Osteopathy

JAStewart · 24th July 2009, 07:56 AM

Is Osteopathy a pseudoscience?

Someone on a local forum was asking if there was an Osteopath near my area and I just wanted to make sure they weren't wasting money.

shuttlt · 24th July 2009, 09:06 AM

My impression is that the roots of osteopathy aren't a whole lot better than chiropractic, but these days they're quite a bit less woo. Another plus is there seem to be no claims of osteopaths causing significant direct harm to people, though even with chiropractic this is clearly a rare event.

My off the top of my head best advice would be to make sure and only pay money for something that you believe somebody can plausibly help with. Osteopathy can plausibly help with joint and muscle pain, but then so can physiotherapy.

paximperium · 24th July 2009, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by JAStewart

Is Osteopathy a pseudoscience?

Someone on a local forum was asking if there was an Osteopath near my area and I just wanted to make sure they weren't wasting money.

Osteopathy is a pseudo-science. It is based on similar outmoded principles as chiropractic.

However in the US many Osteopaths are not quacks but licensed medical practitioners and are known as DOs(Doctor of Osteopathy). They are osteopathic orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, ER doctors etc. although DOs tend to pride themselves as primary care physicians.

The level of woo depends on the individual. Many don't bother using their OM techniques but some are hardcore quacks who use OM like "straight" Chiroquacks. The quality of Osteopathic research is the same as any other "Alternative" med Research which is horrendous.

Rolfe · 24th July 2009, 10:01 AM

Osteopathy in Britain is quackery, carried out by people with no medical qualifications. It is not to be confused with the degree of DO in the USA, which I understand is an entirely legitimate medical qualification.

Shetland is, at least at present, in Britain, so if I were you JA, I'd tell your friend to find a physiotherapist.

Rolfe.

big-E · 24th July 2009, 10:10 AM

[anecdote mode: on]
My brother went to see an osteopath, about his hips which were giving him more and more trouble, chronic and severe pain, reduced mobility... It used to sort-of-work, for a little while, but did nothing to address the underlying problem (arthritis, basically). Even tried acupuncture too which temporarily aided the muscle tension around the joints to reduce the pain for a while, but it always came back...

And what helped? Genetically-engineered drugs (anti-TNF) and full-on surgery, resurfacing of the joint with cobalt-chrome steel! Proper, real medicine did what no 'alternative' could, and he's back racing on his bike...
[anecdote mode: off]

Mojo · 24th July 2009, 10:49 AM

Osteopaths on the loose on the UK Skeptics forum.

24th July 2009, 07:56 AM	#1
JAStewart Graduate Poster Tagger Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shetland Islands Posts: 1,523	Osteopathy Is Osteopathy a pseudoscience? Someone on a local forum was asking if there was an Osteopath near my area and I just wanted to make sure they weren't wasting money.
	__________________ Ignorance and google is a horrible combination. - BigAl Argumentum ad YouTubeum - sts60

24th July 2009, 09:06 AM	#2
shuttlt Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,935	My impression is that the roots of osteopathy aren't a whole lot better than chiropractic, but these days they're quite a bit less woo. Another plus is there seem to be no claims of osteopaths causing significant direct harm to people, though even with chiropractic this is clearly a rare event. My off the top of my head best advice would be to make sure and only pay money for something that you believe somebody can plausibly help with. Osteopathy can plausibly help with joint and muscle pain, but then so can physiotherapy.
shuttlt Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,935

24th July 2009, 09:19 AM	#3
paximperium Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2008 Location: Silicon Valley-Stuck between Google and Apple Posts: 10,727	Originally Posted by JAStewart Is Osteopathy a pseudoscience? Someone on a local forum was asking if there was an Osteopath near my area and I just wanted to make sure they weren't wasting money. Osteopathy is a pseudo-science. It is based on similar outmoded principles as chiropractic. However in the US many Osteopaths are not quacks but licensed medical practitioners and are known as DOs(Doctor of Osteopathy). They are osteopathic orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, ER doctors etc. although DOs tend to pride themselves as primary care physicians. The level of woo depends on the individual. Many don't bother using their OM techniques but some are hardcore quacks who use OM like "straight" Chiroquacks. The quality of Osteopathic research is the same as any other "Alternative" med Research which is horrendous.
	__________________ "The method of science is tried and true. It is not perfect, it's just the best we have. And to abandon it with its skeptical protocols is the pathway to a dark age." -Carl Sagan "They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."-Terry Pratchett

24th July 2009, 10:01 AM	#4
Rolfe Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NT 150 511 Posts: 34,339	Osteopathy in Britain is quackery, carried out by people with no medical qualifications. It is not to be confused with the degree of DO in the USA, which I understand is an entirely legitimate medical qualification. Shetland is, at least at present, in Britain, so if I were you JA, I'd tell your friend to find a physiotherapist. Rolfe.
	__________________ "The way we vote will depend, ultimately, on whether we are persuaded to hope or to fear." - Aonghas MacNeacail, June 2012.

24th July 2009, 10:10 AM	#5
big-E Scholar Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 115	[anecdote mode: on] My brother went to see an osteopath, about his hips which were giving him more and more trouble, chronic and severe pain, reduced mobility... It used to sort-of-work, for a little while, but did nothing to address the underlying problem (arthritis, basically). Even tried acupuncture too which temporarily aided the muscle tension around the joints to reduce the pain for a while, but it always came back... And what helped? Genetically-engineered drugs (anti-TNF) and full-on surgery, resurfacing of the joint with cobalt-chrome steel! Proper, real medicine did what no 'alternative' could, and he's back racing on his bike... [anecdote mode: off]
big-E Scholar Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 115

24th July 2009, 10:49 AM	#6
Mojo Mostly harmless Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nor Flanden Posts: 22,091	Osteopaths on the loose on the UK Skeptics forum.
	__________________ "You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky