Osteopathy is a whole body, hands-on therapy that focuses on how the body works as a unit and how this links to the quality of its overall function. Each person, condition and injury is unique, so osteopathic treatments and interventions will vary from person to person. Osteopathy is covered by most private health funds and the Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) scheme.
What is an osteopath and what do they do? Osteopaths are allied health professionals that offer patient-centred approaches to healthcare and functional improvement, which recognise the vital link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue and internal organs function as a holistic unit.
In Australia, osteopaths are government registered practitioners who complete minimum accredited university training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, general healthcare diagnosis, and osteopathic techniques.