Osteopath : Job description

An osteopath is a medical professional who practises a system of manual preventative medicine that focuses primarily on the musculoskeletal system. Osteopaths recognise that the body, especially the nervous, circulatory and gastro-intestinal systems, can be affected by dysfunction in body structure and tissues.

Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to treat a patient. The aim is to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension and boost the amount of blood supply to tissues. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise in order to help patients recover faster and prevent problems occurring again.

Patients can range from newborns to older adults. Conditions treated may include babies with colic, toddlers with ear infections and teenagers and adults suffering from conditions ranging from back pain to circulatory problems.

Typical work activities

Osteopaths aim to help to reduce the symptoms and improve the health and quality of life of the patient by:

• identifying imbalances within the musculoskeletal system;
• facilitating the body's ability to heal itself through stretching, massage, deep massage and gentle manipulation;
• offering added exercise and health advice.

Typical work activities include:

• taking detailed case histories from new patients, including general health, specific symptoms and other details;
• asking the patient to make a series of movements and assessing their general posture as well as checking for restrictions or tensions in joints or muscles;
• undertaking physical examinations of patients by using a touch system (palpation) to identify any weak or strained areas of the body;
• taking a patient's blood pressure and making other physical assessments as necessary;
• planning and providing treatment by working with the hands using soft tissue techniques, gentle release techniques and other appropriate methods of treatment, such as cranial osteopathy;
• working with treatment equipment, including ultrasound machines, balance boards and percussion machines;
• making lifestyle and dietary recommendations to patients, as required, regarding areas such as posture, eating, exercise and relaxation;
• referring clients to other specialists, if required;
• maintaining accurate and up-to-date patient records;
• interpreting digital imagery generated by scanning techniques such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound and x-rays.

Many osteopaths are self-employed. Additional tasks related to running a business include:

• administration;
• accounting;
• developing new areas of business;
• premises management;
• managing staff.