To think osteopathy is "woo woo" therapy?

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

Apparently, this makes me UR and that it's not comparable to homeopathy. So, MNers what do you think?

[RandyRudolf]

You're entitled to your opinion.

[NewtRipley]

AFAIR it's listed on an NHS website we visited recently as a viable therapy for chronic lower back pain. Will try and find

[Juno77]

Massaging joints to relieve joint pain isn't really comparable to pseudo-scientific water based treatments.

[Parietal]

fine for lower back panic. woo for anything else.

[lilyaldrin]

Osteopathy is proven to work as a therapy for lower back pain. Some osteopaths over reach and claim they can cure all kinds of things, but if they stick to backs it's not woo.

Cranial osteopathy - 100% homeopathic style bollocks about realigning natural rhythms with no evidence behind it.

[RicStar]

Yanbu its very woo woo.

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

I had a painful neck sorted by an osteopath. I don't see how it can be woo. She manipulated my neck and gave me exercises etc.

I thought it was a kind of mix of physiotherapy and massage tbh.

[NewtRipley]

YABU. NICE recommends it for treatment of persistent lower back pain

[litdog]

Cranial osteopathy is utter bollocks based on my experience

[Sidge]

It's not comparable to homeopathy.

Osteopathy involves hands on manipulation and massage - so not woo IMO. I mean it's not going to cure a viral infection or improve immunity or any other bollocks I've heard being spouted about homeopathy, but as far as a technique to reduce pain and improve mobility of a joint I think it's valid.

[SparkleToffee]

Tbh I go to osteopath regularly and it makes s difference up my bad back . Never really understood cranial osteo until DS was a baby. He has v traumatic birth and had problems lifting his arms, turning head properly and a blocked tear duct. We went yo see cranial osteo as GP told us it would be 18Months yo get eye sorted, we saw a very experienced man and all of DS issues were resolved within 2 visits. I was amazed tbh as was GP.... So based on that YABU

[RicStar]

www.badscience.net/2004/09/cranial-osteopathy/

[Pancakeflipper]

You can have your opinion. Lots of people think its woo.

I know it works a treat for someone I know with IBS. Sorts out my stressy neck and shoulders out and improves my posture.
Importantly it sorted out an issue with my youngest child and avoided very nasty surgery for him (consultant recommended Osteopathy and surgery as last resort).

Not a solve all, but my experience taught me not to roll my eyes at it and think its woo.

[SparkleToffee]

To not yo !

[MarianneEnjolras]

My grandad saw an osteopath every 6 months for about 40 years after he did his back in. He would walk in hobbling and come out skipping.

[schmalex]

It's not woo, I've had both osteopathy and physio for pregnancy related hip problems and they're very similar in approach and outcome.

[complexnumber]

Cor! I had never realised that osteopathy was a pseudoscience.

But then, isn't it's benefits backed up by research.

[RicStar]

Its so woo. Im sure it can make some folks feel better but not better than placebo. Thats the science. No sure anything is homepathy level of woo though.

[Pancakeflipper]

It's not a placebo.

[Faverolles]

I always rock up on these threads to defend osteopathy.

The osteopath we use took just as long to train and study as a GP, at university too!
She knows anatomy inside out. She teaches aspiring osteopaths and was, for a long time, head of childrens' osteopathy at a childrens' hospital.
She finds it spectacularly offensive that so many disregard her profession.

The trouble with osteopathy is that there is no big pharma behind them, as there are no products to sell (unless you count ice packs and v-pillows), so it's very easy for them to be dismissed.

My osteopath has treated many, many people in my large family, very successfully.

[NewtRipley]

NICE doesn't agree RicStar

[timidviper]

It's each to their own. If someone thinks it works for them does it matter anyway?
It's also about the perception society has. Over here we think chinese medicine is a bit woo but I doubt they think that in China. I seem to remember reading a recent article which said that studies showed the only thing that worked about physiotherapy was not any of the treatments they used but that patients were more likely to perform exercises give by a physio yet you don't find people claiming physiotherapy is woo because our society portrays it as respected medical treatment.

[NewtRipley]

Ah, I see we are talking at cross purposes

Cranial Osteopathy vs Osteopathy for backs

[waterlego6064]

I do think there's a key difference between osteopathy and cranial ostepoathy, as lily said.

I saw an osteopath a couple of times for help with sciatic pain and it did make a difference. The practitioner didn't do anything 'woo'- just basically massage and manipulation.

[waterlego6064]

Crosse posts!