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?

My friend suffered horrendous pain with her back , she went to an osteopath when the pain became too much . He contacted her GP and suggested an MRI scan , he told her that all he was doing was symptom control and that really what she really needed was a surgeon . That is the sort of person i want to see , a person who can offer symptom control but at the same time is aware of their limitations .

but at the same time is aware of their limitations

YES YES YES and another YES to this one.

Is applicable to all professional conduct...

candy emotional health then.

Slightly glittered - when was someone killed by a cranial osteopath?? I think you may behave your wires crossed!! If you are referring to the chiropractor in NZ then he was also cleared of all wrong doing.

Back - any medical professional who says they can cure anything is in gross misconduct. This is not osteopath and if you find a osteopath ( or anyone) sawhorse says they can cure something report to the professional regulatory body.

though actually it is the same to me.

This is all very interesting, I had no idea people considered Osteopaths woo!

Have seen both Chriopractors and Osteos, osteopathy works far better for me.

Most dramatic result was when I displaced a rib during pregnancy, ended up in A&E with severe pain and breathing trouble, sent away with no help or diagnosis (after blood clots ruled out). Went to my osteopath, he found the exact rib and manipulated it back into place, immense relief. After the second appointment the next day the pain was gone. 10/10

I'm not entirely sure where I stand on Cranial Osteopathy tho - I automatically think 'woo' as any 'laying on of hands' has me rolling my eyes, but... DS has had a bugger of a time teething, months and months of pain and drool but nothing would cut through, the week after my current Osteo did CO on him he cut 10 teeth.

Sorry World, yes....Orthopaedics. Brain fart & hurrying for Sherlock.

Toffee Osteopathy is an alternative medicine.

Alternative = doesn't work. If it did, the "alternative" bit would be left off making it "medicine".

Hettie, please read previous posts before you make sweeping, incorrect statements. Osteopathy is recommended for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain by mainstream medicine. The word 'alternative' is sometimes used to imply that a therapy may use methods of treatment different to allopathic medicine, eg. Use of manipulation rather than prescription of anti inflammatories.

Anyone in the know about cranial sacral therapy?

Is this useful for children or adults with anxiety or behaviour related issues?

I'm not talking about babies, I'm talking about children of school age and above.

Also, what is everyone's views on homeopathy for the same thing?

I've been partial to Bach's rescue remedy before when I've been on my way to a dentists appointment or an interview. I've even got kalms in the cupboard, although I'm not sure if these are even homeopathic tbh.

Anyway, any opinions would be appreciated.

Yes, you're right cathers

Cathers

Don't care who recommends it - it's still woo. So is homeopathy, which is also recommended by people who should know better.

It's known as an alternative medicine because it cannot be shown to work in clinical trials - if it could there would be nothing "alternative" about it.

Massage is good for some muscular aches and pains - this one small part of the Osteopathic repertoire may have benefits - but you can get the same effect from someone in a short skirt working above a betting shop in the Kings Road.

It's unscientific clap trap.

Well put Cathers!

Osteopathy is classed as primary health care. Qualified to diagnoses

Physio's are secondary healthcare.

Littlemiss - personally I'd look in to cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and behavioural issues. Or possibly hypnotherapy or neuro linguistic programming.

Ye right hetty so this is why it is not even too uncommon for doctors to not just recommend it but no, they are sometimes even osteopaths themselves as well,

Look up orthopedic consultants and doctors and the ones specialised in physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine...

Exactly, cantthinkof

it's possible to free nerves for example when the person can hardly move an arm or not use fingers for example....

Much better than only prescribe pain killers and out on the list for surgery.

Cathers, thanks for the link to the document on NICE.

So far it really only says that joint manipulation and massage can be performed by chiropractors and osteopaths, as well as by doctors and physiotherapists who have undergone specialist postgraduate training in manipulation.

That's fine and I'm sure osteopaths can do that, but it has not said it supports any other claims for osteopathy.

I was kind of expecting (ok not really) to see that NICE have seen proof that osteopaths have a special ability to sense strange pulses and such which can lead to them curing diseases and conditions that wouldn't otherwise get better on their own.

It helped my neck. It is backed up by proper research.

Those nice guidelines are specifically for LBP. Not other conditions.

Structural (non cranial) osteopaths do not claim to feel pulses or cure disease. Also due to advertising standards osteos can only claim to treat (not cure) ailments that have some peer research behind them.

Lots of things would her better on there own and many things wouldn't. That's just a stupid statement. PGP often gets better once baby is delivered does that mean the person should stay in pain until then??

Hettie- I am quoting the National Institute of Healthcare Excellence guidelines! That's who recommends it! CG88, if you are interested. It's that group of people known as the dept of health who issues guidelines and best practise for all medical professionals.
Please read the guidelines - it has links to randomised controlled trials done on the use of osteopathy and spinal pain.

I spent 8 years completing a bacholars and Masters degree in osteopathic medicine and have worked for over 15 years in private practice and the NHS - neither of which was similar to working above a betting shop!?

Well, it's entirely up to you if you waste 8 years of your life learning nonsense.

Osteopathy is the attempt to treat disease by stimulating the body to heal itself through manipulation & so on. The is clearly complete crap - that's why it's referred to as a philosophy & "alternative".

Clearly there are some occasions where massage and/or manipulation is effective (which is why we have physiotherapists) - but this does not give the overall idea any credibility.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

I am not interested in who recommends it. I am interested in reading the scientific data that shows that it works. Got any of that? No - that's WHY it's called "alternative".

Oh hettie regradless now of this osteopathy topic and agreeing or not....really regardless of it....

you come across slightly as a piece of work...

I see you're confusing Osteopathy for Cranial Osteopathy, but you may also be thinking of Chiropractic, which does tend to make grandiose claims about what it can achieve.

YOu can't manipulate spinal bones and joints. If you could manipulate them into different positions by hand then we would all be paralyzing ourselves if we fell down steps, were involved in minor car accidents or bumped into something with force.
So it is woo.

Hettie, alternative medicine includes acupuncture which has been recommended by NICE for lower back pain, types of headache and migraine, nausea, osteoarthritis of the knee, dental pain, and others. So by dismissing acupuncture, and some of the other so called alternative medicine you may very well be dismissing the best treatment through sheer ignorance.

There have been very good clinical evidence to back up these claims, and this is despite the fact that RCTs are best designed for pharmaceutical trials (for which they were created). Whereas acupucture trials are fraught with difficulty: how do you create a plausible placebo? How do you separate the specific effects of acupuncture with that of the placebo when the specific effects of acupuncture are not understood. I could go on and on.

TBH I don't care how woo others find it. My osteopath has helped relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis and helps my nagging lower back and neck pains. All without the need for medication.

It helps me, I don't need painkillers/ cortisone injections. He understands the problems caused by hypermoblity and has given me excercises to make life easier.

My osteopath is wonderful and diagnosed my back problem spot on (later confirmed with MRI scan). I see her occasionally when my back goes and can walk in limping and come out sorted (have hypermobility and regularly put things out). I've tried leaving it and seeing if it sorts itself out and it doesn't so definitely not a placebo effect.