I. Aptekar - The Principles and Methods of Osteopathy. Part 1. Biomechanical Methods

© I. A. Aptekar, 2020

ISBN 978-5-4498-7378-1 (т. 1)

ISBN 978-5-4498-7379-8

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Osteopathy is an art that allows, using the

power of the Spirit, the Body and Mind, using your hands, to launch a therapeutic process under the guidance of Health.

This book is dedicated to James S. Jealous D.O., my teacher…

Osteopathy is based on understanding of integrity and unity of man and nature of which it is an integral part.

Internal filling of Osteopathy as an art and science depends on spiritual basis of the doctor – osteopath, the level of perception, the used model of the description of the world and the actual angle of “vision” in the process of perception. Especially in the cases when we think that we perceive integrity.

Often, our perception is directly dependent on which side we are looking at and which part we are holding on to. Just like in the known story about an elephant and blind sages.

Abbreviation DO is often decoded by many osteopaths not only as “doctor of osteopathy” but also as the motto Dig On. This is a direct call not to stop studying osteopathy, even when it seems that everything has already been studied, known and mastered.

The process of teaching Osteopathy as other types of human activities is universal. We go from unconscious ignorance and inability to unconscious knowledge and ability. We go through the stages of conscious ignorance and conscious actions until knowledge and ability are fixed on the reflex level.

Formation of professional competencies occur gradually being fixed at the level of reflexes and unconscious knowledge. No matter what we study – martial arts, dancing, singing, computer work, cooking steak – we go through one and the same stages. Any motional act is comprehended gradually in the process of constant mastery of the skill.

Originally we study principles and methods, and then go to the techniques and simple movements. We repeat them after our teachers trying not to miss anything. Copying their movements are repeated many times each, trying to achieve the sensations they are talking about, and the results we see watching their work.

This process continues for a long time. However much we would like to accelerate, we are still moving at the same speed as we are capable of. And consistently go through all the stages of studying and acquiring practical skills, developing both palpation and perception.

Starting basic training in the osteopathic school we think we’ll be able to quickly master osteopathy within 4 years. But it takes a lot longer before we realize that we are still at the beginning of the journey. Then we master methods and techniques seeking their perfect fulfillment, or we think we’ve already mastered them. At some point in learning and development there is a feeling that we can bring something of yourself into approaches and osteopathic techniques. And the techniques become personified, personal. We even begin to consider ourselves pioneers of something new and already see our images in the same row as the founding fathers of osteopathy.

Schools appear, new techniques are described, new words and word- combinations are uttered, and new meanings are formed. And only principles and methods remain unchanged. The principles of restoring the integrity of the human organism with the help of hands.

And three methods of osteopathy:

– Biomechanical,with its axial model of motion description and therapeutic force coming from the doctor – osteopath;

– Functional,in which the therapeutic force is the global functions of the whole body manifested in the form of global endogenous rhythms, whose action is aimed at achieving integrity and synchronic anatomical molecular and electromagnetic unity of the human body;

– Biodynamic,based on the principle of the unity of man and the world around him, with its therapeutic force coming from the outside and manifesting itself in the form of exogenous (ecological) rhythms; the Force having Intellect; Potency that heals unerringly; and Health always present.

All three methods exist simultaneously and represent a single and indivisible integrity.The choice of this or that method is determined by the diagnosis and depends on the effectiveness of “the dialogue” with the body and tissues. Division into methods is nominal and applies only to the period of basic training of osteopathy.

Consecutive study of the biomechanical method allows you to prepare a theoretical and practical basis for mastering the functional method. What, in turn, forms the basis for studying the biodynamic method.

But over time we suddenly realize and feel that in fact, osteopathy – it’s neither even the principles and methods of therapy nor the individual techniques. This is a way of life based primarily on spirituality and love for people. Otherwise, the system does not work.

And one day there comes a time when we no longer think about what kind of osteopathic help to apply in this or that case.

We just try to be:

– the most useful;

– neutral and calm;

– loving and benevolent;

– humble;

– respecting the wisdom of nature and the human body.

Of course, if after a session of osteopathic care you are asked what it was, then you will no doubt give an exhaustive answer about the osteopathic diagnosis, primary somatic dysfunction, therapeutic process, its sequence and end phase, up to the global rebalance.

At some point we find that the whole, having achieved neutrality and calmness, can easily restore any part of itself.While the part will never restore the whole. She simply does not enough potency for this. At this level of our life anatomy of the parts becomes less significant compared with anatomy of the whole.

Only continuously studying and developing osteopathy as art and science one can be the most useful and effective.

The world around us is a mirror which reflects our internal state. And if we want to change the environment we need to start with ourselves. It is for this reason that the osteopaths are in constant development, cognition of themselves, and the world around them. In medical practice the areas of application in osteopathy are limited only by the professionalism of the doctor – osteopath.

…There is a claim that is on June 22, 1874, at the age of 46,

A.T. Still publicly formulated the three main principles of his philosophy and thereby derived the formula of osteopathy:

– The Structure controls the function.

– The Body is a single whole.

– The Body has mechanisms of self-regulation and self-healing…

Osteopathy was discovered by Dr. Still. He did not claim to have created it. He came to understand that osteopathy is a word used to describe the laws of nature, placed in a person before his birth. These laws, known and unknown, are what we call Osteopathy.

The Subject of the osteopathic activity is the restoration of the integrity of the human body with the help of hands.

Osteopathy (osteopathic medicine)is practical philosophy, science and art.

Speaking about the definition of osteopathy it should be noted that the following formulation, which is reflected in the clinical recommendations approved by the professional association of osteopaths “RoSA”, is now generally accepted.