Limits of Osteopathy

For a responsible osteopath, it is of primary importance to recognize the limitations of his or her therapeutic actions. To know when we should discontinue treatment or when a patient requires medical clarification is a great responsibility towards all patients that we must face anew in each treatment.

As a patient, you should also be aware that not all disorders can be cured with osteopathy. It can, however, provide valuable contributions to accelerate healing in multiple ways.

Osteopathy runs into its therapeutic limitations whenever we find structural damage. Arthrosis is characterized by the abrasion of cartilage on the surfaces of a joint. In more advanced conditions, we also see changes in the bones of the joint. Osteopathy is no longer able to reverse this process. In this case, osteopathic treatments relieve pain or improve movement - but that alone can be sufficient to improve the quality of life.

The principle that structural deterioration due to disease can no longer be reversed also applies to the internal organs. When the liver has developed a cirrhosis, this state is irreversible. Fibrosis of the lung or autoimmune disorders are other examples.

Individual osteopaths must assume responsibility for pointing out the limitations of their therapy to their patients and for not making promises of a cure that they are unable to meet. An osteopath's professionalism and integrity can be measured by this.