Osteopathy: A quick overview

In 1874, Osteopathy was established by a pioneering physician on the Missouri frontier, Dr Andrew Taylor Still, MD DO (1828-1917). Dr. Still understood that true health emerges when the body’s tissues and cells operate together in harmony. He identified that many diseases stem from anatomical and musculoskeletal deviations and sought to restore health through hands-on treatment, coining this innovative method of osteopathy.

In the late 1800s, the medical landscape lacked today’s pharmaceutical advancements, such as antibiotics. Osteopaths turned to the body’s natural ability to heal itself, recognizing this self-correcting potential as a cornerstone of osteopathic philosophy.

Since then, osteopathy has developed as a practical, hands-on approach to treatment which is rapidly being incorporated into modern medical practice. Modern osteopaths utilize both traditional techniques and evidence-based practice to address health issues effectively.

In Australia, osteopathy has been practiced for over a century. The first osteopaths in Australia practiced in the early 1900s - Edgar Culley in Victoria (1909) and Florence McGeorge in Tasmania (1913). Both were graduates of the American School of Osteopathy. However formal education has only been established in universities since the early 1980s, and only in NSW and VIC (The first WA course is set to start in 2026!). Osteopathy is now an allied healthcare profession regulated by AHPRA and integrated by Medicare and Private Health schemes.

Osteopathy blends time-honored practices with modern medical insights, which provides a practical and holistic approach to healthcare.

Why haven’t I heard of an Osteopath before?

Osteopathy is a rapidly growing profession, with the number of osteopaths almost doubling every decade for the last several decades.
If you haven’t heard of one it will most likely be due to where you are located. In Western Australia there are only 80 Osteopaths, with the vast majority located within inner Perth. In contrast to the east coast where there are over 3000.

Osteopathy in Australia is also a very young profession, with the first University degrees only starting in the late 1980s in Sydney and then Melbourne. Western Australia will have an established Osteopathy course beginning in 2026 that will help deliver Osteopaths to the population. Currently, WA has the lowest Osteopath per Population ratio in Australia.

In the USA and Canada there are around 150,000 Osteopaths, and in Western Europe (UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland) there are around 45,000. In New Zealand there are around 1000.

What conditions do Osteopaths usually treat?

Osteopaths treat a wide range of medical disorders, but are most effective in treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system such as:

- Low back pain including lumbar disc injuries
- Sciatica
- Headaches
- Neck pain including cervical disc injuries and whiplash
- Sports injuries
- Difficulty with movement including difficulty walking and going from sit to stand.
- Tension and stress-related pain

Should I see an Osteo, Physio, or Chiro first?

These 3 professions share a very similar history and you may be confused with the amount of overlap with how we all treat.

The best answer to this question is: it depends on the practitioner.

With the ease of accessibility to medical journals via the internet, a good practitioner across all 3 modalities will be able to give you up-to-date, evidence-based, therapies and exercises to help with your issues.

In my (Ashby’s) opinion, a Chiro will be more inclined to work with Spinal Adjustments, a Physio will be more inclined to work with Exercise Rehabilitation, and an Osteo will be more inclined to look more globally at overall health. All professions are fantastic and I’ve worked with phenomenal practitioners from all 3 disciplines both as a professional and as a patient.

Just make sure you find a practitioner that listens to what you need, and works towards an end goal and solution.

Read more in a recent ABC article here

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