Osteopathy
Osteopathy originated in the United States in the late 1800's. The term is derived from the Greek words "osteon," meaning bone, and "pathos," meaning suffering. The founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still, was a medical doctor who came to believe that physical manipulation could stimulate the body's capacity to heal itself. Basic Concepts: Osteopathic physicians (D.O.'s) are trained medical doctors and can perform surgery and prescribe medications like Md.'s. However, they receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, and learn a technique called osteopathic manipulation to assess and treat illness. This is because osteopaths believe that any restriction in the spine or other bony structures can impair the function of body organs and systems. Osteopaths examine the patient to determine if there are any abnormalities in posture and gait, mobility, symmetry of body parts and the health of soft tissues. They use manipulation techniques that are similar to the hands-on adjustments performed by chiropractors. Their techniques include gentle mobilization (slowly moving a joint to increase the range of motion), articulation (quick thrusts to restore joint mobility), muscle energy technique (gently tensing and releasing muscles to induce relaxation), position release method (placing the patient in a specific position to release muscle spasms), and cranial techniques (gentle adjustment of the cranial and sacral bones to treat conditions including headaches and spinal injuries). Evidence: A 1999 study of 21 elderly pneumonia patients published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that those who received daily osteopathic manipulation needed to take antibiotics for an average of one day during their illness, compared to 3.1 days for a control group who did not receive osteopathic treatment. A 1998 study in the same journal of 14 pancreatitis patients showed that those who received osteopathic manipulation in addition to conventional treatment averaged 3 1\2 fewer hospital days than a control group. A 1994 report to the National Institutes of Health indicated that extensive research supports the contention of the osteopathic profession that osteopathic techniques can affect physiological functioning.