Osteopathy: A Story of Vision, Science and Health
Discover the evolution of osteopathy, from its birth to international recognition as a health discipline.
1874 – The Birth of Osteopathy
📍 Kirksville, Missouri (USA)
Physician Andrew Taylor Still publicly announces the principles of osteopathy, laying the foundation for a new therapeutic approach based on anatomy, physiology and self-regulation of the body.
1892 – Foundation of the first school
🧠 Kirksville School of Osteopathy
Still founded the American School of Osteopathy (now A.T. Still University), institutionalizing the teaching of osteopathy with a model based on dissection, palpatory diagnosis, and manual treatments.
1917 – Osteopathy arrives in Europe
🌍 London
John Martin Littlejohn, a student of Still, brings osteopathy to the United Kingdom, where he founds the British School of Osteopathy. The discipline begins to expand in Europe.
1950-1980 – Growth and Consolidation
🌐 Osteopathy spreads in France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and other countries. The first European schools and professional associations are born. Dialogue with health systems begins.
1993 – Legal recognition in Europe
📄 United Kingdom
Osteopathy becomes a regulated health profession in the United Kingdom with the Osteopaths Act. France (2002), Switzerland and other countries follow.
2000–present – Global Osteopathy
🌎 Growing recognition
More and more countries recognize osteopathy: it enters universities, is integrated into health systems and receives official recognition. The era of osteopathic scientific research begins.
2020–present – Osteopathy and interprofessionalism
🔬 Multidisciplinary collaboration
Osteopathy today dialogues with physiatry, general medicine, pediatrics and other disciplines. It establishes itself as a complementary and integrated manual approach.
✨ Osteopathy today
Osteopathy is now a recognized health discipline in many parts of the world, focusing on the unity of the body, the ability to self-heal and the dynamic interaction between structure and function.
The osteopath uses the hands as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool to improve the overall health of the person, always respecting the individuality of the patient.
✅ Our values
1. 👤 Person-centered approach
Every osteopathic treatment starts by listening to the patient, respecting his uniqueness and recognizing his specific needs.
The goal is not just to treat a symptom, but to understand the entire physical, emotional, and functional context in which the symptom manifests itself.
2. ⚖️ Ethics and professional responsibility
We believe in a professional practice based on respect for the patient, transparency and moral integrity.
Every osteopath registered with the IRO subscribes to a code of ethics that promotes good clinical practice, respect for the limits of competence and collaboration with other health professionals.
3. 📚 Continuous and updated training
The quality of the osteopath is closely linked to his preparation. The IRO promotes continuous professional growth through courses, seminars and scientific updates, encouraging constant learning in line with international standards.
4. 🤝 Interdisciplinary team work
Modern osteopathy is not closed in on itself. It collaborates with medicine, physiotherapy, psychology and many other health disciplines.
We promote an integrated vision, in which the patient is at the center of a synergic and coordinated work between multiple professional figures.