Quick answers...
Unless mentioned specifically in this FAQ, all information associated with the titles "Osteopath" and "osteopathy" is related to those whom have full time training from accredited institutions in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and who are subject to the Osteopaths Act (1993) regulated by the General Osteopathic Council.
What is osteopathy from the UK?
A British healthcare profession that specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of neuro-musculo-skeletal disorders of the human body.
Who are you?
Marc Jones, DO (UK). I am a British-trained specialist GOsC Osteopath.
What is a British-trained specialist GOsC Osteopath?
A primary-care practitioner whom diagnoses and treats neuro-musculo-skeletal disorders of the human body using a wide range of osteopathic palpatory and manipulative techniques, rather than with drugs or surgery.
Click on any of the 20 questions below for more answers.
1. What is Osteopathy?
2. Are Osteopaths and chiropractors the same?
3. Who is Marc Jones, DO (UK)?
4. How do I make an appointment with you and do I need a referral?
5. How long are appointment sessions?
6. How many osteopathic treatments will I need?
7. Which osteopathic treatment techniques do you use?
8. Is osteopathic treatment painful?
9. Are you registered for extended health benefits and insurance?
10. Do you have professional insurance as an osteopath?
11. Do you prescribe drugs?
12. Do you perform any surgical or invasive techniques?
13. Do you know how to read X-rays, MRI and other body scans?
14. Do you treat diseases such as cancer, asthma or diabetes etc?
15. Do you treat sports injuries?
16. What is the General Osteopathic Council and how does this help me?
17. Do you work with any other healthcare professions?
18. What does 'DO (UK)' mean?
19. Why do you not call yourself "Dr. Jones"?
20. What are the differences between British-trained 'Osteopaths' and US trained 'Osteopathic Physicians'?
1. What is Osteopathy? Top
Osteopathy is a British primary healthcare profession that helps many patients suffering with pain and other disorders of their body.
The definition of the word 'osteopathy' confuses many people as they think it means "bone-disease". In reality, 'osteopathy' is "the diagnosis and treatment of structural and functional (neuro-musculo-skeletal) disorders of the human body".
This means that a specialist Osteopath will look to diagnose the neuro-musculo-skeletal causes of your problem and then attempt to correct them by using any of a number of osteopathic manipulative techniques. The body is then able to repair itself naturally over the following hours, days and weeks.
When seeing a specialist GOsC Osteopath, it is usual for a patient to remove some of their clothing during an osteopathic consultation so that a thorough examination and subsequent treatment can be undertaken. If you are not comfortable with this, we can work around it, but it will make it more difficult.
Take a look through the categories in the side-bar to the left of your screen for 'Osteopathy', 'UK Osteopathic Fact Sheets' and 'Osteopathic Articles' to get more information.
2. Are Osteopaths and chiropractors the same? Top
No, but there are similarities. The approaches and techniques of Osteopaths are more wide-ranging than just spinal manipulation as we tend to look at the whole human body rather than just the spine. As a general rule of thumb, osteopathic treatment is gentler than chiropractic treatment, but this can of course vary.
GOsC Osteopaths, in common with doctors and chiropractors, are primary-care practitioners. This means that we are all trained to diagnose and give medically based opinions in our specialist fields of expertise.
Osteopaths trained in Britain receive medical training that incorporates many of the clinical testing skills that you may expect from your GP. Whereas your GP is trained in medicine and surgery, Osteopaths are trained to have a highly developed sense of palpatory skill that is used to detect abnormalities and to provide safe effective osteopathic manipulative treatments. There is no qualification in North America that matches the vocational ('special skills training') osteopathic degree from the UK.
Listed below are definitions, as described by the British Medical Association (BMA):
Osteopathy: A system of diagnosis and treatment that recognises the role of the musculo-skeletal system in the healthy functioning of the body. The basic principle of osteopathy is that all body systems operate in unison, and that disturbances in one system can alter the function of others. The osteopath uses manipulation, rhythmic stretching, and pressure to restore movemonts to the joints. He or she also uses traditional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to diagnose and treat dysfunction.
Chiropractic: A system of treatment for a range of discorders, that is based on manipulation of the spine. The main principle of chiropractic is the theory that disease stems from the misalignment of bones, which causes various problems with the nerves and the muscles.
Osteopaths and chiropractors are both trained to work with traditional physicians.
3. Who is Marc Jones, DO (UK)? Top
I am a British-trained (English) GOsC Osteopath with a professional osteopathic degree from the British School of Osteopathy in London, England. This is an 'osteopathic degree' as opposed to a 'medical' or 'chiropractic degree'.
I am registered with the General Osteopathic Council (UK), the British Osteopathic Association and the World Osteopathic Health Organisation. I am also a member and founding director of the Society for the Promotion of Manual Practice Osteopathy in BC.
4. How do I make an appointment with you and do I need a referral? Top
Physician or other referrals are not required. Please see the 'Contact and Addresses' in the side-bar to the left for addresses and telephone numbers.
5. How long are appointment sessions? Top
Most appointments require 20-30 minutes with the exception of initial (new) patient consultations, which take 30-40 minutes. A 45-minute appointment is available (at extra cost) for those whom have complex or multiple conditions for me to treat.
6. How many osteopathic treatments will I need? Top
This is very difficult to answer, as each person is different. Three treatment sessions is usually all it takes to notice some positive changes with the average number within Britain being quoted as 2-6 visits. Some patients with a very chronic or longstanding history may choose to return regularly for preventative osteopathic intervention; for ongoing postural maintenance; or if gaining relief from chronic pain.
