Australian osteopathic association was founded in 1955 in Victoria, it represents all the states in Australia and became a federal body in 1991. Today the association represents osteopaths in all the states and liaisons with the government on issues of education and profession. The osteopathy association like any other body sets down rules and standards which are to be followed by all its members. This helps in maintaining the standard of the osteopathic practice. Osteopathy was started as a science to deal with all musculo skeletal disorders by an American doctor Andrew Taylor still in 1870. Both WHO and British medical council recognise osteopathy as a discrete field of medicine. To become an osteopath one has to undergo rigorous training for full five years in anatomy, physiology, pathology and general medical diagnosis. They are also trained to carry out general medical examination of the cardio vascular, respiratory and the nervous system.
Common complaints for which anyone has to visit an osteopath:
· Any and all types of back and neck pain.
· Painful leg condition called sciatica.
· All types of head aches.
· Painful peripheral joints shoulders, knees and ankles, tendosynovitis and muscular sprains and strains.
· Work and repetitive strain injuries.
· Any sports related injury.
In addition to the above osteopaths can help patients with arthritis, gynecological conditions and pregnancy. Many patients of arthritis get miraculous relief when they are treated by both doctor and osteopath together. During pregnancy all the back aches can be troublesome, but an osteopath can take care of this backache along with some procedures for making child birth easy. The osteopathic association has set the education system so that all the osteopath schools train their students for a period of five years along with enough practical experience. In case you are interested in becoming an osteopath be ready to study for at least five to six years.