Osteopathy (osteopathic or D.O. medicine) is a unique branch of western medicine that involves the same education, training and practice rights as allopathic or M.D. medicine, however is also rooted in a holistic philosophy, seeing the human being as a whole unit of spirit-mind-body.  

In addition, the osteopathic medical training includes the practice of Osteopathic Manual Medicine, which is the hands-on diagnosis and treatment of the human being.  Though all U.S. osteopathic physicians are fully licensed to prescribe medication and practice medicine in any specialty (including surgery, OB/GYN, dermatology, anesthesiology, family practice, internal medicine, etc.), only a small percentage of osteopathic physicians choose to practice Osteopathic Manual Medicine as their specialty.

To read more about how Dr. Dawn practices and what conditions Osteopathy treats, see here.

Osteopathic Manual Medicine was founded by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1892. Dr. Still understood that there was more to medicine than what was being practiced at that time.  He spent time with three Native American tribes, which likely had a deep influence on his approach to the human spirit-mind-body.  Through his in-depth study of human anatomy and physiology, he discovered that he could improve function by freeing up blood vessels, nerves, and lymph flow, by bringing motion to areas that did not have motion, and he began developing manual techniques to support the human body’s natural function.

Osteopathic Manual Medicine has continued to progress over the years, having incorporated the work of many of the osteopathic elders including Dr. William Sutherland, Dr. Ann Wales, Dr. Ruby Day, and Dr. Rollin Becker.  Osteopaths of today see themselves as part of a rich tradition and as pioneers continuing to “dig on” in the field of medicine, as Dr. Sutherland had encouraged. 

Osteopathic Manual Medicine is the hands-on diagnosis and treatment of patients.  There are 3 generally recognized models of osteopathic manual medicine- the Biomechanical, Biofunctional, and Biodynamic.  Most osteopathic schools start by teaching students the Biomechanical model, as this model works more with grosser movements of the body that are typically easier to grasp.  The Biomechanical model looks for something that is out of place or stuck, and then direct force is used to put the structure back in place or to free it up.

Biofunctional model of manual medicine is also taught in osteopathic medical schools, and is comprised of techniques that engage with the motion permitted in the body, which is also called “indirect” action, where for example tissue might be brought to a place of balance before they “release.”

The Biodynamic model is taught after the osteopathic student has completed at least a forty-hour cranial course, as this model requires understanding of and an attunement with the cranial mechanism, powered by the Breath of Life.  For this training, one often studies for many years, often ongoing, with the Biodynamic faculty which includes Dr. James Jealous.

In the Biodynamic Osteopathy, which is a form of Cranial Osteopathy, the physician appreciates not only motion permitted but the motion present in the human system.  This model works with the life processes of the whole organism, with particular attention to what is called the primary respiratory mechanism.  This mechanism is observed in all the tissues of the body and is seen as the fundamental expression of the Life being breathed in the body (or the Breath of Life).  Thus it reflects the essence of Health within the system

In Biodynamic Osteopathy, the therapeutic forces are not originated by the physician, and healing is not done to the patient.  The physician does not use force to manipulate the patient’s body; rather, she engages the therapeutic forces that originate from within the patient, oriented both from the periphery (also known as the outside presence of primary respiration, where the breath of life is perceived) and through the midline of the patient.  The patient is perceived as self-healing and self-regulating, and the physician serves as a witness and catalyst to the therapeutic process.

What is Spacial Dynamics?

Spacial Dynamics is an integrative movement therapy that includes exercises, hands-on techniques, and postural modification, with a spatially oriented approach to movement observation, analysis, evaluation, and enhancement.  It studies how we live and move in space, and how our relationship with the space around us affects the health and integrity of our being and our movement. Space is seen not as lifeless and dead, but as a medium that is alive and full of potentiality.  The relationship with the space around us is instrumental in how we experience ourselves, others, and the world.

Limiting or dysfunctional habits and patterns of movement are observed and transformed by working with archetypal spatial configurations and streams, allowing for the expansion of one’s spatial repertoire, capacity for change, and experience of possibility. 

By learning to optimize your own spacial dynamic, you will be able to create balance, learn to move with greater ease and grace, access more strength and vitality, deepen your groundedness and connectivity with Life, shift your emotional state and capacity to choose ways of being, and experience greater awareness, while as a byproduct creating more aesthetically pleasing, biomechanically correct, and functionally enhanced movements.

For more information on Spacial Dynamics, please click here.