The Five Osteopathic Models: Rationale, Application, Integration - From an Evidence-Based to a Person-Centered Osteopathy

by Giampiero Fusco, Ray Hruby, Christian Lunghi, Paolo Tozzi

Overview

Far from being simply a sequence of techniques, as practised in many countries osteopathy is an independent primary health care system based on principles applied through a manual practice: a unique profession that takes care of the whole person through the application of five models (biomechanical, neurological, respiratory-circulatory, metabolic, and behavioral). These conceptual models of the relationship between structure and function allow osteopaths to evaluate treatment with the aim of promoting health rather than curing disease.

This book is intended as a manual for both students and osteopathic professionals interested in exploring the principles, objectives, origins and application of the five osteopathic models, from traditional concepts up to a modern vision, based on evidence and critical thinking. The selection criteria and rules for the application of each model, with their limitations and potential, are examined, to enable the reader to understand the rationale behind their use in a comprehensive, holistic and patient-centered practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781909141681
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	07/05/2017
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.48(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.02(d)

About the Author

Paolo Tozzi (Author)
Paolo Tozzi MSc Ost, DO, PT Is Principal of the First Italian School of Veterinary Osteopathy, Vice-Principal of the Italian Association of Posturologists, former Treasurer of the Osteopathic European Academic Network (OsEAN), and former Vice Principal of CROMON, the Centre for Holistic Research in Osteopathy and Natural Medicine, Rome. He lectures widely on osteopathy, biomechanics and manual therapy, and organized the first international congress on veterinary osteopathy (Rome 2012).

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Mary M Tuchscherer, MSc, DC, PhD (Northwestern Health Sciences University)
Description: This is an in-depth review of the five traditional osteopathic hypotheses of disease modeling, and updates them in the light of current research evidence. It provides an excellent context for understanding the development of the traditional osteopathic philosophy of health and wellness, and how the doctor of osteopathy renders treatment plans and wellness protocols based on these models.
Purpose: The purpose is to explore the osteopathic adherence to the structure/function model of health and to define the concept of individual adaptive-capacity: the ability of the individual to survive and progress through disease toward health. These objectives are both fascinating and worthy, as they set out clearly the differences between contemporary allopathic medicine and the traditionally practicing osteopath. Not unlike the other nonallopathic professions, osteopathy is based on a health, wellness, and prevention model, while allopathy has been based on a disease diagnosis and cure model. The objectives have been admirably met, as the book is easy to read and understand, very interesting and informative, as well as instructive. Part II not only describes the osteopathic models, it also illustrates and documents the treatment modalities that grow out of the models.
Audience: This book is aimed at both practicing doctors of osteopathy (whether newly in practice, or well-seasoned practitioners), as well as students in an osteopathic medicine university. It gives both context and credibility to the five traditional models of osteopathy. It encourages further study and may, in fact, encourage those interested to take up the rewarding work of research into the mechanisms of manipulation, prevention of disease, and wellness.
Features: The book begins by providing a foundation to help readers understand the reasons why and how osteopathy is differentiated from allopathy. The tenets and adherence to patient-centered care are explained and defended. The pattern of observation, examination, rendering of diagnosis, and treatment plans are described. The concept of adaptive capacity in the context of local and regional dysfunction, whether somatic or visceral, is then explored and discussed. The well-referenced book draws readers in, providing ample opportunity to explore concepts more deeply. Manual, energetic, traditional, biological, and mind-body therapies are compared and contrasted with osteopathy. Modes of listening, examination, and treatment planning are described. Throughout the book, the authors stress the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. The second part of the book articulates the five models of the osteopathic approach to understanding patient presentation, condition diagnosis, and the building of treatment protocols. This section is well referenced, and, through an evidence-based lens, is focused on future improvements. The photographs of treatment protocols are well composed and illustrative of important points. The charts, graphs, and summary boxes are very helpful. A very interesting feature is the use of boxes, set off from the main text, that have case studies, questions, special studies, or thought-provoking controversies. These sections are referenced separately and may pose questions for further study. While these may break up the flow of the chapter for some, I found that they anticipated questions I was having while reading.
Assessment: In my experience of osteopathy, there exist two camps of practitioners: those who are indistinguishable from medical doctors (MDs) and those who practice with a more traditional adherence to the osteopathic models. There are some schools of osteopathy in the U.S. that relegate manual manipulation and traditional treatment methods to elective courses. This book, originally written in Italian, represents an effort to return this historically unique model of medicine to an eager public in the U.S., the actual birthplace of osteopathy. Interestingly, a similar chasm exists among other "alternative" traditions of healing: doctors of chiropractic have struggled with "principled practitioners" and those practicing in an evidence-informed manner. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have the same issues: practice the classics or "fit in to the medical model" asserting germ theory and molecular biology. This book lays out a roadmap for marrying these models in a way that keeps the best of both worlds. If integration is the destination most patients desire, this book serves as that roadmap for getting there.

Doody's Review Service