If you’re embarking on a career as an osteopathic manual practitioner, you have an exciting and rewarding path ahead. But it all starts with choosing the right school for your needs and goals. 

In Canada, there’s good demand for osteopathy professionals across the country, and getting the right training will position you at the forefront of that demand. 

Depending on your experience and circumstances, you might be wondering what to look for in an osteopathy school. Perhaps you’re a working professional looking to upskill with a flexible program. Or perhaps you’re looking for a course in line with international standards. 

Choosing the right osteopathy school is no easy decision, so here’s a look at some key things to consider as you prepare for your osteopathic education!

Does the Curriculum Meet Professional Standards?

Since osteopathy schools are not regulated by the government in Canada, it’s important to do your own research to ensure you’re choosing a school that offers a reputable and qualified program. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, we are proud to offer a curriculum that aims to meet and exceed international standards. Our program is recognized and monitored by OSTCAN and Osteopathy Canada.

Specifically, all graduates of our osteopathy college are eligible to become a member of OSTCAN, an association open to practitioners with a world-class education in osteopathy. Members must have a minimum of 4200 hours of osteopathic education, including supervised clinical training, which is what you’ll get during your time at CAO. 

While learning from a team of professionals who are actively working as osteopathic manual practitioners, you can be confident you’re getting the training and qualifications you need to start a reputable career. 

What Kind of Support Will You Get During Your Training?

The path to an osteopathy specialization can be challenging, and it’s important that you feel comfortable and supported along the way. Given the work and commitment it requires, you’ll want a school that facilitates the training process and accommodates the needs of different students where possible. Think about your current professional and personal commitments and whether the school offers a learning environment that is convenient for you. 

At CAO, we offer a flexible, full-time program that allows you to continue to work while in the program. The combination of in-person and online lectures also allows flexibility for those commuting from out of the province. 

We understand that adjusting to a full course load can be a challenge, which is why we have plenty of support systems available for students at CAO’s community-centred campus, including access to a Student Success Coordinator, opportunities to form connections with classmates and small classes taught by passionate faculty.

Does the Osteopathy College Offer Real-World Experience? 

A good osteopathy school should ultimately prepare you for a professional career as an osteopathic manual practitioner. You’ll want to graduate with the confidence to deliver safe and effective osteopathic treatment to patients. The best way to achieve that is through a program that offers real-world experience for you to put your knowledge to the test.

Students at CAO are required to complete supervised clinical training and practice prior to graduation. This takes place in our dedicated clinical environments that are insured and supervised by professional osteopathic manual practitioners. Real-life patients come to the clinic for assessments and ongoing care, at which point you’ll practice intake procedures, take the lead on treatments, learn how to catch signs or symptoms of the body, and more. With hands-on experience under your belt, you’ll graduate as a more qualified and confident practitioner.

Want to learn more about training as an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Interested in Osteopathy College? How to Choose the Right School for Your Training appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Are you looking for a rewarding career in the healthcare field? Do you want to learn how to treat patients on a holistic and individualized level? If yes, working as an osteopathic manual practitioner could be the right choice for you. 

Training in osteopathy is a challenging and dynamic path that prepares you to deliver non-invasive, manual therapy to patients as a form of complementary care. With a strong understanding of the systems and functions of the body, osteopathic manual practitioners support the body’s ability to self-heal. 

The type of approach you take to your training will largely depend upon the program you choose. The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a comprehensive four-year program that follows a unique, principles-based curriculum. If you’re wondering whether this path is right for you, read on to discover what to expect from an education at the CAO. 

In-Depth Knowledge of Osteopathic Principles

At CAO, we believe that osteopathy should be taught as a profession in and of itself. What does this mean for you? Learning about osteopathic principles, history and theory is essential to developing a true and complete understanding of the practice. Rather than seeing osteopathy as an “add-on” to other modalities, we teach students to look at anatomy and physiology through an osteopathic lens, examining the body as a whole dynamic system. 

By focusing on the theory and application of these principles, students gain a comprehensive understanding of osteopathy and are better able to diagnose and treat their patients. You’ll go beyond memorizing manual skills and techniques to explore the ‘who, what, where, when, and why’ behind osteopathic assessment and treatment.

