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If you are good with people,
studying science A levels and are after a rewarding
and stable career with virtually nil unemployment,
you might like to consider a career in osteopathy.
Today, more and more people are seeking osteopathic
treatment for all kinds of problems, and ninety
percent of patients see a substantial improvement
in their health.
Osteopathy is a system of manipulation, correcting
a joint and tissue abnormalities to restore physical
and mental well-being. It can be combined with
naturopathy which looks at the whole person taking
into account an individuals lifestyle, including
job, home-life, what factor contribute to stress,
exercise routines and an analysis of diet, and
is based on stimulating the body's natural healing
processes.
Far from being a new form of alternative therapy,
the origins of naturopathic osteopathy date back
to the origins of medicine. It is based on the
principles of Hippocrates, whose views on diet
remain unchallenged after nearly two and a half
thousand years.
Degree courses for osteopathy are generally four
years long and provide a thorough basis of scientific
theory including philosophy, physiology, psychology
and anatomy whilst focusing on osteopathic techniques.
Because being an osteopath is all about physical
manipulation using your hands, it's very important
to get as much practical experience as you can
whilst studying.
For example, third and forth year students at
the British college of Osteopathic Medicine in
London spend a substantial proportion of their
time treating real patients under a tutor's supervision.
Individual students take their own patients through
the course of treatments from consultation to
discharge, so that reactions to treatment and
its process can be closely studied.
Opportunities as an Osteopath
A degree in osteopathy is hard work and therefore
not for the fainthearted, but will guarantee you
a varied, successful and rewarding career, where
the hours worked can be very flexible. Newly graduated
naturopathic osteopaths will have a number of
possible areas of practice.
There are also opportunities abroad, but a thorough
examination of the particular country's laws relating
to practice should be made. A perusal of the Osteopathic
Register will reveal where members are currently
practising in Britain and overseas.
Professional Regulation
In the UK, the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
and the General Council and Register of Naturopaths
(GCRN) monitor the academic and clinical standard
of the accredited institutions, maintain a Code
of Ethics, and stand as the guardians for the
protection of the general public. Since the passing
of the Osteopathy Act in 1993, the General Osteopathy
Council was created to develop a statutory register
and once the transition phase is completed only
those individuals listed on the register will
be able to be titled as an Osteopath by law.
For Further information
contact:
British College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lief
House, 3 Sumpter Close, 120-122 Finchley Road,
London NW3 5HR.
Telephone: 0207 435 6464
Website: www.bcno.org.uk
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