Osteopathy
Osteopathy Info
Osteopathic medicine is not only a science but also a philosophy and an art. In the osteopathic approach the human body stands for unity in which structure and function, disease and health are interrelated.
Osteopathy (german: Osteopathie) was founded 1874 by Dr. A. T. Still, M.D., in the USA.
He founded the "American School of Osteopathy" in May 1892.
The first 21 students graduated with the title of D.O. (Diploma of Osteopathy); only later the D.O. became a Doctor of Osteopathy.
In the beginning of this century osteopaths were accepted in most states in the US as fully licenced medical doctors.
Osteopathy also spread to England, Australia and New Zealand.
There osteopaths are working as fully licenced health care providers but are not medical doctors.
Except in Great Britain there are no countries in Europe where Osteopathy is a profession on its own. There is generally no law against people calling themselves osteopaths and there is a growing interest in osteopathy. To work as an osteopath in Germany you have to be a M.D. or Heilpraktiker H.P. (non-medical practitioner), similar to the american N.D. - Naturopaths.
Physiotherapists are allowed to practice osteopathy under supervision of an M.D..
