What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is the science behind a medical profession of manual therapy that focuses on the position of bones, joints, muscles, organs, connective tissues, fluids and their contents. 

The Osteopathic Key:

The body is holistically connected and no singular area can be addressed without taking into consideration the impact on the rest of the body. Yet every tissue should have the ability to dissociate from the neighboring tissue. This leads to the thought process that if a tissue within the body is free to move independently and freely from all other surrounding tissues and therefore can express itself in the manner for which it was created, it will be able to function at its full potential.

Osteopathy embraces the fact that the body has an innate ability to self-heal and autoregulate.

"Autoregulation is a process within many biological systems, resulting from an internal adaptive mechanism that works to adjust (or mitigate) that system's response to stimuli." - Richard E. Klabunde, PhD 

It is therefore concluded that the science of osteopathy as applied by an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, aims at restoring the body’s natural tissue positions and finding the causes behind symptoms instead of focusing on a single symptom. Osteopathy is the science that aims to restore both independent tissue and organ healthy position while taking into consideration the impact each part of the body has on the whole person.

An Example of applying the Science of Osteopathy:

Symptoms of Cold or Numb hands

Multiple scientific studies prove that the body is anywhere from 50-75% fluid in the average human adult. Fluid dynamics are such that it always moves away from pressure. Take for example blood in the hand. Blood carries most of the body’s nutrients throughout the body but if it can’t reach the hand due to a built-up pressure (ie…a shear of a wrist bone, elbow joint, shoulder compaction, neck trauma, etc…) then the hands will often become cold, clammy or even numb. Removing the blood barrier wherever it is found will result in health and life reaching the hand and therefore reduce those symptoms.

https://www.htfclinic.com/single-post/what-is-osteopathy

Canadian College of Osteopathy Maintains an Accomplished Faculty

The founder and director of the Waterloo, Ontario, osteopathic clinic Hope Through Fitness, Nathanael Enns holds a bachelor of science in osteopathy from the Madrid branch of the National University of Medical Sciences. Seeking to expand his credentials, Nathanael Enns is currently in pursuit of a DSc of osteopathy from the Canadian College of Osteopathy. 

As part of its mission to provide a high-quality osteopathic education to students, the Canadian College of Osteopathy (CCO) maintains an experienced and distinguished faculty. As required by the Association of Traditional Osteopathic Colleges of Canada (ATOCC), each member of the CCO faculty has completed a diploma or doctorate in osteopathy and undertaken appropriate osteopathic training. In addition, all faculty members have submitted and defended in front of their fellow osteopathic manual therapists, a piece of original osteopathic research.

To ensure that faculty members remain at the forefront of their field, CCO offers several educational opportunities, including invitations to three annual international symposia hosted by the ATOCC. At these events, faculty have access to some of the leading osteopaths in the world. Renowned osteopaths and osteopathic manual therapists with whom current members of the CCO faculty have studied include Drs. Viola Frymann, Thomas Schooley, and Anne Wales.

CCO’s faculty benefits from the leadership of the college’s president, Dr. Philippe Druelle. A native of France who now resides in Montreal, Dr. Druelle is the founder of the seven European and Canadian osteopathic institutions that constitute the ATOCC.

Hiking Offers Numerous Health Benefits

With a bachelor of science in osteopathy from the National University of Medical Sciences, Nathanael Enns serves as clinic director of the Canadian-based Hope Through Fitness in Waterloo, Ontario. When not helping people improve their health and performance, Nathanael Enns spends his free time riding motorcycles, paddle boarding, and participating in CrossFit. He also enjoys hiking. 

Like other aerobic exercises, hiking offers a great way to improve one’s cardiovascular fitness level. Hitting the trails on a regular basis can reduce blood pressure, improve circulation, and promote weight loss, which comes with additional benefits, including a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Because hiking involves traversing uneven ground, the activity also helps strengthen the body’s bones and muscles more than walking in one's town or city. 

In addition to promoting physical health, hiking can help improve your overall well-being as well. Enjoying physical activities in natural environments can aid in easing people’s stress levels, assist with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality. To receive the most benefits, health experts recommend that people spend a minimum of 150 minutes each week hiking or enjoying similar outdoor physical activities.