Osteopathy throughout the World

Outside of Canada

Osteopathy has developed to the point where it is now widely recognized throughout the world as one of the most scientifically validated and effective complementary therapies.

The United States abandoned Traditional Biodynamic Osteopathy, or manual osteopathy, evolving instead towards the practice of mainstream medicine and surgery. Manual osteopathy is widely practised and recognised throughout the UK, continental Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Canada. The World Health Organisation recognises the osteopathic concept as being scientifically proven, the British Medical Association recognises osteopathy as a discrete medical discipline, and osteopaths are statutorily registered practitioners in many European countries and Australia where they are recognised as primary care practitioners.

Canada

British Columbia and Ontario are the only provinces that presently have legislation governing the activities of osteopaths. British Columbia is tied to the requirements of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) thus prohibiting anyone without mainstream medical training from practising osteopathy or referring to osteopathy in their practices. Ontario recognises manual osteopathy and allows practitioners to practise in Ontario under the title of D.O. (M.P.).

Quebec and Ontario have the largest concentrations of practising osteopaths in Canada. The College d’Etudes Osteopathiques in Quebec and the Student and Graduate Associations in both Quebec and Ontario have been lobbying for the recognition of Osteopathic manual practice as a profession. So far in Canada, osteopathic training and profession have not been recognised by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Diplomas from all Canadian Colleges of Osteopathy are awarded under the Degree Granting Act. A diploma is granted once a student has completed a five-year program of theoretical, practical and clinical studies and successfully presented an osteopathic thesis before an international jury. The jury then grants the D.O. (M.P.) in Ontario and the D.O. (Q.) in Quebec that allow the therapist to practise manual osteopathy.

Saskatchewan

Barbara Schultze is the only practitioner offering the osteopathic treatment approach in Saskatchewan. She has completed her five years of osteopathic studies and has begun work on her osteopathic thesis.