Question 1

What is Osteopathy?

Accepted Answer

The Practice of Osteopathy uses osteopathic, medical and scientific knowledge to apply the principles of osteopathy to patient clinical impression and treatment.

The aim of osteopathy is to improve and support all aspects of health and healthy development.  Osteopathic treatment may be preventive, curative, palliative or adjuvant.

Osteopathic Manual Therapists analyze and evaluate the structural and functional integrity of the body using critical reasoning of osteopathic principles to inform individual diagnosis and treatment of the patient.

These principles are:
* The human being is a dynamic functional unit, whose state of health is influenced by the body, mind and spirit; if one part is changed in the system, the balance of the whole pattern will be affected;

* The body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms and is naturally self healing; the human being always tries to regain its own dynamic balance and establish homeostasis ; and

* Structure and function are interrelated at all levels of the human being.

The osteopathic approach to healthcare is patient-centred and focused on the patient's health rather than disease centred.

Scientific rigour and evidence-informed practice are an important part of patient treatment and case management.

Osteopathic Manual Therapists use manual contact to identify and evaluate movement in all structural and functional aspects of the patient, identifying alterations of function and movement that impede health and addressing these.  The highly developed sense of touch and attention to complex systems as a unit is typical of an osteopathic approach.

Osteopathy is an independent healthcare discipline.  Osteopathic Manual Therapists should also cooperate with practitioners of other disciplines.

Osteopathy is based on principles drawn from human physiology, anatomy, embryology and other bio-medical sciences.  In consequence of the complexity of the human organism there are a number of different models that are used in osteopathy.

Definition adapted from the CEN document to included wording appropriate to the practice of osteopathy in Manitoba.

©CEN, reproduced with permission

Question 2

Why Choose Osteopathy?

Accepted Answer

Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that seeks to identify the primary factors involved in a physical problem and help the body re-establish optimal functioning and improved health.  This is accomplished using various manual techniques guided by osteopathic principles that are based on thorough knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.

Question 3

What is the difference between an Osteopathic Manual Therapist and an Osteopathic Physician?

Accepted Answer

An Osteopathic Physcian or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is a fully licensed physician who has also received special training in the musculskeletal system.  In the United States, DOs are able to prescribe medication and practice in all areas of medicine including surgery (1).
 
Osteopathic Manual Therapists have extensive training in traditional manual osteopathic practice, however they are not medical doctors.  Treatment is guided by osteopathic tenets and philosophies, and involves only manual techniques. 
 
Osteopathic manual practice is not a regulated profession in Manitoba, therefore the use of the title does not communicate a consistent standard of training.  As a result, it is important to choose an Osteopathic Manual Therapist who belongs to an association with both transparency and high standards. 
 
The MAOMT is a member of the Canadian Federation of Osteopathy (CFO) and all MAOMT members are also affiliate members of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO).
  
(1) http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/news-and-publications/media-center (retrieved March 11, 2018).

https://oialliance.org/about-us/osteopathic-medicine-and-osteopathy/ (retrieved Nov. 30, 2022).

Question 4

Is Osteopathy covered under Extended Health Insurance?

Accepted Answer

Group health insurance (extended health) benefits, which are provided by private health insurance companies often provide coverage for the services provided by Osteopathic Manual Therapists.  All MAOMT members are also affiliate members of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practioners (OAO), and thus are widely recognized by most insurance companies. Please contact your benefits administrator for information about your group plan, benefits and limitations with respect to coverage for the services of an Osteopathic Manual Therapist.
 
It is important to be aware that Osteopathy is not a regulated profession in Manitoba or Canada.  As a result, there are many different educational institutions and associations with significant variations in the level and degree of training their practioners may have.  It is advisable to enquire about a practitioners training and creditials, and check with your insurance provider to determine if that individual's services are covered prior to your initial visit.

Question 5

What are the educational standards of the MAOMT?

Accepted Answer

All MAOMT members are required to first become an affiliate member of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO).  As a result, the MAOMT membership educational standards are aligned with those standards established by the OAO, which are based on benchmarks established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
 
To view the OAO educational standards, please click HERE.
 
To view the World Health Organization's published benchmarks document, please click HERE.

To purchase the  CSA Z16686:20 National standard of Canada for Osteopathic Healthcare, please click HERE

Question 6

Is Osteopathy regulated in Manitoba?

Accepted Answer

The practice of (non-medical) manual osteopathy is not currently recognized as a regulated health profession in Manitoba. Regulated health care professions have a defined scope of practice under profession-specific Acts. There is no law that defines a scope of practice for osteopathy in this province.
 
However, across Canada many osteopathic manual therapists are regulated health care professionals, such as occupational therapists, athletic therapists and physiotherapists, who have sought additional education and training in order to provide manual (non-medical) osteopathic assessment, care and treatment.

