Osteopathy was developed in the late 1800's by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. Dr. Still was a traditional doctor of the time who had become disillusioned with the medical practices of the day and set about developing a diagnostic and treatment system that could stimulate the body to heal itself. Over the years, medical research has proven the immense value and benefits osteopathic treatments can provide. Osteopathy is a drugless, manual system of health care that recognizes the body's self-healing, self-regulating ability is rooted in a number of factors, including favourable environmental conditions both internal and external, adequate nutrition, good sleep patterns and normal structural integrity. It utilizes generally accepted methods of diagnosis combined with osteopathic structural exams to facilitate accurate structural assessments that will guide the treatment process. It places special emphasis upon the importance of biomechanics, uses manipulative techniques to detect and correct, faulty structure thereby enhancing function.

Osteopathy has evolved over time into two main sub-categories: classical osteopathy and what most people call osteopathy today. Classical osteopaths give great credence to the importance of good structural integrity, a balanced nervous system and strong, free fluid mechanics. While the manual techniques used in each approach are similar, the classical osteopath will always address the entire structure in every session, ensuring to assess and address the mechanics of every part of the spine and peripheral joints. This approach is grounded in the understanding that the body functions as a whole, and dysfunction in one part of the body will directly, or indirectly, impact every other part of the body via fascial pull, as well as via impaired neural communication and fluid mechanics thus creating a breeding ground for disease. The works of Dr. Still's protege, Dr. John Martin Littlejohn, along with Dr. Littlejohn's long-time student John Wernham, have kept classical osteopathy alive and as close to Dr. Still's original methods as possible. These efforts are now being carried on by two schools which are the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy in England and the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy and Holistic Health Sciences in Hamilton, Canada.

For more information on Classical Osteopathy, please visit http://canadianosteopathy.ca/