Mind-Bending Facts About Osteopathy That Will Leave You Stunned

5. Where It Falls Short

Currently, scientific evidence supports the use of osteopathic treatments for back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. Some osteopathic practitioners treat depression, colic, and headaches too. While individual patients with these conditions might feel they benefit from osteopathic treatment, there is not yet enough scientific evidence to show a clear benefit to the treatments when used for these illnesses in large groups of patients. In addition, osteopathic treatment takes longer to produce results than medication or surgery, so it may not be the most effective treatment for patients with debilitating conditions that severely impact their ability to perform daily tasks. Patients with severe injuries or illnesses could benefit most if they choose to combine osteopathic treatment with medication and other conventional therapies.

6. Osteopathy VS Chiropractic Medicine

There are a few key differences between chiropractic medicine and osteopathy. The biggest difference is the main focus of these treatment methods. Chiropractic medicine is primarily focused on the relationship between a patient's nerves, bones, and muscles, particularly in the spine, whereas osteopathy is primarily focused on the body as a whole and treats a wider range of issues that may include digestive ailments and respiratory problems. Osteopathy uses a variety of manual techniques to alleviate a patient's symptoms, but chiropractic medicine is known to mostly use physical manual spinal adjustment techniques to treat pain and joint problems. Chiropractic medicine is known to use diagnostic medical testing methods and equipment like MRI scans and x-rays to determine the condition of a patient's spine before treatment. Osteopathy uses techniques like palpitation to determine the condition of a patient's muscles and bones before treatment.