PRINCIPLES

Osteopathy is based on the concept that the human being is a dynamic functional unit, whose health is influenced by internal and external factors. In addition, it has the ability to self-regulate through the mechanisms that manage the allostatic overload, or the stress response.

HOW HE ACTS

Osteopathy has a role in preventive medicine as it acts on the processes that contributed to the onset of the disease, that support it, or that can worsen its evolution. The osteopath intervenes with an exclusively manual approach through the musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints, connective tissue) that is related to the other systems of the body (circulatory, respiratory, nervous, visceral). Between the musculoskeletal system and the other systems (circulatory, expiratory, nervous, visceral) there is a functional as well as anatomical relationship, so the osteopath, through the musculoskeletal system, with trained manual skills combined with an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and pathophysiology of the various organs and systems, acts indirectly on the disfunction present in the different areas, influencing their functioning.

With palpation, the osteopath recognises the somatic disfunction, which he perceives on the musculoskeletal system as a manifestation of pain, tissue alteration, limitation or loss of physiological mobility, consequences of an altered function of the mechanisms that allow the adaptations required in the different situations of life (stress, fatigue, performance, biopsychosocial loads prolonged over time).

HOW THE OSTEOPATHIC SESSION TAKES PLACE

The osteopath, in reference to the medical diagnosis, collects the patient’s clinical history, understands his needs and expectations, evaluates the indication or contraindication to osteopathic treatment, then performs a careful analysis of the person for whom he uses active and passive osteopathic tests. Once the somatic disfunction has been identified, the osteopath intervenes by choosing among the osteopathic manual techniques those most suitable for the patient in reference to his clinical conditions and respect for his person. He then evaluates the effects of the treatment and agrees with the patient and/or with any caregivers the subsequent meetings, exposing the objective of the therapeutic plan.

L’osteopata, inoltre, educa il paziente a comportamenti e a stili di vita finalizzati a mantenere il benessere acquisito e/o ad individuare le sue risorse per una migliore gestione delle sue abilità residue.

THE GOAL OF OSTEOPATHY

Osteopathy aims to help patients be resilient and autonomous, reducing morbidity and favouring an improvement in the quality of life. It accompanies patients to be promoters of their own health, motivating them towards behaviours useful to face the challenges of adaptation, in a context of interprofessional care. Preventing, diagnosing and treating are the professional skills common to health professions that carry out their functions with transversal, interdisciplinary and characterising activities.