What is Osteopathy?
Updated: Jul 22, 2025
Osteopathy is above all else a philosophy and a way of viewing the body and what a patient is experiencing physically (and, often, emotionally). What this means practically, is that we are looking through a specific diagnostic lens, unique to this practice, to consider a whole picture. Treatment is by-and-large "hands on" in nature. Treatment styles vary significantly from practitioner to practitioner. Here at GumLeaf Osteopathy, we use many techniques including cranial and biodynamic treatment, myofascial release, visceral manipulation, articulation, massage and muscle energy technique to name a few. It's a matter of the "right tool for the right job".
Osteopathy was traditionally used as a medical alternative to "all that ails the body". It was developed by Andrew Taylor Still, a physician and surgeon, in the late 19th Century in America. While Osteopathy is practiced by medical professionals today in the USA, in other countries we are considered Allied Health practitioners and are not medically trained. Osteopaths in Australia are university trained and regulated by
Osteopathy focuses on the whole body to promote healing, improve the body’s mobility, circulation and well being.
Using a combination of traditional and modern healthcare philosophies, osteopaths generally use non-invasive forms of therapy like muscle soft-tissue work, joint mobilisation or manipulation, stretching and exercises, combined with education and advice to support the body’s natural healing processes.
As university trained, government registered healthcare professionals, osteopaths take the time to understand your history, your lifestyle and your body so they can provide you with a personalised plan to get you as healthy as you can be with hands-on treatment, advice and management plans that work for you, to help reduce pain for the long term and enjoying life.
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