What Is Osteopathy?

Where It Falls Short

Currently, scientific evidence supports the use of osteopathic treatments for back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. Some osteopathic practitioners treat depression, colic, and headaches too. While individual patients with these conditions might feel they benefit from osteopathic treatment, there is not yet enough scientific evidence to show a clear benefit to the treatments when used for these illnesses in large groups of patients. In addition, osteopathic treatment takes longer to produce results than medication or surgery, so it may not be the most effective treatment for patients with debilitating conditions that severely impact their ability to perform daily tasks. Patients with severe injuries or illnesses could benefit most if they choose to combine osteopathic treatment with medication and other conventional therapies.

Get the details on how osteopathy and chiropractic medicine compare next.