2010 WHO-Osteopathy Benchmarks
2010 WHO-Osteopathy Benchmarks
2010 WHO-Osteopathy Benchmarks
in traditional / complementary
and alternative medicine
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Contents
Contents
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ v
Foreword........................................................................................................................ vii
Preface .............................................................................................................................. ix
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
3. Safety issues........................................................................................................... 15
3.1 Contraindications to direct techniques ........................................................... 15
3.2 Contraindications to indirect, fluid, balancing and reflex-based
techniques ........................................................................................................... 16
References....................................................................................................................... 19
iii
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
iv
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The World Health Organization (WHO) greatly appreciates the financial and
technical support provided by the Regional Government of Lombardy, Italy, for
the development and publication of the basic training documents, as part of the
implementation of collaborative projects with WHO in the field of traditional
medicine. The Regional Government of Lombardy kindly hosted and provided
financial support for the WHO Consultation on Osteopathy, held in Milan, Italy
in February 2007.
WHO also wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Dr Jane Carreiro, College
of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Maine, United States of
America, for the preparation of the original text.
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
vi
Foreword
Foreword
The oldest existing therapeutic systems used by humanity for health and well-
being are called Traditional Medicine or Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (TM/CAM).
In the region of Lombardy, citizens currently play an active role in their health-
care choices. The awareness of the advantages as well as of the risks of every type
of care is therefore critical, also when a citizen actively chooses to use TM/CAM.
Consumers have begun to raise new questions related to the safe and effective
treatment by all providers of TM/CAM. For this reason, the Regional
Government of Lombardy closely follows WHO guidelines on qualified practice
of TM/CAM in order to guarantee appropriate use through the creation of laws
and regulations on skills, quality control, and safety and efficacy of products, and
clear guidelines about practitioner qualifications. The Regional Government of
Lombardy has also provided support and cooperated with WHO in developing
this series of benchmark documents for selected popularly used TM/CAM
therapies including Ayurveda, naturopathy, Nuad Thai, osteopathy, traditional
Chinese medicine, Tuina, and Unani medicine.
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
both within and outside ministries of health, are responsible for adhering to this,
in order to guarantee the safety and the efficacy of medicines and practices for
their citizens. Furthermore, safety not only relates to products or practices per se,
but also to how they are used by practitioners. Therefore it is important that
policy-makers are increasingly able to standardize the training of practitioners
for it is another fundamental aspect of protecting both the providers and the
consumers.
Since 2002, the Social-Health Plan of the Lombardy Region has supported the
principle of freedom of choice among different health-care options based on
evidence and scientific data. By referring to the benchmarks in this present series
of documents, it is possible to build a strong foundation of health-care options
which will support citizens in exercising their right to make informed choices
about different styles of care and selected practices and products.
Step by step we are establishing the building blocks that will ensure consumer
safety in the use of TM/CAM. The Regional Government of Lombardy hopes
that the current series will be a useful reference for health authorities worldwide,
and that these documents will support countries to establish appropriate legal
and regulatory frameworks for the practice of TM/CAM.
viii
Preface
Preface
One of the four main objectives of the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002-
2005 was to support countries to integrate traditional medicine into their own
health systems. In 2003, a WHO resolution (WHA56.31) on traditional medicine
urged Member States, where appropriate, to formulate and implement national
policies and regulations on traditional and complementary and alternative
medicine to support their proper use. Further, Member States were urged to
integrate TM/CAM into their national health-care systems, depending on their
relevant national situations.
Later in 2003, the results of a global survey on policies for TM/CAM conducted
by WHO showed that the implementation of the strategy is making headway.
For example, the number of Member States reporting that they have a national
policy on traditional medicine rose from five in 1990, to 39 in 2003, and to 48 in
2007. Member States with regulations on herbal medicines rose from 14 in 1986,
to 80 in 2003, and to 110 in 2007. Member States with national research institutes
of traditional medicine or herbal medicines rose from 12 in 1970, to 56 in 2003,
and to 62 in 2007.4
1
Presentation by the Governments of Mali and Myanmar at the Congress on Traditional
Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 7-9 November 2008.
2
Perspectives on Complementary and Alternative Health Care, a collection of papers
prepared for Health Canada, Ottawa, Health Canada, 2001.
3
Annette Tuffs Heidelberg. Three out of four Germans have used complementary or
natural remedies, British Medical Journal 2002, 325:990 (2 November).
4
WHO medicines strategy 2008-2013 and Report from a WHO global survey on national
policy on traditional medicine and regulation of herbal medicines, 2005.
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
The most elaborated material to establish benchmarks comes from the countries
where the various forms of traditional medicine under consideration originated.
These countries have established formal education or national requirements for
licensure or qualified practice. Any relevant benchmarks must refer to these
national standards and requirements.
