3 Common Myths About Osteopathy- Explained!

You may not have heard about osteopathy- or you may have heard some common myths about osteopathic treatment. Let’s uncover the real facts behind this deeply healing modality!

As osteopathic manual practitioners, we know that first-time patients often arrive with many questions about what osteopathy is. They may have experienced other hands-on modalities or may have heard some common myths about osteopathy before coming to the clinic. Patient education is one of our favourite things, and so let’s unpack some of the most commonly-heard myths about what osteopathy really encompasses and how it can help reduce pain, improve mobility and optimize overall health. 

Myth #1- Osteopathy is all about bones

Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, osteopenia… all conditions relating to bones! So it’s no wonder that people often believe that osteopathic manual practitioners only treat bony structures in the body. The word osteopathy was coined by founder Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1874 and comes from two Greek words- “osteon”, or “structure of living matter” in bone and “pathos”, meaning an incoming impression or empathy. Dr. Still combined these words to convey the broader scope of osteopathy, which encompasses all anatomy, including but not limited to the bony skeleton.

As practitioners, we know that every layer of tissue and every structure in the human body exists in connection with every other tissue and structure, and our job is to gather a clinical impression of where dysfunction lies in the anatomy, then help to correct it back to normal. Osteopathy always endeavours to look at the body as a whole, not just in parts, and treatment affects everything from skin, to fascia, to muscles, to bones, organs, and blood and lymphatic vessels, to name a few. While bones are important, they don’t move themselves, but are instead heavily influenced by muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and by the blood flow they receive from vessels. Osteopathy also recognizes that mind and spirit are inseparable from the physical form; treating the whole person is always the goal!

Myth #2- Treatment has to be painful to “work”

“No pain, no gain” is a common expression, but it doesn’t apply to osteopathy! When the body experiences pain, there is an increase in “fight or flight” hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, putting your system on high alert. Osteopathy works best when patients are in a “rest and digest”, or parasympathetic, state. Instead of using up energy to maintain a sympathetic state, the body can accept and take on the treatment being given, and the patient experiences a greater sense of well-being. While patients may feel some stretching or sensations of tenderness from time to time in treatment, osteopathy engages with the nervous system in a gentle way in order to affect change, without pain. Practitioners often use an “indirect” technique, taking the body further into a position of ease first before gently bringing the anatomy back into alignment. This is relaxing and comfortable for the patient, while still being very effective. Your practitioner is continually gauging how your body is reacting to treatment, never forcing something that it’s not ready for in that moment, and being careful not to over-treat. Often, less is more when it comes to osteopathic treatment.

If you experience discomfort while being treated, please let your practitioner know, because there is always a different way to go about attaining the desired effect! We also recommend taking it easy the day of your appointment in order to help keep your body in a relaxed state as it continues to integrate changes from your treatment. 

Myth #3- Osteopathy is “magic”

Because osteopathic treatment is gentle and non-invasive (see above!), patients often tell us it feels like a trick! Although we wish we possessed magical abilities, osteopathy is, in fact, very much rooted in science. Practitioners employ a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, fluid dynamics and body mechanics in order to identify imbalances and dysfunction in patients, and then gently work with your body to make change. It may feel to the patient that not much is happening during treatment, and can be surprising when they feel better after their visit. Part of the reason osteopathy works so well is that it always seeks to find the root cause of whatever problems may be occurring in the patient’s body; often, when the cause is attended to, many or all of the patient’s symptoms are eased, even if the practitioner didn’t specifically treat those areas. 

Osteopathic treatment sets the patient’s system up so that their body can heal itself more easily which can most definitely feel quite miraculous! The “magical” ability osteopathic practitioners have to feel through layers of tissue, or to identify abnormal patterns of movement comes from years of honing palpatory and observational skills. In short, practitioners can see and feel things in a different way, even though we are, sadly, not witches or wizards. 

We hope exploring these three common myths helps give a deeper understanding of what osteopathy is as a science, and how it can benefit people of all ages. The holistic, non-invasive nature of osteopathic treatment is a large part of its growing appeal to people experiencing problems with pain, movement or general health concerns. If you have questions about whether osteopathy may be helpful to you, or to book an appointment with one of our practitioners, click here: www.bodymechanik.ca