For those whom have never visited a specialist Osteopath before, do not be surprised to find that you may need less frequent appointments than you might expect from visting a chiropractor or a physiotherapist.
7. Which osteopathic treatment techniques do you use? Top
When I have assessed and diagnosed your problem, I then have to decide how best to treat it for you. Depending on the tissues involved, I have an array of techniques available to me.
Typically I tend to use combinations of the following: osteopathic manipulations (adjustments), soft-tissue massage, counterstrain, muscle energy, myofascial release, articulation, traction, and (to a significantly lesser degree) functional, cranial and visceral osteopathy. I also supplement treatment with stretches and strengthening exercises as required. I am also trained in the safe use and application of low level laser therapy, ultrasound and interferential.
8. Is osteopathic treatment painful? Top
Ordinarily, no. However, it is not uncommon for some patients to feel achy or sore the day after treatment as the body responds to the osteopathic techniques. This is not too dissimilar to the response that most of us feel the day after a new exercise program.
If you feel that an osteopathic technique is becoming too uncomfortable, you must let me know. If I do feel that we need to work a little more strongly with the techniques, we shall discuss this together. The choice to refuse will always be yours.
9. Are you registered for extended health benefits and insurance? Top
Please check with your extended health benefits provider for details. More and more companies are now covering osteopathic treatment.
10. Do you have professional insurance as an osteopath? Top
Yes. It is a conditional requirement for all GOsC (UK) registered osteopaths to carry professional insurance.
11. Do you prescribe drugs? Top
No. GOsC Osteopaths practise manual (non-invasive) medicine.
12. Do you perform any surgical or invasive techniques? Top
No. GOsC Osteopaths practise manual (non-invasive) medicine.
13. Do you know how to read X-rays, MRI and other body scans? Top
Yes. GOsC Osteopaths are trained to understand and work with traditional medicine in many ways.
14. Do you treat diseases such as cancer, asthma or diabetes etc? Top
Not as such. GOsC Osteopaths do not treat pathological conditions that can only respond to medicine or surgery. However, patients suffering from such conditions can often benefit from osteopathic treatment to help with some aspects of their pain. Full-disclosure of all medical information to your Osteopath is essential in these matters to ensure that appropriate treatment is given.
15. Do you treat sports injuries? Top
Yes. I have a history of working with amateur and professional sportsmen, women and performance artistes in a variety of sports and disciplines. I also have a history of semi-professional competitive sport behind me.
16. What is the General Osteopathic Council and how does this help me? Top
The GOsC is the regulatory body for osteopathy (and Osteopaths) within Britain. There is no comparable organisation for osteopathy within Canada. The GOsC logo is present on the side-menu on every page. By clicking on it, you will be transfered to the offical site for the regulation of Osteopaths in the UK under the Osteopaths Act (1993).
An accredited osteopathic degree does not guarantee the right to practise as an Osteopath. Osteopaths trained in Britain must also pass the professional and personal standards examinations of the General Osteopathic Council. This is to ensure that we have reached the high standards demanded of Osteopaths to practise osteopathy in Britain and that we continue to maintain them through compulsory continuing professional development (CPD).
As a comparison, I must complete more than double the amount of CPD hours than any chiropractor in BC. Whereas in BC, chiropractors need only complete 24 hours in two years, I must complete a minimum of 30 validated hours of CPD every year.
You have the reassurance that I have reached and continue to maintain certain professional standards as one of only a handful of British-trained Osteopaths within Canada (3,700 worldwide) and the only GOsC (UK) registered Osteopath in mainland British Columbia.
17. Do you work with any other healthcare professions? Top
Yes. GOsC Osteopaths are trained to work with orthodox medicine as well as with other practitioners. I am more than happy to co-operate with your other healthcare providers if I can help.
18. What does 'DO (UK)' mean? Top
'DO' is a term used by many different osteopathic organisations across the globe to describe a 'qualified' Osteopath. Not all 'DO' are the same, so a 'qualifier' is sometimes added when in different countries. Therefore a qualified Osteopath from Britain would tend to use 'DO (UK)' when practising overseas.
19. Why do you not call yourself "Dr. Jones"? Top
In Britain, chiropractors and physicians choose to call themselves 'doctor', but Osteopaths do not - it is just one of those quaint British inconsistencies that may have to change in the future. If you were trying to draw a comparison between North American and British healthcare, you might invent a term such as "doctor of manipulative osteopathy", but remember that such a term does not exist in reality.
20. What are the differences between British-trained 'Osteopaths' and US trained 'Osteopathic Physicians'? Top
There is a lot of confusion with many people calling themselves 'Osteopaths' when there is a huge difference between the training programs worldwide. Specialist Osteopaths who are trained full-time (over many years) in osteopathic practice from start to finish are usually only found in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, as the emphasis is in developing specialist osteopathic diagnostic and palpation skills on a daily basis over many years. Both UK Osteopaths and US osteopathic physicians are recognised by the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) and World Osteopathic Health Organisation (WOHO).
The US has full-time training for 'osteopathic physicians', some of whom practise in Canada. These physicians have completed some osteopathic training within their program. Anecdotally, 80% of osteopathic physicians never practise manipulative osteopathy and choose to work as traditional doctors.
