What is Osteopathy?
Classical Osteopathy is a principles-driven manual therapy rooted in the teachings of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still from 1874. It views the body as a self-healing, interconnected unit, emphasizing the importance of treating the whole person rather than just specific symptoms.
My Osteopathic education was a comprehensive science and principle-based approach to health that utilizes gentle, hands-on methods to identify and address imbalances and dysfunctions within the body's structure. By restoring symmetry and proper alignment to anatomy, osteopathy enhances the body’s natural ability to regain optimal physiological function, promoting overall well-being and improving the ability to perform daily activities.
The four tenets of Osteopathy
The body is a dynamic unit
The body is capable of self-regulation and self-healing
Structure and function are interrelated
Rational treatment is based on these principles
Why is OSTCAN important to you?
Osteopathy Canada (OSTCAN) is a national council. OSTCAN adheres to the highest international standards in education and professionalism, including those detailed in the WHO Benchmarks, the CEN Standard and the CSA Canadian modifications of the CEN. All professional members under OSTCAN affiliates have completed a minimum of 4200 hours of osteopathic education, including a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised clinical training.
Essentially, this means that because Osteopathy is not regulated in Alberta, the OSTCAN standard helps ensure that you are working with a highly trained professional who has completed an extensive level of education, rather than someone with a shorter, less comprehensive program of under 1200 hours.
Understanding the cycle….
What does treatment look like?
Aspects of treatment may look similar from person to person, after all, we all share the same basic anatomy. I may use the same tools, movements, or techniques across different treatments, but how they are applied is highly individualized.
Each approach is specifically adapted to the unique restrictions present in your tissues at that moment, including the amount and direction of force your body may be responding to and is capable of reacting to. Osteopathy is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy, but when addressing dysfunction, “gentle” doesn’t always mean completely comfortable. In each treatment, I meet your body where it is that day and aim to provide an approach that supports the nervous system while still creating meaningful improvement.
The type and intensity of treatment will depend on how long you’ve been experiencing the issue and how your body responds. Your lifestyle, overall health, and personal history also play an important role in how your body adapts to treatment and how quickly progress is made..
