Osteopathy is a distinctive and complete system of health care, based on broad principles that ?offer a way of thinking and acting in relation to questions of health and disease? (Dr. I. M. Korr). The procedures it uses in diagnosis and treatment promote healthy functioning in a person by correcting mechanical imbalances within and between the structures of the body. By structures we mean the muscles, bones, ligaments, organs, and fascia. The fascia is a very thin layer of tissue that is found under the skin. Correcting the mechanical imbalances in the structures is done by restoring, maintaining, and improving the harmonious working of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.

The name osteopathy (given to the therapy by Dr. Still) comes from the Greek osteon (bone) and pathos (to suffer), so it literally means suffering of the bone. The name has created some confusion, leading people to think that an osteopath treats only conditions of the bones. However, Dr. Still chose the name because he recognized the importance of a properly functioning musculoskeletal system for the total well-being of the individual.

Osteopathy and orthodox medicine have many things in common: they both use the scientific knowledge of anatomy and physiology, as well as clinical methods of investigation. In this respect, they have a similar language. The greatest differences, however, lie in the way patients are evaluated and in the approach to treatment. As a general rule, the orthodox medical approach focuses on the end product of the problem ? that is, on the illness. Treatment aims to redress the balance by giving drugs or carrying out surgery.