The first stage of drafting of this series of documents was delegated to the
national authorities in the countries of origin of each of the respective forms of
traditional, complementary or alternative medicine discussed. These drafts were
then, in a second stage, distributed to more than 300 reviewers in more than 140
countries. These reviewers included experts and national health authorities,
WHO collaborating centres for traditional medicine, and relevant international
x
Preface
Dr Xiaorui Zhang
Coordinator, Traditional Medicine
Department for Health System Governance
and Service Delivery
World Health Organization
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
xii
Introduction
Introduction
1
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
2
The basic principles of osteopathy
3
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
4
The basic principles of osteopathy
5
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
6
Training of osteopathic practitioners
Type I training programmes are aimed at those with little or no prior health-care
training, but who have completed high school education or equivalent. These
programmes typically are four-year, full-time programmes. Supervised clinical
training at an appropriate osteopathic clinical facility is an essential component,
and students may be required to complete a thesis or project.
Type II training programmes are aimed at those with prior training as health-care
professionals. Type II programmes have the same aims and content as the Type I
programmes, but the course content and length may be modified depending on
the prior experience and training of individual applicants. In some cases, the
development of a Type II programme may be a temporary step pending the
development of Type I programmes in osteopathy.
While training of the osteopathy focuses on those subjects and skills that form the
basis for the osteopathic approach, basic knowledge and understanding of the
common allopathic medical treatments available to patients are necessary for
competent practice as a primary-contact health-care practitioner. In addition, the
osteopathic practitioner must also understand the rationale behind common
standard treatment protocols; how the body responds to these treatments; and
how the protocols may influence the selection and implementation of osteopathic
treatment.
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
All elements of the curriculum are delivered in the context of focusing on the
patient rather than the disease, viewing the patient as someone who seeks the
facilitation of their optimum health, and on the importance of the patient and
practitioner forming a therapeutic partnership.
Osteopathic practitioners share a set of core competencies that guide them in the
diagnosis, management and treatment of their patients and form the foundation
for the osteopathic approach to health care. The following are essential
competencies for osteopathic practice in all training programmes:
• a strong foundation in osteopathic history, philosophy, and approach to
health care;
• an understanding of the basic sciences within the context of the
philosophy of osteopathy and the five models of structure-function.
Specifically, this should include the role of vascular, neurological,
lymphatic and biomechanical factors in the maintenance of normal and
adaptive biochemical, cellular and gross anatomical functions in states of
health and disease;
• ability to form an appropriate differential diagnosis and treatment plan;
• an understanding of the mechanisms of action of manual therapeutic
interventions and the biochemical, cellular and gross anatomical response
to therapy;
• ability to appraise medical and scientific literature critically and
incorporate relevant information into clinical practice;
• competency in the palpatory and clinical skills necessary to diagnose
dysfunction in the aforementioned systems and tissues of the body, with
an emphasis on osteopathic diagnosis;
• competency in a broad range of skills of OMT;
• proficiency in physical examination and the interpretation of relevant
tests and data, including diagnostic imaging and laboratory results;
• an understanding of the biomechanics of the human body including, but
not limited to, the articular, fascial, muscular and fluid systems of the
extremities, spine, head, pelvis, abdomen and torso;
• expertise in the diagnosis and OMT of neuromusculoskeletal disorders;
• thorough knowledge of the indications for, and contraindications to,
osteopathic treatment;
• a basic knowledge of commonly used traditional medicine and
complementary/ alternative medicine techniques.
Basic science
• history and philosophy of science;
• gross and functional anatomy, including basic embryology,
neuroanatomy and visceral anatomy;
• fundamental bacteriology, fundamental biochemistry, fundamental
cellular physiology;
8
Training of osteopathic practitioners
Clinical science
• models of health and disease;
• safety and ethics;
• basic pathology and pathophysiology of the nervous, musculoskeletal,
psychiatric, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, reproductive,
genitor-urinary, immunological, endocrine and otolaryngology systems;
• basic orthopaedic diagnosis;
• basic radiology;
• nutrition;
• basic emergency care.
Osteopathic science
• philosophy and history of osteopathy;
• osteopathic models for structure/function interrelationships;
• clinical biomechanics, joint physiology and kinetics;
• mechanisms of action for osteopathic techniques.
Practical skills
• obtaining and using an age-appropriate history;
• physical and clinical examination;
• osteopathic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the nervous,
musculoskeletal, psychiatric, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal,
endocrine, genitor-urinary, immunological, reproductive and
otolaryngology systems;
• general synthesis of basic laboratory and imaging data;
• clinical problem-solving and reasoning;
• understanding of relevant research and its integration into practice;
• communication and interviewing;
• clinical documentation;
• basic life-support and first-aid care.
Osteopathic skills
• osteopathic diagnosis;
• osteopathic techniques, including direct techniques such as thrust,
articulatory, muscle energy and general osteopathic techniques;
• indirect techniques, including functional techniques and counterstrain;
• balancing techniques, such as balanced ligamentous tension and
ligamentous articulatory strain;
• combined techniques, including myofascial/fascial release, Still
technique, osteopathy in the cranial field, involuntary mechanism and
visceral techniques;
• reflex-based techniques, such as Chapman’s reflexes, trigger points and
neuromuscular techniques;
• fluid-based techniques, such as lymphatic pump techniques (1).