Question 7

Questions to ask when choosing an Osteopathic Manual Therapist?

Accepted Answer

How many years of full-time osteopathic training does your practitioner have?  From which school did they graduate?
 
These are important questions to ask because osteopathy is not a regulated profession in Manitoba, therefore there is no standardization for education and training.  Also, it is possible for practitioners who have not completed the full training requirements to use terms such as "osteopathy" and "osteopathic" in their advertising.
 
For example:  Graduates of The Canadian College of Osteopathy are required to complete a minimum of 4 years of full time hands on training plus complete an extensive research thesis.
 
Is the osteopathic manual therapist eligible under your extended health plan?
 
Due to variations in the standards and training of different osteopathic associations and educational institutions, not all osteopathic therapists may be eligible under your specific extended health insurance.  Your insurance provider should be able to verify if they cover a specific practitioner's service.

Question 8

What can I expect during an Osteopathic manual treatment?

Accepted Answer

Your Osteopathic  Manual Therapist will ask for a detailed health history and complete a whole body assessment to better understand the potential factors contributing to your current experience. The treatment incorporates hands-on techniques to assist the release of tension patterns and increase mobility and adaptation of various structures that make up the interconnected systems of the body.
 
The number of treatments required varies depending on the unique and specific aspects of each individual's situation.  As osteopathy appreciates the body's ability to self regulate and heal, the intent is to provide the minimum number of treatments in order to optimize this natural process.

Question 9

What is the difference between an Osteopathic Manual Therapist and a student of Osteopathy?

Accepted Answer

An Osteopathic Manual Therapist whom is a member of the MAOMT has graduated from a qualified osteopathy program and has received a diploma to practice Osteopathy.  Additionally, they have met all the requirements and standards established by the MAOMT and OAO.
 
A student of Osteopathy is currently attending an educational institution offering osteopathic training and education, and has not yet completed their training.  As a result, your insurance company will not provide coverage for their services under osteopathy.
 
Many students however belong to existing professions such as Massage Therapy, Athletic Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.  These individuals are able to practice under their existing scope of practice within their existing profession.

Question 10

What is the difference between an Osteopathic Manual Therapist and Osteopathic based Massage?

Accepted Answer

An Osteopathic Manual Therapist whom is a member of the MAOMT has graduated from a qualified osteopathy program and has received a diploma to practice Osteopathy.  Additionally, they have met all the requirements and standards established by the MAOMT and OAO.
 
Osteopathic based massage can be a massage therapist who graduated from a massage school who has learned some osteopathic techniques,  approaches or principles at their school or a massage therapist who has some training in Osteopathy but have not completed their training.  In either case they are NOT an osteopathic manual therapist nor can they bill under Osteopathy for extended health benefits.

Question 11

What is required to become a member of the MAOMT?

Accepted Answer

Applicants are required to become an Affiliate member of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO) prior to submitting an application to the MAOMT.  Once your OAO Affiliate membership has been granted, please submit the following:
 
Completed application form (available upon request)
Membership fee and initial application fee
Proof of a minimum $5 million of provincial osteopathic professional liability insurance per claim
Copy of your diploma (the MAOMT reserves the right to see the original diploma)
 
Upon receiving all of the above your application will be reviewed.  Please allow for up to 60 days for processing.  Please remember to keep a copy of your completed application.
 
If you would like to receive an application form or have questions regarding the application process or requirements, please contact us.

Question 12

Is the MAOMT affiliated with any other organizations?

Accepted Answer

To become a member of the MAOMT, a practitioner must first become an affiliate member of the Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO).  For more information about the OAO, please visit www.osteopathyontario.org
 
The OAO is a partner of the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA). The mission of the OIA is to encourage systems of education and regulation that will ensure high standards for safe and effective health care from osteopaths and osteopathic physicians. For more information please visit oialliance.org .
 
The MAOMT is also a provincial member of the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths (CFO). The CFO was founded in 2003, and represents osteopathy in Canada and internationally. Its members are established provincial associations. For more information please visit www.osteopathy.ca.

Question 13

How can I learn more about the National Standards of Osteopathy?

Accepted Answer

The National Standard of Canada, CSA Z16686:20, Osteopathic healthcare provision, helps standardize the core competencies, educational requirements, and the ethical framework for manual osteopathic care across the country. CSA Z16686:20 also helps safeguard patients and provides assertion of the quality of care they could receive via manual osteopathic treatment.  Based on the 2015 European Standard EN 16686 of the same name and the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 ' Benchmarks for Training in Osteopathy', it brings Canada in line with best and most widely accepted standards in this field.

CSA Z16686:20 was developed by CSA group in accordance with internationally recognized protocols.  It is available for purchase a the CSA Store here

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