Core Curriculum & Competencies of Osteopathic Practice

The Ontario Association of Osteopathic Practitioners (OAOP) ensures that its members meet high professional standards through a comprehensive curriculum that integrates basic sciences, clinical sciences, osteopathic principles, and hands-on practical training.

πŸ“Œ Core Areas of Study

πŸ”¬ Basic Sciences

  • History and philosophy of science
  • Gross and functional anatomy (including embryology, neuroanatomy, and visceral anatomy)
  • Fundamental bacteriology, biochemistry, and cellular physiology
  • Physiology, with an emphasis on:
    • Neuroendocrine-immune network
    • Autonomic nervous system
    • Arterial, lymphatic, venous, and musculoskeletal systems
  • Biomechanics and kinetics

βš•οΈ Clinical Sciences

  • Models of health and disease
  • Safety and ethics
  • Pathophysiology of major body systems:
    • Nervous, musculoskeletal, psychiatric, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, reproductive, genitourinary, immune, endocrine, and otolaryngology systems
  • Basic orthopedic diagnosis and radiology
  • Nutrition and basic emergency care

🦴 Osteopathic Science

  • Philosophy and history of osteopathy
  • Structure/function interrelationships in osteopathy
  • Clinical biomechanics, joint physiology, and kinetics
  • Mechanisms of osteopathic manual therapy techniques

πŸ“‹ Practical Skills

  • Patient history-taking and clinical examination
  • Osteopathic diagnosis and differential diagnosis
  • Interpretation of laboratory and imaging data
  • Clinical problem-solving and reasoning
  • Research evaluation and integration into practice
  • Communication and patient interviewing
  • Clinical documentation
  • Basic life-support and first-aid care

πŸ’† Osteopathic Manual Therapy Techniques

  • Direct methods: Thrust, articulatory, muscle energy, and general osteopathic methods
  • Indirect techniques: Functional techniques and counterstrain
  • Balancing techniques: Balanced ligamentous tension and ligamentous articulatory strain
  • Combined techniques: Myofascial/fascial release, Still technique, cranial osteopathy, visceral techniques
  • Reflex-based techniques: Chapman’s reflexes, trigger points, neuromuscular techniques
  • Fluid-based techniques: Lymphatic pump techniques

πŸ“š Training & Clinical Experience

Osteopathic practice requires both cognitive and hands-on skills, developed through supervised training.

  • A minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice
  • Practical experience in an osteopathic clinical environment to ensure high-quality training
  • Exposure to patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning

πŸŽ“ Core Competencies for Osteopathic Practice

Osteopathic practitioners must demonstrate:

βœ” A deep understanding of osteopathic philosophy and its application to healthcare
βœ” Proficiency in palpatory and diagnostic skills
βœ” Expertise in neuromusculoskeletal disorders
βœ” Knowledge of indications and contraindications for osteopathic treatments
βœ” Competency in diagnostic imaging, lab test interpretation, and physical examination
βœ” Understanding of traditional and complementary medicine approaches

By maintaining these high standards, OAOP ensures its members provide safe, effective, and evidence-based osteopathic care to the public.