Hands-on Clinical Experience

Since osteopathy is a hands-on profession, we think it’s essential for students to have the space to put their knowledge and skills to practice. That’s why our osteopathy school offers a free public clinic in which you can treat real-life patients! Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care, giving students the opportunity to develop clinical skills and client relationships in an environment that benefits all. 

Students will also have the chance to work with their fellow students in our practice clinic, where they have the space to try out new osteopathic techniques and learn from one another. Under the supervision of professional osteopathic manual practitioners, you’ll gain confidence in delivering safe and effective treatment. 

A Pathway to a Practical Career

First and foremost, the program at CAO is here to prepare you to become a working professional. With a growing demand for Osteopathic Manual Practitioners across Canada, graduates can enjoy the benefits of both business and job opportunities, whether they intend to stay in Ontario or practice in another province. Not to mention, with our principles-based training, you can stand out in your knowledge as an osteopathy professional. 

Graduates have gone on to work in public clinics or even open their own private clinics. Whatever career path you’re gunning for, you can expect to receive the highest standards of osteopathy education in Canada and be ready to enter your preferred osteopathic care environment.

Ready to begin your osteopathy career advancement?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started!

The post 3 Things to Expect When You Attend Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students not only gain osteopathic skills and techniques–they come to understand the founding principles and theory that those techniques rely on. This unique approach is what distinguishes training at CAO.

By focusing on the theory and application of these principles, students gain a comprehensive understanding of osteopathy and are better able to assess and treat their patients. As a graduate of CAO, you’ll feel confident in your knowledge of the practice of osteopathy as a whole. Read on to learn more about what a principles-based education has to offer.

Develop a Deeper Understanding of Osteopathic Theory and Principles 

Some osteopathy taught around the world focuses on a series of memorized techniques for different parts of the body. However, this kind of approach lacks the founding principles and theory that manual osteopathy relies on. CAO is proud to stand as Canada’s Premiere principles-based osteopathy school, offering a curriculum that aims to meet or exceed the international standards for osteopathy education. 

Our students are given a solid understanding of a variety of areas, such as clinical anatomy and physiology, osteopathic theory, principles in practice and much more. They not only learn the appropriate techniques to use but also examine the osteopathic history and debate the applications of these theories in practice. In preparing for an osteopathy specialization, students come to examine everything about the body–its anatomy and functions–through an osteopathic lens. 

Problem Solve Using Osteopathic Reason as an Osteopathy Professional

Osteopathy is a manual form of therapy that emphasizes the relationship between the structure and function of the human body. The practice is grounded in a belief in the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate; osteopathic manual practitioners work as facilitators of health. 

Above all, this practice requires you to work with complex layers of bodily structure. Osteopathic manual practitioners must take into account all the systems and mechanisms of the body to understand how one affects the other. The principles-based training at the CAO provides this essential knowledge of anatomy and physiology, allowing you to problem-solve issues on an individual level. 

Build Your Confidence as an Osteopathy Professional

As with any healthcare profession, it’s important to understand more than just the application of techniques; you need to understand the why and how of the practice. With a true understanding of osteopathic principles, students find themselves able to see the body through an osteopathic lens and think osteopathically. You’ll have the chance to put these principles and theories to practice in CAO’s Osteopathic Principles & Practice Lab, led by our experienced faculty. As you work towards your osteopathy career advancement, this kind of confidence in your own knowledge base is essential to helping you deliver safe, effective and individualized treatment. 

Are you interested in training as an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started.

The post Why Choose a Principles-Based Education for Your Osteopathy Specialization? appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a manual form of therapy that helps to strengthen the framework of the body and support the health of joints and muscles. By treating the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level, osteopathy can be very beneficial to many people with a variety of physical strains. 

Osteopathic patients include young people, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women and athletes. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you may be assisting these patients in overcoming pain from strain, recurring conditions, headaches, and more. Here’s a closer look at some of the physical problems that you may be treating as an osteopathic manual practitioner.

Physical Strain

Sports are some of the leading causes of strain on the body. Activities like running can cause stress on the joints and muscles, particularly those in the hips and knees. Likewise, weight lifting can lead to muscular strain in the back. Using non-invasive manual techniques, as an osteopathic manual practitioner you can help to support and strengthen the affected area. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students explore hands-on practices in the classroom labs, with the chance to put those skills to work on real patients in our free public osteopathy clinic. Our students are given a solid understanding of the founding theory and principles of osteopathy, paired with an in-depth look at functional anatomy and physiology. By understanding the relationship between the structure and function of the human body, you can help your patients return to a normal level of activity and advise them on ways they can reduce the chance of repetitive discomfort. 

