Frequently Asked Questions
'Click' the appropriate question to be transfered to the response further down the page.
0. Why do you now call yourselves Osteopathic Practitioners instead of osteopaths?
1. What is Osteopathy?
2. How can Osteopathy play a role in health care in BC and whom can it help?
3. What are the differences between Osteopath Practitioners and osteopathic physicians?
4. How does the SPMPO compare with osteopathic organisations in other parts of Canada and the rest of the world?
5. What do the post-nominal letters DO (UK) mean?
6. Can you explain the photograph (and its source) in the 'titlebar' on every page?
0. Why do you now call yourselves Osteopathic Practitioners instead of osteopaths?
The World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Osteopathic Health Organisation (WOHO) and the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) all recognise internationally that there are two streams of osteopathic practice:
Osteopathy practised by osteopaths, and osteopathic medicine practised by osteopathic physicians.
Sadly, the Ministry of Health of British Columbia have been lobbied by an osteopathic physician to prevent this international recognition from being accepted within our province and will grant by 2009 that the term "osteopath" may only be used by osteopathic physicians in BC. This is against agreed international recognition from the osteopathic bodies registered with the OIA of Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Italy to name but a few.
It is now necessary for us to use a different name to that which we are internationally known and have therefore chosen to call ourselves Osteopathic Practitioners until BC decides to agree to accept the international definition of osteopathic practice.
Those of us trained in, for example, the UK, Australia and New Zealand are still allowed to tell you that we are osteopaths within these countries and are recognised internationally as such, as long as we only call ourselves Osteopathic Practitioners within BC.
We apologise for the confusion that this is causing and we will continue to do our best to inform you, as clearly as possible, of the worldwide profession of osteopathy by using the international definitions of osteopathic practice while also being mindful of the "definition" in BC.
1. What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a gentle and effective approach to health care which understands the relationship between structure and function in the body. A general functional overview of inter-relationships is crucial to the approach.
This means in practice that (for example) the knee problem that has prompted your visit to the Osteopathic Practitioner will be thoroughly assessed - not only in specific regard to the function of that knee, but also in regard to the multiple compensations that may inter-relate from almost anywhere else in your body. The functional (or dysfunctional) dynamics which show up may be dramatic or subtle (or anywhere in between). Various hands-on therapeutic techniques can then be utilized to help make the dynamic inter-relationships and compensations become more efficient and more effective. The result is less pain, improved mobility, less wear and tear and other associated stresses (physical and otherwise) not only in the knee presenting as a problem but throughout your neuro-musculo-skeletal system.
Top
2. How can Osteopathy play a role in health care in BC and whom can it help?
Osteopathy forms a very useful adjunct to health care options already on offer in British Columbia. Results with chronic pain scenarios, for just one example, happen more quickly than with most other approaches, proving to be less painful and less arduous for the patient - and are much more cost effective.
'Click' this line to see what osteopaths/Osteopathic Practitioners treat.
Top
3. What are the differences between osteopaths and osteopathic physicians?
The training of osteopaths (called Osteopathic Practitioners within BC) and osteopathic physicians have the same origin - in the work of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, MD.
From early in the 20th century, however, these two fields were evolving differently. As the name indicates, osteopathic physicians are medical doctors. As such, they are trained to prescribe drugs, perform surgery, deliver babies, and to have the prerequisites to specialize in other branches of medicine. Osteopaths (or Osteopathic Practitioners within BC) are not the same as MDs, for they are not trained in prescribing drugs, nor in surgery or obstetrics. Osteopathic physicians are almost exclusively trained in the USA - while osteopaths are trained in many countries, all over the world.
Worldwide, a majority of osteopaths would say that osteopaths (or Osteopathic Practitioners within BC) are the true inheritors of Dr. Still's vision of osteopathy - in the sense that they have a very comprehensive practical training in what has come to be known as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM). It is this manual practice or manipulation which was most distinctive about Dr. Still's founding methods, and it is the wide range of manual practice approaches that evolved from Still's principles which forms the core of Osteopathy. In fact, the manual practice of osteopathy has hugely influenced all of the physical therapy approaches - from chiropractice through massage and physiotherapy, to rolfing, sports medicine and zero balancing.
At the time of writing, the World Osteopathic Health Organisation (WOHO) had 262 members, of which 217 were from Europe, 17 from USA, 13 from Canada, 6 from Japan.
Top
4. How does the SPMPO compare with osteopathic organisations in other parts of Canada and the rest of the world?
The SPMPO is not an official regulating body, nor is it able to certify any provincial recognition. Like other organisations of its kind in Canada and throughout the world, however, it is an association of professional osteopaths (or Osteopathic Practitioners in BC) committed to fostering education of the public about the profession, demonstrating accountability and ethical practice, and providing a list of practitioners whose training is known to be of a high standard.
Top
5. What do the post-nominal letters DO (UK) mean?
The letters 'DO' are used by osteopaths and osteopathic physicians around the world. They have different meanings in different countries such as 'Diploma in Osteopathy', 'Doctor of Osteopathy', 'Doctorate of Osteopathy' or 'Diplome en Osteopathie'.
To try and avoid confusion, overseas-trained osteopaths practising in other countries tend to use their 'country abbreviation' after their post-nominal letters. This is still the case even when the names of osteopathic programs change through the years.
For example, the four year, full-time, clinical 'Diploma in Osteopathy' in Britain has now evolved into a 'Bachelor of Osteopathy'. To avoid confusion overseas, British trained osteopaths tend to use DO (UK) to show that they have a recognised qualification which is accepted in Britain. Other examples are DO (Aus), DO (NZ) and DO (Fr).
Within Canada, osteopaths trained 'post-graduately' tend to use 'DO (MP)', where 'MP' represents 'Manual Practice'.
In British Columbia, 'DO' (with no identifier attached) tends to represent US trained osteopathic physicians. Outside of North America, they would use 'DO (USA)'.
The SPMPO believe that the letters 'DO' (with or without an identifier) should only be used by those that have received osteopathic training from accredited institutions.
Top
6. Can you explain the photograph (and its source) in the 'titlebar' on every page?
The photograph was compiled using images from the website of the General Osteopathic Council of the United Kingdom (GOsC)*. Pictured are a number of osteopaths and their patients (ranging from babies to seniors) in a variety of clinical situations. Some are wearing white coats or tunics while others choose to wear shirts or blouses.
The SPMPO is not directly affiliated with the GOsC, but the GOsC does recognise the intentions of the SPMPO. A number of members of the SPMPO are also registered as osteopaths with the GOsC
*For reference, the website for the General Osteopathic Council (UK) is: www.osteopathy.org.uk
Top
Copyright © Society for the Promotion of Manual Practice Osteopathy (SPMPO)
|
Society for the Promotion of Manual Practice Osteopathy (British Columbia, Canada)