The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Osteopathic training for physicians proposed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 23, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Osteopathic training for physicians proposed

Staff Reporter

Focus on manual treatment of musculoskeletal problems

CHENNAI: Physicians in the State will soon gain exposure to the natural healing principles of osteopathy, if a proposed training programme in this branch of alternative medicine gets underway.

Osteopathy is a non-medication, non-surgical system of healthcare that focuses on the treatment of musculoskeletal problems, especially lower back pains, joint aches and arthritis. It is used as an alternative approach to management of sports trauma, headaches, migraine, asthma and breathing problems.

The osteopathy maxim is founded on the body's ability to heal on its own, the acceptance of the spinal structure as the supreme governor of body functions and the importance of the artery network, according to Singapore-based osteopath David Tio. "The plan is to introduce osteopathy training to MBBS doctors, orthopaedicians, general surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists," said gastroenterologist N. Rangabashyam. The modalities of technical support from Dr. Tio, who runs the Osteopathic Treatment Centre in Singapore, are being worked out, he said.

Osteopathy advocates a form of manual medicine where the physician's hands become the tools in identifying the pain nodes and applying tactile pressure. The spine is the most important structure governing the entire range of functions and osteopathy attributes disorders to problems in the spinal structure, Dr. Tio said.

Osteopathy, developed in the modern era by 19th century physician A. T. Still, is now recognised across the United States, U. K. and Australia and practised by around 40,000 specialists.

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