Long-Term Discomfort and Healing

Many people who seek osteopathy treatment are dealing with consistent, long-term pain or recurring problems. This includes things like headaches, difficulty sleeping, prolonged stress, low energy levels, or bodily pain. When a patient experiences this kind of long-term discomfort, it can often affect the efficiency of the whole body and its ability to function on multiple levels. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll look beyond the immediate symptoms and aim to restore the balance between the underlying systems of the body. This includes things like the nervous system, the lymphatic system and blood flow–which are vital to the body’s ability to heal and self-regulate. 

Students at our osteopathy academy will dive into clinical anatomy and physiology, moving away from the traditional allopathic model and toward a fully integrated osteopathic model that examines the body as a whole dynamic body of function. This prepares you to treat complex problems on a deeper and more sustainable level. 

Posture and Relaxation

The stresses of modern life can take a huge toll on the body. Many people spend hours sitting at a desk and computer or working manual labour jobs. All of these activities can result in poor posture and eventually lead to hip, neck or back pain. That’s why it’s become increasingly common for people to seek osteopathic treatment to manage the effects of their work or personal lives. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you can help to realign the structures of the body and restore it to its natural state. With a strong understanding of osteopathic theory and principles, you’ll be ready to assess and treat the body on a personalized, individual level. 

Are you interested in a career as an osteopathy professional? 

Get started with training at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy!

The post 3 Patient Issues You May Encounter as An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is here to set students on a path to success as osteopathic manual practitioners. Our students come from backgrounds as personal trainers, yoga instructors, holders of a Health Science degree or no healthcare background at all. Once enrolled at CAO, they’ll dive into the principles, practices, history and theory of osteopathy. 

Regardless of their experience in healthcare, our students find the support and resources they need to develop specialized knowledge in the field of osteopathy. Read on to learn how CAO prepares students of all backgrounds for a new profession.

Those With a Degree in Health Science

Have you graduated from a University or College program in Health Sciences? Many of our students come from programs in Human Kinetics, Biological Medicine, Pre-Med or Life Sciences. These are students who have chosen to take their prior knowledge of anatomy and develop a new understanding of the body and dysfunction through an osteopathic lens. 

Before you begin at our osteopathy academy, students with a degree in Health Science can use their pre-existing knowledge of anatomy and physiology to bypass our Preparation Course. This allows them to proceed directly into Year 1 of the osteopathy program. 

Similarly, many students come from practicing careers in the healthcare field, including chiropractors, physiotherapists, nurses and paramedics. Those students will also be eligible to bypass the Preparation Course and get started on their path to a new career. 

Those With Limited or No Healthcare Experience

If you’re considering osteopathy school as someone with no background in healthcare, not to worry! At CAO, we welcome students with little to no healthcare experience at all and equip them with a comprehensive understanding of a highly specialized field. 

This includes students who have a limited understanding of anatomy and physiology through work as personal trainers, pilates instructors, nutritionists and more. It may also include those who have graduated from a program in fitness or health, such as physiotherapy assistant or occupational therapy assistant. 

In these cases, our Prep Course will help you learn and review essential anatomy and physiology content, allowing you to apply to Year 1 of the program. Whatever your level of understanding, CAO has a pathway that will allow you to safely and effectively progress to a rewarding career in the field of osteopathy. 

What to Expect at Our Osteopathy Academy

At CAO, we believe that osteopathy must be taught as a profession in and of itself, rather than as an ‘add-on’ to other modalities. That’s why, regardless of your experience, we focus on equipping all students with a true understanding of clinical anatomy and physiology, osteopathic principles in practice, osteopathic history and theory and much more. 

With expert instruction from professionals actively working as Osteopathic Manual Practitioners, our students have the support and resources they need to develop a clear understanding of osteopathy treatments. At the same time, our clinical experience gives students the chance to treat real-life patients in CAO’s free public clinic. With the right combination of theory and practice, students of all backgrounds will be ready to practice safe, effective and ethical osteopathy in their careers.

Are you interested in working towards an osteopathy specialization?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started!

