What is Osteopathy?
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Osteopathy was developed and introduced by Dr Andrew T. Still, a physician in Middle West of America in the 1870s. Hence, it is as old as modern medicine. Dr Still became disillusioned with the medical treatment practised at the time, which was often as hazardous to the patient as the disease itself. It was not his intention to found a new profession. He wanted to reform the existing system. Still realised that the body is an intrinsically self-healing, self-regulating, self-adjusting organism. This idea was revolutionary in his day, although it is conventional wisdom today. However, it poses the question whether treatment should be directed towards controlling the disease, or whether it should be to establish what has impaired or compromised the self-healing, self-regulating and self-adjusting mechanisms (the health) to have allowed the disease to develop in the first place and not to have resolved on its own. Hence, the fundamental principle which underlies osteopathy is not so much concerned with the control of disease, rather osteopathy is concerned with that which has compromised the health. Osteopathy was brought to England by J Martin Littlejohn, a Scot who met Still in Missouri and was impressed by his ideas. Littlejohn became student at Still's school and subsequently taught there with Still. He returned to England in 1913 and founded the British School of Osteopathy at 16 Buckingham Gate, London, in 1917. The school moved to larger premises in 1975 and is now in Southwark. Over the years the profession has developed a reputation for treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain, neck pain, headaches and joint strains. This is not because this summarises osteopathic care, but because these conditions are so common and osteopathy is an effective treatment for them. Osteopathy in the UK now is a distinct healthcare profession, recognised in the Osteopaths Act 1993. Its practitioners are highly trained to practise autonomously in a primary contact setting and patients may consult them directly without being referred by another healthcare professional. Only practitioners registered with the General Osteopathic Council are permitted now to use the title osteopath. At the Hereford Osteopathic Centre we recognise that:
The World Health Organisation definition of Health states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.” We support that definition. |
Dr Andrew Still 
J Martin Littlejohn 
Littlejohn's school at |