What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy views the body as one unit working together and takes all the moving parts into consideration during assessment and treatment. It understands the body is also inherently capable of healing and regulating itself, given the right conditions. The proper alignment of all layers of structure in a body gives it the ability to function as it was designed. The motion capacity of the body is directly related to one’s ability to self-heal and regulate. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners are functional anatomists who use manual therapy to restore proper body mechanics, nerve impulse and circulation by removing motion restriction where needed.

How is Osteopathy different than Massage Therapy?

There is a big difference between massage and osteopathic manipulation. Massage is mostly the rubbing and kneading of muscles and tissues to produce relaxation. Osteopathic manipulative therapy, on the other hand, is a hands-on approach that uses the practitioner's full body to treat patients. Osteopaths look at the body as one unit. Therefore, osteopathy massage aims to achieve full-body wellness by using Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques (OMT), stretching, manipulation, exercise therapy, and other techniques used only in osteopathy. On the other hand, massage therapists view the body as individual parts.

Does private insurance cover osteopathy?

In many comprehensive insurance plans, both massage and osteopathy are covered separately. Check with your provider to maximize what your benefit package has to offer.