15. Osteopathy and Pathology
As a registered osteopath with the General Osteopathic Council, it is mandatory for me to attend a number of CPD (continuing professional development) courses to continue my practise as an osteopath.
On one occasion I attended a pathology update course over a very intensive weekend with the North & Mid Wales Osteopathic Society.
As an osteopath I will help many patients with their pain and dysfunctions, termed "patho-physiology". Pathology is usually only treatable with pharmacology or surgery. When human tissue differentiates (changes or mutates) from a "patho-physiological state" to a "pathological state", osteopaths need to know what they can and cannot do to help their patients.
Pathology is taught over the final three years of the four year osteopathic degree for two reasons:
1. As a primary care practitioner, an osteopath must be able to identify symptoms that may have a pathological aetiology and refer appropriately when necessary.
2. When a patient presents to an osteopath with a known pathology (or a previous history), the osteopath must be able to treat using appropriate techniques, given the underlying conditions, or refer elsewhere.
To give you an idea of the more common types of pathology that we must be actively aware of in practise, listed below are the conditions that we consider.
Cardio-Vascular Pathologies
Arteriosclerosis
Atheroma
Malignant Hypertension
Ischaemic Heart Disease
Angina
Acute Cardiac Failure
Chronic Cardiac Failure
Cardiomegaly
Aortic Aneurysm
Vertebral Artery Dissection
Vertebro-basilar Arteriosclerosis
Vertebro-basilar Insufficiency
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Neurogenic Claudication
Intermittent Claudication
Respiratory Pathologies
Viral Pneumonia
Bacterial Pneumonia
Pleurisy
Empyema
Tuberculosis
Asthma
Chronic Bronchitis
Cor Pulmonale
Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease
Emphysema
Lung Cancer
Cystic Fibrosis
Bronchiectasis
Pneumothorax
Gastro-Intestinal Pathologies
Abdominal Distension
Gingivitis
Glossitis
Gastro-oesophageal Reflux
Hiatus Hernia
Gastric Cancer
Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers
Crohn's Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Coeliac Disease
Colorectal Cancer
Haemorrhoids
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Peritonitis
Diverticulitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Liver Cancer
Cholelithiasis
The above list is far from exhaustive. Throughout the osteopathic degree program we cover a huge range of pathological disorders, some of which we will never encounter in practise.
This, however, is no excuse to allow for gaps in our knowledge.
Marc Jones, BSc(Hons) Ost,
Registered Osteopath & Clinic Principal
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