The post How Training at Our Osteopathy School Caters to Students Coming from a Variety of Backgrounds appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a practice that examines the structure and function of the human body to facilitate the healing of any problems. As a complementary therapy, osteopathy helps to strengthen the framework of the body so it can reach its optimal physical function. This is particularly important in summer, when more and more people are getting back into the swing of physical activity. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner during this time of year, you’ll likely have patients come to you dealing with athletic injuries, gardening injuries, soreness or other difficulties. After the long hiatus of winter, you’ll work to help those people adjust to the changing seasons and ease their bodies back into their routine. Here’s a closer look at what to expect as an osteopathic manual practitioner this season.

Coping With Long-Term Discomfort

After winter, more people are looking to enjoy the outdoors and get moving in the summer. Unfortunately, this is also a time when an increase in physical activity can bring to light some underlying issues in the body. You may find a patient experiencing ongoing discomfort from a debilitating condition. Other patients may be grappling with long-term chronic pain or discomfort. In each case, you’ll work to identify and treat the underlying cause of the pain, coaxing the body back to full health. 

As a professional working in an osteopathy specialization, you’ll provide gentle, safe and non-invasive therapy that is well-suited to managing long-term discomfort in patients. By strengthening the body’s framework, you can help to reduce pain, increase mobility and improve the quality of life for your patients as they make the most of the summer season. 

Recovering from Injury 

As you advance in your osteopathy career, you’ll find that many patients seek treatment for new or recurring sports injuries. This is a particularly common occurrence during the summer when training seasons begin and more people push themselves towards their fitness goals. Many sports, such as running, can place unprecedented strain on the body’s muscles and joints–especially when the right care isn’t taken to form and recovery periods. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll apply manual techniques using osteopathic reasoning and principles to provide cohesive osteopathic treatments that support the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate. With a strong understanding of clinical anatomy and physiology, you’ll examine the body as a whole dynamic body of functions. This kind of approach will allow you to assist patients suffering from minor pain or run-on injuries and help them to reach their peak performance. 

How Your Training at Our Osteopathy Academy Can Help

The training offered at The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy grants students an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, so they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level. Beyond developing a strong foundation in osteopathic principles and theory, our students gain firsthand experience treating real-life patients in our free public clinic. 

As you work towards your osteopathy career advancement, the exposure to different patients experiencing a range of physical challenges will give you the confidence to treat a variety of issues throughout your career. From sports injuries to latent pain, you’ll be ready to support the recovery and mobility of your patients this season. 

Are you interested in starting your career with training at an osteopathy academy? 

Contact The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today! 

The post Helping Patients in the Summer: What to Expect in Your Osteopathy Specialization appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathic manual practitioners open the door for their patients to pursue healthier and happier lives. By addressing the root causes of each ailment, these professionals can change the quality of life for anyone needing physical relief. 

Osteopathy is a patient-centred practise by nature. This means that osteopathic manual practitioners treat every patient as a unique individual, and provide an extensive and holistic approach to address their every need. This can come in many forms, so continue reading to learn more about how to adopt this technique as you complete your studies at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathic Principles Allow for Customized Techniques

Here at the CAO, you will receive a hands-on, principles-based curriculum. A comprehensive understanding of the founding osteopathy principles will allow you to determine the ‘who, what, where, when and why’ behind each osteopathic treatment. 

Sticking to the principles-based curriculum, you’ll learn how to break down your findings into natural law once you complete osteopathy college. This saves you from resorting to simply memorizing techniques from a book and allows you to dive into the history and intricacies of the body. Having the freedom that comes with understanding the overarching principles of the practice, you will be able to better assess each patient to come up with a unique and effective treatment plan that will best help them on an individualized level. 

Providing More Than Simple Physical Care as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

While physical treatment is important as an osteopathic manual practitioner, it is essential to deeper than simple, surface-level care. Adopting a true patient-centred approach includes a personalized treatment that is customized based on the patient’s unique anatomy and lesioning patterns.

Taking the time and care to fully assess each individual patient, you will base your treatments off of objective findings in the patient’s body once you begin your osteopathy career. Working thoroughly and carefully, you can palpate the body and create valid reasoning for treatment based on your foundational knowledge of osteopathic principles. Deeply assessing every part of the body allows for an individualized experience for each patient, keeping each patient and their health at the centre of your practice.

