A bit of history

Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) is the founder of osteopathy. In 1874, this american doctor established the basis of this new healing art approach.

One of his students at the American School of Osteopathy, John Martin Littlejohn, brought in 1913 the osteopathic approach in Europe and founded in London the British School of Osteopathy. Then, osteopathy found its way to France to finally spread to the rest of Europe.

According to Still, the osteopaths must meditate like philosophers, think like architects, act like technicians and work like builders or engineers.

The osteopathic art is the implementation of Still's concepts to the medical practice in all its specifications.

Its science includes behavioural, chemical, physiological and anatomical knowledge for health restoration and preservation as well as disease prevention.

Its specificity lies in the use of an exclusively manual therapy aiming to harmonise the mobility and fluctuation connections of the anatomical structures.

How to define osteopathy

Osteopathy is a functional medicine in which the osteopath begins his treatment with an anamnesis.

The differential diagnosis tells him if the patient is at the right place. If not, he will direct the patient towards an appropriate professional.

Afterwards, the osteopath will only use his hands for his diagnosis and treatment.

He palpates the patient tissues and tests a large variety of movements. He tries to find possible functionnal problems or dysfunctions that he connects with the patient's symptomatology or with some functionnal diseases.

For the treatment, adapted actions are used to normalise the dysfunctions.

During the whole procedure, the osteopath respects the 3 basic rules of osteopathy. This means he:

- Sees the body as a functionnal unit where each structure can have an influence on the general functionality

- Observes the interaction between structure and function

- Stimulates the selfregulation's forces so the selfhealing process can begin

When is an osteopathic treatment recommended ?

There are many different indications. In the examples set out below, we choose the most known cases, knowing that this list is not exhaustive. However, the main reasons for a consultation are related to the musculoskeletal system.

  • Rachis's acute or chronical pain, ischialgia, cevicobrachial pain, periarthritis, scoliosis, epicondylalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, ...

  • Digestive disorders: constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain, cramp and colic,…

  • Migraine, tension cephalgia, chronic fatigue , difficulty paying attention,…

  • Infants: sleep disorder, skull deformation, regurgitation, colic, agitation,…

 

There is no absolute counter-indication to osteopathy as the available range of techniques allows to adapt to all kind of conditions. Thus an osteoporotic patient and a 20 y.o. sportsman will be treated with a different technique.

  

However there are obvious counter-indications including organical pathologies for which a substitute treatment can be necessary.

The osteopathic concept

The human being is an anatomical entity thanks to the conjunctive tissue that wrapps every cell ensuring their cohesion. This tissue is a support and a link that increase considerably the number of possible connections.

According to the osteopathic concept, the mobility of the corporal tissues (ligaments, aponeurosis, fascia,…) allows a good function (articular, organic,…).

With holism, we intend that the body is an entity where all parts depend on and influence each other.

Each imbalance will be compensated by one or more parts or functions of the body (e.g.: adoption of a wrong relieving posture).

In his approach, the osteopath will thus try to apprehend the patient in a global way and to reintroduce a balance integrating in his approach different systems (musculoskeletal, visceral, craniosacral). The osteopath can thus treat a patient in a place where there aren't necessarily direct symptoms.

Let's think for example of a sciatic where the pain lies often in the leg but where the trigger is in the low back and the cause hide elsewhere.

L’être humain forme une entité anatomique grâce au tissu conjonctif qui entoure chacune des cellules assurant ainsi leur cohésion. Ce tissu est un élément de soutien et de liaison qui multiplie considérablement le nombre de connexions possibles.

Selon le concept ostéopathique, la mobilité des tissus corporels (ligaments, aponévroses, fascias,…) participe à une bonne fonction (articulaire, organique,…).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Par holisme, on entend que le corps forme une entité où toutes les parties dépendent l’une de l’autre tout en s’influençant mutuellement.

Chaque déséquilibre sera compensé par une ou plusieurs parties ou fonctions du corps (ex: adoption d’une attitude vicieuse antalgique).

 

Dans sa démarche, l’ostéopathe essaie donc d’appréhender le patient de manière globale et de rétablir un équilibre en intégrant dans son approche différents systèmes (musculo-squelettique, viscéral, crânio-sacré). L’ostéopathe peut ainsi traiter un patient à un endroit où celui-ci ne montre pas nécessairement de symptômes directs.

 

Pensons à une sciatique où les douleurs s’expriment souvent dans la jambe mais dont le déclencheur se situe dans le bas du dos et où la cause se cache encore ailleurs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osteopathy in Europe and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

In Europe, the title of osteopath D.O.® (Diplômé en Ostéopathie) is protected by a legal deposit. This title can only be in possesion of osteopaths with an accredited license.

In order to get this title, the students must satisfy the requirements of a teaching method (teached in schools accredited by the membership associations of the European Federation of Osteopathy) preparing them to a high level of responsability. Indeed, in osteopathy one must know all the patho-physiological phenomena able to put a patient's life and organs integrity in danger. He must be able to put limits to his intervention and be able to correctly and quickly reorientate the patient. Semiology and differential diagnosis have therefore an important place in the accredited teaching methods. This formation sum up in the curriculum to 6500 hours after baccalaureat (± bac +5).

Practising osteopathy cannot be occasional or made by poorly trained therapists or it can be more harmful than useful.

The Luxemburg Association of Osteopaths (ALDO)

ALDO is a member of the European Federation of Osteopaths (EFO), which is member of the European Council of the Liberal Professions. (CEPLIS)

ALDO works since 1995 for the recognition, the development and the promotion of osteopathy in the country and abroad. It controls the osteopathic practice, according to the respect of the code of ethics specific to this profession, and this mainly in the interest of the patient.