| WE ALL want to enjoy our work. Most of us want to be able to genuinely say, at the end of a hard week: 'I really made a difference'. Working to alleviate the pain of others, or helping and encouraging others to do well can and does make that difference. An ideal second career for people seeking this kind of job satisfaction, and especially for women seeking to blend family and work commitments, is the diploma course in osteopathy now being run by the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Science (IPTAS) in Stillorgan, Dublin. This therapy is well established overseas, where it is accorded the same status as medicine and dentistry, but its development here has been hampered by the (previous) lack of any formal training. The launch of the IPTAS course in 1999 changed all that, and Institute director and founder, Anne Mangan, reckons that the only way now for the profession is up. Osteopathy is a complementary, holistic, manual medicine that treats a range of musculo skeletal disorders, including back pain, pregnancy-related complaints, and sports injuries. It has a high, and proven, success rate. The evidence backing the effectiveness of osteopathy is by now overwhelming. This evidence is provided in the form of research papers produced by orthodox medical practitioners and authorities, principally in the UK, and by follow-on surveys of patients presenting to GPs with lower back pain.
A further survey of 50 experts in lower back .pain found that most rated osteopathy as an effective clinical treatment for this condition. There is also independent evidence to support the cost effectiveness of osteopathy in the following terms: it reduces the amount, and cost, of painkilling drugs prescribed, it minimises the need for X-rays, it reduces the number of subsequent GP referrals for the presenting condition, early and appropriate use saves money on hospital outpatient referrals and helps reduce pressure on hospital waiting lists and patients availing of osteopathy obtain more effective relief from pain and can return to work sooner. |
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As a result of these and other studies, the practise of osteopathy has since become regulated by law in the U.K. Treatment is now approved under the NHS and is covered by medical insurers in the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand. BUPA Ireland and the VHI also provide cover. The scope and efficacy of the osteopath's practise is illustrated by studies that show musculo-skeletal disorders ranking in the top two reasons for GP consultation among women and men between the ages of 45 and 65 years.Osteopathy's differentiating characteristic lies in its holistic approach. There are no pharmaceuticals involved, no invasive surgery, and no painful exercise routines. Practitioners treat the whole person, rather than concentrating on isolated aches or pains, so the cause of the patient's illness or discomfort is as important as the symptom(s). The diploma course is particularly attractive to those who want a combination of job satisfaction and the flexibility to accommodate parenting or other life needs. Candidates are expected to show the correct mixture of skills and aptitudes for the profession, rather than a plethora of Leaving Cert points. A nursing qualification combined with good communications skills usually satisfies the entry requirement . The course takes five years to complete, and for the final 3 years is full-time. Fees' charged by newly qualified practitioners range from about 40 euro per session, rising to about 60 per session later on. An osteopath can conduct two sessions per hour, so even a moderately successful. practice compares favourably with most other primary health care professions. Details on the course are available online at www.iptas.com, or by contacting the Institute oj Physical Therapy at freephone 1 800 254 642 ©Nursing & Midwifery To visit the Priory Clinic website - click here. |