Cultivating Trust and an Ongoing Relationship

Practicing listening, connecting and communicating effectively with your patients will help you build a strong relationship with each one. When a patient feels seen and heard, they will begin to trust you as their care provider. 

Trust is essential to any osteopathic manual practitioner and patient relationship. By working with the interrelated systems and functions of the human body, osteopathic manual therapy can return the body to normal health so it can self-heal and self-regulate. However, if the patient doesn’t trust their professional, they may not continue to seek healing. While working in the student lab at the CAO, you will be able to practice your osteopathic techniques, as well as your patient-centred approach to your craft.

Interested in exploring an osteopathy specialization?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy for more information!

The post How You Can Adopt a Patient-Centred Approach as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy practitioners work as facilitators to health, communicating with their patients in order to assess their musculoskeletal condition and provide effective non-invasive therapy. Throughout the job, osteopathy practitioners work on fostering meaningful relationships with their patients. This process can help you build trust with your patient and ensure that their treatment is a pleasant experience.

Developing strong communication skills is essential in the clinical environment, influencing the therapeutic process as well as interpersonal relationships with patients. By taking a proactive approach to improve these skills, you can elevate your practice and create a more open and welcoming space for your patients—helping them get the care and support they need to feel healthier.

Here are some methods you can integrate into your clinical practice to more effectively communicate with your patients after your osteopathy training.

1. Heightening Your Sense of Awareness to Better Focus on Your Patient’s Needs 

Having a heightened sense of awareness is a big aspect of a good osteopathy practice, allowing practitioners to better cater to their patients’ needs. Here, your attentiveness and focus on your client can even demonstrate your eagerness to provide them with the best treatment possible, tailoring your efforts to better suit their individual needs.

You can practice being attentive as you conduct interviews and intake procedures, monitoring your client and paying close attention to their responses. Paraphrasing what they say throughout a consultation and asking whether or not you’ve understood them correctly can help you show that you care about their health and are willing to take active measures to ensure they get the right treatment.

By going to osteopathy school, you can hone in on observing and evaluating patients to further develop this skill. With this training, you can even learn to apply your sense of awareness to other facets of your clinical practice in order to cultivate a positive environment for your patients. 

2. Embracing Empathy and Ethics for Positive Interpersonal Relationships

Providing an inviting, safe and empathic environment for treatment is important for patients—and it hinges on establishing good communication. This includes actively trying to understand your patients and viewing things from their perspective. Doing so can help put your patients at ease and encourage them to open up to you.

In addition to empathy, you’ll want to focus on your tone, how you convey information and your body language as well as that of your patient’s. This will help you maintain clear professional-patient boundaries, ensuring that the ethical code remains intact and that patients are involved and in agreement with each aspect of their treatment. As a result, they will likely feel more confident and comfortable under your care, developing trust that leads to a longer-term connection with you.    

3. Gaining Hands-On Experience through Clinical Practice at Our Osteopathy School

Having real-world experience can play a key role in your success in the field, giving you the confidence you need to work directly with your patients. To promote your osteopathy career advancement, CAO enables you to work with real-life patients at our practice clinic. This way, you can develop strong communication and clinical skills under the guidance of professional osteopathic manual practitioners.

After honing your skills during your under-year clinical practicum, you’ll have the chance to take the lead on real patient treatments and work on fostering relationships at our upper-year clinic. You’ll also get the opportunity to work with patients in the community, giving back while learning in a supportive environment designed to promote your professional growth.

Are you interested in becoming an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to learn more!

The post 3 Ways to Communicate Effectively with Patients After Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Not every profession is the perfect fit for every individual, which is what makes pursuing a fulfilling career so exciting. If you’re thinking about beginning a career as an osteopathic manual practitioner, then you’ll want to make sure that you feel confident in your abilities as well as the reasoning for your choice.

Successful graduates of the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy are caring, organized, and patient-oriented people who love connecting with the individuals that they work with. These qualities don’t always come naturally, and are often refined during schooling and practical experience. Discover four signs that will help you decide if osteopathy school is right for you.

1. You Enjoy Working with Your Hands

Human body-related or not, if you love working with your hands, then an osteopathy specialization will satisfy your desire to keep your hands busy. A traditional office job, requiring you to work for 8 hours at a computer, may seem unnatural to you if you are more heavily drawn toward movement, human interaction, and working with your hands.

