Osteopathy Awareness Month - April
- annajosieosteopath
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
April is Osteopathy awareness month and our clinic is excited to celebrate and share this whole-body health care approach.
Osteopathy offers a holistic, hands-on approach to managing pain and improving movement. It supports your body’s natural healing processes, promoting long-term recovery and better quality of life. Osteopathy doesn’t just treat symptoms — it treats people. Whether you’re navigating chronic pain, recovering from injury, or seeking relief during pregnancy, osteopathy can empower your body to heal. This April, let’s celebrate the versatility and impact of osteopathy, helping people move better, feel stronger, and live healthier.
A lot of people ask the question how are osteopaths different from physiotherapists?
Whilst both do training in anatomy, health sciences and manual therapy, there are some differences between them. Osteopathy generally has a more hands-on approach, as treatment is dominated with manual therapy. Physiotherapists will oen include other modalities such as electrotherapy, hydrotherapy and ultrasound. Both are qualified with unique skill sets.
Osteopaths are well versed in the application of spinal and joint manipulation in comparison to Physiotherapists. Osteopaths will look to treat the body as a whole whilst physiotherapists are generally area specific and target the tissues involved and are much more likely to include exercise as a part of treatment.
Why Choose Osteopathy?
With an increasing number of Australians seeking manual therapy to help manage pain and improve overall health, osteopathy offers a tailored, patient-centred approach that addresses the unique needs of each individual.
Osteopathy is a form of manual health care that recognises the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue, and internal organs work together. Osteopathic treatment employs skilled evaluation, diagnosis, and hands-on techniques to enhance the body's natural healing ability.
Some of the conditions Osteopathic treatment is beneficial for; Back and Neck Pain
45% of Australians experience lower back pain and 24% suffer from neck pain1. Osteopathic treatment aims to alleviate pain, improve mobility, address the root cause of discomfort and promote long-term health.
Workplace strain
A staggering 90% of office workers admit to spending the majority of their day in front of a computer! Osteopathy addresses these issues by tackling repetitive strain injuries and postural issues arising from workplace environments, promoting ergonomic health and preventing long-term discomfort.
Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed, often from herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or piriformis syndrome, causing pain into the leg. Osteopaths work to reduce nerve compression, stretch tight muscles, and improve pelvic alignment. Research Insight: A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis, compared surgical and non-surgical treatments for chronic sciatica. The study found that while surgical intervention led to significant improvements in back pain, conservative treatments resulted in notable reductions in leg pain and enhancements in mental and physical health scores. This suggests that both approaches have distinct benefits, and treatment should be tailored to individual patient needs.
Sports injury
Six out of 10 Australians aged 15 or over participated in some form of sport or physical activity at least three times a week once during 2020-20222 While participation has many health and social benefits, a recent survey revealed that 19% of participants were injured in 20223. Osteopathy focuses on recovery and prevention, using techniques that can enhance performance and extend sports careers by ensuring the body's mechanical efficiency.
Chronic pain management
With one in six Australians living with chronic pain every day, osteopathy offers strategies for managing conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic headaches, focusing on natural pain relief and improving quality of life.
Arthritis support
Despite 22% of Australians believing that arthritis prevention is impossible, and another 20% thinking medication is the only treatment, osteopathy may offer effective support. It may improve mobility and reduce pain without the sole reliance on medication.
Spread the word about Osteopathy Awareness Month!
1) The research by Osteopathy Australia was carried out on a national representative sample of 1,008 Australians aged 18 and over in March 2022. Methodology: The data sample was weighed against ABS data for age, gender and location using an online survey that is independently conducted and verified by PureProfile.
2) [AusPlay survey] (ASC, 2021)
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