Evidence

Introduction

The osteopathic profession is a small profession (currently 1600 practitioners on the General Osteopathic Register). The majority of osteopathic practices are working in the private sector and their access to research, funding and expertise is limited. It was only in 1993 that the early diploma courses converted to degree courses and with this research, methodology and critique taught to any meaningful level.

In the years since the passing of the Osteopaths Act (1993) the profession has been mainly concerned with formulating the rules of the new statutory register and, on an individual basis, assessing each member applying for registration. As a result it is only recently that the profile of research and audit has been raised and there is now real commitment to a changing culture.

The use of evidence in osteopathic practice falls into the following categories.

1. EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE USE OF OSTEOPATHY FOR LOW BACK PAIN

2. EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE USE OF MANIPULATION IN GENERAL

3. EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE WHICH LEADS OSTEOPATHS TO ALTER THE ADVICE, MANAGEMENT AND EXERCISES THEY MIGHT GIVE TO THEIR PATIENTS

4. EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OSTEOPATHY AND MEDICINE

5. AETIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

6. OSWESTRY DISABILITY INDEX