Osteopathy is a holistic system of diagnosis and treatment that is concerned with the structure and function of the body and seeks to re-habilitate and restore optimal function where there are problems affecting the musculo-skeletal system.
 It is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends upon the tissues of the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning optimally for that person.
Osteopathy is holistic because it looks at a patient’s symptoms within the context of their body,theirlifestyle, and their circumstances.
For this reason, osteopaths consider that they ‘treat the patient’, rather than a set
of symptoms.

Treatment is hands-on and involves skilled manipulation of the spine and joints, massage of the soft tissues, stretching and other subtle techniques   aimed at calming down the pathways that link the musculo-skeletal system to the nervous system.

Osteopaths are trained to examine and treat areas of the body using a highly developed sense of touch known as ‘Palpation’, to determine conditions and identify dysfunction and strain within the body.

Osteopathy is based on the philosophy that the body has an intrinsic capacity to heal itself and the focus of osteopathic treatment is to facilitate healing and to restore better function in the body by improving the mechanisms within the musculo-skeletal system and all those physiological systems that interact with it.Every individual’s capacity for healing depends on many factors, such as:

• Length of time the patient has had the injury/symptoms
• General health
• Age
• Extent of tissue damage
• Life-style factors that may have a positive or negative influence upon health
• Willingness to follow advice given to facilitate an improvement

Good health, or the lack of it, depend upon many many factors.  The development of a mechanical injury to the spine or other joint or muscle area of the body, is usually multi-factorial too.  At The Lister Practice we endeavour to identify why a set of symptoms has developed  and then communicate that
information clearly to our patients.

Regulation of Osteopathy in the UK

All osteopaths in the UK are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). 
The title  ‘osteopath’ is protected by law in the UK.  It is against the law for anyone to call themselves an osteopath unless they are registered  with the GOsC, which sets and promotes high standards of
competency, conduct and safety.
Osteopaths are required to renew their registration with GOsC each year, and to complete a programme of continued professional development to ensure they comply with Osteopathic Practice Standards.

If you would like to know more about osteopathy please go to the
General Osteopathic Council’s web-site:
www.osteopathy.org.uk

Standards of Training & Practice
From the General Osteopathic Council’s web-site February 2013

All osteopaths practising in the UK have completed a rigorous training.  Students of osteopathy presently follow a four or five-year degree course during which they study anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, nutrition and biomechanics.
In addition they undergo a minimum of 1,100 hours of clinical training .
http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/information/standards-of-training-practice/

Standards of Osteopathic Care

Osteopaths are primary healthcare professionals regulated by law.
UK standards of osteopathy are set, maintained and developed by the General Osteopathic Council – the profession’s statutory regulator.  All osteopathic practices have a complaints procedure.  The Lister Practice has been providing attentive osteopathic care for over 25 years and has a complaints procedure on display within the Practice in keeping with the high levels of patient care set and regulated by the General Osteopathic Council.