9
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
10
Training of osteopathic practitioners
Research studies
Research methodology (quantitative and qualitative) including critical analysis 5
Clinical/professional studies
Applied clinical osteopathy 26
Radiological diagnosis and clinical imaging 6
Orthopaedics and trauma 8
Case-analysis studies 6
Professional practice management 2
Obstetrics and gynaecology 4
Paediatrics and osteopathic care of children 4
Osteopathic technique 150
Research studies
Research methodology (quantitative and qualitative) 18
Critical analysis 7
Research ethics 4
11
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
Clinical/professional studies
Case-history taking and patient communication 9
Applied clinical osteopathy 20
Differential and clinical diagnosis and clinical problem solving 20
Radiological diagnosis and clinical imaging 20
Orthopaedics and trauma 14
Case-analysis studies 15
Osteopathic evaluation and patient management 38
Professional ethics 6
Osteopathic technique 150
Nutrition & clinical dietetics 6
Phase 3
Research studies
Research methodology (quantitative and qualitative) including critical
statistics 36
Critical analysis 10
Dissertation/research paper 100
Clinical/professional studies
Case-history taking and patient communication 7
Differential and clinical diagnosis and clinical problem solving 100
Professional ethics 6
Radiological diagnosis and clinical imaging 50
Orthopaedics and trauma 60
Paediatrics and osteopathic care of children 100
Osteopathic sports care 20
Case-analysis studies 18
Applied clinical osteopathic technique 150
Ergonomics 10
Osteopathic evaluation and patient management including reflective practice 13
Gynaecology and obstetrics 40
Rheumatology 12
Osteopathic care of the elderly 12
Nutrition & clinical dietetics 6
12
Training of osteopathic practitioners
Research studies
Research methodology (quantitative and qualitative) 29
Critical analysis 5
Dissertation/research paper 200
Clinical/professional studies
Case-history taking and patient communication 6
Differential and clinical diagnosis and clinical problem solving 20
Professional ethics 8
Radiological diagnosis and clinical imaging 18
Gynaecology and obstetrics 12
Dermatology 20
Orthopaedics and trauma 6
Case-analysis studies 9
Paediatrics and osteopathic care of children 12
Applied clinical osteopathic technique 150
Professional practice management 50
Osteopathic evaluation and patient management 18
13
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
14
Safety issues
3. Safety issues
Direct techniques, may use thrust, impulse, muscle contraction, fascial loading or
passive range of motion, to achieve tissue response. They can be applied
specifically to a joint or nonspecifically to a larger area of the body. Often an area
that should not be treated using a direct technique may safely and effectively be
treated using an alternative technique, e.g. indirect, fluid or reflex-based. There
are absolute and relative contraindications to direct techniques.
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
16
Safety issues
engage the restrictive barrier. They may include fascial and soft-tissue loading or
unloading, hydraulic pressures, phases of respiration and cranial or postural
adjustments, as part of the application of the technique. Relative
contraindications to indirect techniques usually concern the clinical-temporal
profile of the problem.
17
Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
18
References
References
1. Gevitz N. The DOs: Osteopathic Medicine in America, 2nd ed. Baltimore, Johns
Hopkins University Press, 2004.
2. Trowbridge C. Andrew Taylor Still 1828-1917, 1st ed. Kirksville, MO: the
Thomas Jefferson University Press, 1991.
6. Rimmer KP, Ford GT, Whitelaw WA. Interaction between postural and
respiratory control of human intercostal muscles. Journal of Applied
Physiology, 1995, 79(5):1556-1561.
10. Emrich HM, Millan MJ. Stress reactions and endorphinergic systems. Journal
of Psychosomatic Research, 1982, 26(2):101-104.
11. Ganong W. The stress response - a dynamic overview. Hospital Practice, 1988,
23(6):155-158, 161-162, 167.
12. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R. Stress and immune function in humans. In: Ader
R, Felton DL, Cohen N, eds. Psychoneuroimmunology, 2nd ed. San Diego, CA,
Academic Press, 1991:849-895.
14. Van Buskirk RL. Nociceptive reflexes and the somatic dysfunction: a model.
Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 1990, 90(9):792-794, 797-809.
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
15. Willard FH, Mokler DJ, Morgane PJ. Neuroendocrine-immune system and
homeostasis. In: Ward RC, ed. Foundations for osteopathic medicine, 1st ed.
Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins, 1997:107-135.
16. Winter DA et al. Biomechanical walking pattern changes in the fit and
healthy elderly. Physical Therapy, 1990, 70(6):340-347.
20
Annex
Participants
Dr Boyd Buser, Dean and Vice President, Health Services (Interim), UNECOM,
Biddeford, Maine, United States of America [Co-Rapporteur]
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Benchmarks for training in osteopathy
22
Annex
Dr Vegard Nore, Senior adviser, Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social
Affairs, Department for Community Health Services, Oslo, Norway
Local Secretariat
WHO Secretariat
23