Manual work allows you to connect more closely with your craft, which creates a rewarding working experience. Osteopathic manual practitioners especially enjoy their jobs because they learn to understand the ‘why’ behind what they do with each movement and each touch of their hands, further connecting them to their work.

2. You Are a Natural-Born Problem Solver

The field of osteopathy is full of challenges, surprises, and complexities. This is a great career path for you if you want to make sure that no two days on the job are the same. At CAO, students gain over 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience that prepares them for work in the real world.

Treating each client as a unique individual with a unique set of ailments helps osteopathic manual practitioners get to the bottom of their complaints to help them along on their healing journey. If you love getting to the root cause of issues, you’ll enjoy life after osteopathy school.

3. You Love Anatomy and Physiology 

If you already love anatomy and physiology, then you’ll thoroughly enjoy diving deeper into the interrelated processes of the human body. During osteopathy training at CAO, students learn how to recognize signs and symptoms that they can address to help their clients. A deep understanding of the human body, and the principles that relate bodily systems to osteopathy, adds a needed level of context to the osteopathy techniques that students learn to use.

4. You Want to Help Others After Osteopathy College

If you love helping people, then you know that osteopathy college is a great option for you. An important aspect of an osteopathic manual practitioner’s job is to connect with patients to help them feel seen, heard, understood, and cared for.

At CAO, you can look forward to individualized learning that will help you recognize your strengths and adopt the skills you need to best care for your future clients. All CAO graduates can uphold safe, effective, and ethical osteopathy practices to better the health and wellness of others.

Are you interested in becoming an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy for more information!

The post 4 Signs a Career as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner Is Right for You appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a hands-on profession that demands a strong understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of the human body. As they work with patients to address any physical challenges they are facing, osteopathic manual practitioners benefit from practical training in working with real-life patients. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students focus on getting the first-hand experience they need to practice safe, effective and ethical manual osteopathy in their career. You’ll have access to a practice student clinic and a free public clinic in which you’ll try your hand at treating real-life patients. This practical component ensures that graduates are career-ready, possessing a competitive edge over other candidates. Here’s what you can expect from the clinical experience at CAO.

Put Your Knowledge of Osteopathic Principles into Practice 

All students at CAO are required to complete supervised clinical training and practice before graduation. This takes place in CAO’s dedicated clinical environments – our under-year and upper-year clinics– insured and supervised by professional Osteopathic Manual Practitioners. This is an essential part of gaining the education and certification to become an osteopathic manual practitioner, as well as a chance for you to deepen your understanding of osteopathic principles in practice. You’ll apply what you’ve learnt about anatomy, physiology and the interrelated systems to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level. 

Learn from Your Peers at Osteopathy College

Along with your instructors, there’s a lot to learn from your fellow students at CAO. After all, they are the ones who can relate to the learning experience that you‘ll go through on your way to an osteopathy specialization. 

In our under-year clinic, students try their hand at assessing and treating fellow students in a safe and supportive space. They practice reporting patient history, intake procedures and full body assessment and treatment, all in an environment that affords them the freedom to make mistakes.

In our upper-year clinic, students will focus on treating patients in our public free clinic as they take the lead in their treatments. Students in the upper years of the osteopathy program will also complete the CAO Apprenticeship as teaching assistants in our under-year clinic. This is their chance to guide other students and improve their understanding of the osteopathy clinical practice as a whole. As they instruct and learn from their peers, students discover different perspectives and approaches to facilitating health in the body. In a collaborative learning space, you’ll develop a more comprehensive understanding of the osteopathy practice. 

Develop Confidence Treating Real Patients 

When you become an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll work with patients who are experiencing a wide range of physical challenges. These may include back pain, headaches, postural problems and sports injuries. Exposure to these difficulties is the first step to effectively facilitating recovery. 

Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care. This is a chance for students to apply their osteopathy training to real-life situations. Beyond the application of osteopathic theory, students will also practice listening to patient concerns and responding appropriately. By putting their problem-solving and people skills to the test, our students are ready to step into their careers as more confident and experienced osteopathic manual practitioners. 

Are you interested in attending osteopathy college?

Start your career with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Considering Osteopathy College? Discover the Value of Clinical Experience appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.