaths also claim to treat a wide range of health conditions, including asthma, digestive problems and period pain.

Osteopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), and is different from conventional western medicine. Osteopaths may use some conventional medical techniques, but the use of osteopathy is not always based on science.

Read more about what happens when you visit an osteopath.

Does osteopathy work?

There is evidence that osteopathy is effective for the treatment of persistent lower back pain. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends it as a treatment for this condition.

There is also limited evidence that it is effective in helping recovery after hip or knee operations.

There is no good evidence that osteopathy is effective as a treatment for any other health conditions.

Serious side effects or complications have been reported, but they appear to be rare.

Read more about the evidence on osteopathy.

How do I get osteopathic treatment?

Osteopathy is not widely available on the NHS. Your GP or primary care trust can tell you whether it is available.

Most people pay for osteopathy treatment privately. Treatment costs vary, but typically range from £35 to £50 for a 30- to 40-minute session. You do not need to be referred by your GP to see an osteopath privately.

Only people registered with the General Osteopathic Council are allowed to practise as osteopaths. You can find a registered osteopath near you on the GOC website.

Find out more about how osteopathy is regulated.

Last reviewed: 01/11/2011

Next review due: 01/11/2013

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3 Comments

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

chrisosteo said on 17 June 2013

Osteopathy does not claim to treat disorders such as asthma, digestive problems and period pains etc rather the symptoms and manifestations associated with them. In the case of asthma patients will generally have rib, neck and thoracic restrictions as well as chronic soft tissue restrictions. An Osteopathic practitioner will firstly find these problem areas and utilise a wide range of techniques to restore movement and therefore help the sufferers condition.

A better explanation of Osteopath would be:
"Osteopathy is a holistic treatment platform concerned with the diagnosis of a wide range of musculo-skeletal disorders, utilising the practitioners extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology and orthopaedics. Treatments are then formed from the diagnosis using various techniques to restore mobility, function and blood flow placing the body in the best position to heal itself.

Osteopathic treatment differs greatly from practitioner to practitioner however most will incorporate soft tissue, joint mobilisation, spinal and peripheral joint manipulation and neuro-muscular techniques. All of which are taught at an undergraduate level.

After graduation all Osteopaths are required to complete CPD courses to retain their registration and as such many Osteopaths offer a wide range of treatment options such as ultrasound, exercise rehabilitation and medical acupuncture as well as their normal scope of practice.

Many of the techniques practiced by Osteopaths are the same as Physiotherapists and Chiropractors and as such any of the current research conducted by either discipline transfers across, therefore to say one has more research behind it than another is incorrect as the line is becoming increasingly blurry.

I would ask that you change the explanation of Osteopathy and add some of the salient points I have mentioned. Many thanks.

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Onelittleredindian said on 02 March 2013

Osteopathic treatment is based on sound scientific principles and the training requires completion of a 4 year science degree very similar to a medical degree.
The main difference is that Osteopaths do not have prescribing rights like doctors and consequently pharmacology is not studied to the same level.
It really is about time that NHS Choices stopped this bias against Osteopathy and toward Physiotherapy which also lacks an extensive evidence base.
Why not consider the evidence for manual therapy as a whole (Physiotherapy/Osteopathy/Chiropractic/Sports Massage) and stop implying that one profession is somehow superior to the others, when there is no such evidence to support such a claim.
This is clear from the Physiotherapy section of this site which fails to quote any specific research regarding the efficacy or otherwise of Physiotherapy.
In fact the little evidence which is quoted applies to all manual therapy and Osteopathy/Chiropractic in particular.
Enough of this misleading twoddle. Give the general public the facts they need to make informed decisions and we'll all be better off.

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User689185 said on 23 June 2012

Please check the national council for osteopathic research for the most current research data
www.ncor.org.uk

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Vicky Joseph

'My search for a back pain cure'

Vicky Joseph spent years searching for a cure for her back pain. Find out what finally helped her

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