Did you know?? 1 in 7 Australians have back pain 3.3 million Australians take medication for headaches 28% have arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions

Over 50,000 Australians see an Osteopath each week. With these statistics in mind, Osteopathy Awareness Week kicks off to a great start in order to get our name out there as one of the leading health services in Australia.

An Osteopath is an Allied Health Professional who specialises in treatment of the musculoskeletal system, as well as taking into consideration the influences of the vascular, nervous and visceral systems.

Underlying principles developed in 1874 focus on the ability of the body to heal itself with the appropriate treatment and management. Such treatment may include soft tissue massage, stretching, muscle energy technique (MET), joint articulation as well as manipulation (HVLA). Using a holistic approach, the aim is to restore the normal functioning of the body as opposed to the injury or problem area in isolation.

Common conditions that we treat include:

Neck and back pain

Sports injuries

Headaches

Whiplash

Postural problems

Occupational injuries

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Tennis Elbow

Arthritis

Our treatment is versatile and tailored to suit our patient, from children to the elderly, pregnant women, and even those suffering from chronic conditions. Osteopaths encourage individuals to proactively manage their injury while preventing future episodes – providing advice on diet, exercise, stress reduction and posture. Long-term this means better health and well-being, as well as less time and money invested in hands on treatment.

According to statistics, Osteopathy is the fastest growing health profession in Australia. From only 300 registered Osteopaths a mere 10 years ago, we currently have 2000 osteopaths practicing.

Currently Osteopathy is offered as a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences and a Masters degree of Osteopathy of 5 years duration in total. With higher intakes each year, we can expect the profession to make consistent improvement in overall awareness in the community, and thus make a large impact in the private health sector.

Despite an increase in overall patient numbers, there is still a degree of misunderstanding of the profession among the public and other health practitioners. While being considered the ‘underdog’ among manual therapy, techniques that are specific to Osteopathy, as well as a ‘combined’ approach is quickly becoming the preferred way to manage and treat aches and pains.

Osteopathy Awareness Week (April 19-25th) aims to voice our principles and beliefs, and promote our profession as a competitive, successful approach to health care.

http://healthtimes.com.au/hub/allied-health/66/news/kk1/rapid-growth-in-osteopathy/769/

http://healthtimes.com.au/hub/allied-health/66/guidance/nc1/what-is-an-osteopath/571/

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