Pain and injury can occur at any time of the year, but winter is a particularly harsh time, especially here in Canada. The extreme drop in temperatures can leave the body feeling more susceptible to existing pain and more exposed to new kinds of physical challenges. For example, when we are cold, our body restricts how much blood it sends to the extremities, like our hands and feet. This can leave the tissues and joints in those areas feeling stiff or uncomfortable. Not to mention, there’s an obvious risk of physical injury that comes with the snow and ice on the ground. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner working all year round, you’ll probably notice a change in physical difficulties that patients experience in the winter months. Here’s a quick look at some things to watch for when working with patients during this period. 

Expect to See Injuries from Snow and Ice as an Osteopathy Professional

As the snow settles on the ground, the number of injuries due to trips and falls inevitably increases. No matter how well the snow and ice are removed from streets, slippery surfaces are almost unavoidable in the winter. As an osteopathy professional, you’ll likely face clients who have had mishaps from shoveling snow, winter sports, or simply walking outdoors. Elderly people or those with reduced mobility are at even greater risk of injury in these conditions. 

If left untreated, these injuries–even minor ones–can lead to physical difficulties across other areas of the body. It is the job of the osteopathic manual practitioner to support the body’s ability to self-heal in the face of injury while advising clients on how they can avoid winter-related injuries in the future–for example, by wearing footwear with the proper treads.

Flare-ups of Existing Pain

Unfortunately, winter is a time when old injuries and pre-existing conditions can rear their ugly heads. The reduced blood flow and the increase in sedentary living that the cold weather brings can cause an imbalance in the systems and functions of the whole body. When the body is in a more vulnerable state, ongoing pain or previous injuries can become more pronounced. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, your goal will be to return the body to a state of health so it can self-regulate and manage those difficulties. 

With training from the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of osteopathic principles, which focus on locating and treating the underlying cause of the discomfort, as opposed to the obvious symptoms of pain. This classical training grants students an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology so that they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level.

The Effects of Reduced Physical Activity in the Winter,

During your osteopathy specialization, you’ll notice that many clients complain of greater stiffness or more physical aches during the winter months. Often, stiffness can be attributed to changes in physical activity that the winter brings. With the cold weather, people tend to spend less time outdoors and more time cooped up inside. 

Along with the manual therapy you perform as an osteopathic manual practitioner, you can advise patients to exercise regularly to build up their muscle strength and reduce pressure on the joints. Stretching and moving daily will help to loosen up stiff joints during the winter. With training at CAO, you’ll be ready to offer safe, effective, and ethical treatments to clients to support the well-being of their whole body. 

Are you interested in working toward your osteopathy career advancement? 

Get started with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Helping Clients in the Winter: What to Expect as an Osteopathy Professional appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Starting your own private practice is a great goal to have in mind for your career as an osteopathic manual practitioner. It affords you the freedom to develop your own schedule, build a better rapport with patients, choose your coworkers, and make more decisions about how the workplace is run. 

Many of our graduates at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy go on to make that dream a reality. Along with extensive, principles-based osteopathy training, we encourage those students with lifelong career support after graduation. Students that choose CAO are driven to receive the highest standards of osteopathy education in Canada and, upon graduation, are confident and fully prepared to enter the field in their preferred osteopathic care environment. 

If you’re committed to building your own private practice, it’s never too early to prepare. Here are some tips to get you started! 

1. Get Inspiration From Others at Our Osteopathy School

CAO offers much more than osteopathic education. Our osteopathy school is an endless resource that can guide and support you throughout your training and well into your career. This starts in the classroom with our experienced instructors. Through small class sizes that allow for more personalized attention, you’ll learn from professionals who are actively working as osteopathic manual practitioners–many of whom have started and continue to run their own private practices. Those experts can serve as a great resource to inspire your own career path, offering tips and advice from their own experiences in the field.

Students also have access to shadowing opportunities, where you can see different graduates in private practices to get an idea of how you might like to set up your own after graduation. This is on top of the clinical training you’ll receive, where you’ll work under the guidance of upper-year students and develop the confidence necessary to be a professional in the clinical environment. Each of these experiences offers valuable, first-hand insights that you can translate to your own private practice.

2. Network With Professionals in Your Industry

Networking is a good practice for aspiring professionals in any industry. If you’re looking to become an osteopathic manual practitioner with your own private practice, take the time to connect with other professionals who have followed the same path. CAO has dedicated time and resources to creating and building connections with leaders of the highest standards in osteopathy to make our profession stronger, more respected, and increasingly effective. 

CAO graduates are eligible to apply for entry into OSTCAN, which has provincial affiliates across Canada. This can be a great resource for connecting with professionals in the osteopathy industry across Canada.

Beyond this, take advantage of CAO’s close-knit campus community and make the effort to connect with your fellow students, alumni, and instructors. You never know what kind of advice or support they can offer down the line when it’s time to start your own private practice. 

3. Build a Positive Rapport With New Patients

The success of any healthcare practice depends on the satisfaction and loyalty of its patients. 

When starting your own private practice, you should focus on developing good working relationships with your patients so they are more likely to return for treatments and recommend your services to their friends. But you can begin implementing this practice from the very start of your osteopathy career–and even during your training at CAO. 

During our clinical experience, you’ll get firsthand experience treating real-life patients in our free public clinic. 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. Here you’ll take the lead on real osteopathy treatments, delivering real results to real patients and fostering relationships in the process. With extensive practice in building a positive rapport with patients, you’ll be ready to create a private practice that clients trust and value.  

Are you interested in learning more about our osteopathy academy?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to start your career!

The post 3 Tips for Starting Your Own Practice After Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a comprehensive four-year program that equips you to deliver safe, effective, and targeted treatments to patients. To do so, we’ve designed a curriculum that goes deeper than the practical techniques of osteopathy. Instead, we take a principles-based approach; students gain a true understanding of osteopathic principles and theory, with the clinical competency to apply those principles in their careers. 

You’ll gain expertise in a variety of areas, such as osteopathic anatomy and physiology, osteopathic history and theory, principles in practice, and more. With over 4400 hours of clinical and classroom training, we teach it all at CAO. Keep reading to learn what to expect from the curriculum at our osteopathy college!

Build a Foundation in Osteopathic Principles 

Osteopathy is its own branch of healthcare with a long history behind it. At CAO, we respect this tradition by teaching osteopathy as a profession in and of itself rather than as an ‘add-on’ to other modalities. That involves teaching students the founding principles of the practice. These principles govern the ‘who, what, where, when, and why’ behind osteopathic assessment and treatment. 

First and foremost, osteopathy acts as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medicine. Rather than using medicines to cure the symptoms of the body, osteopathy focuses on aligning the layers of the structure of the body through non-invasive manual therapy. This is based on a belief in the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate, which is why an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner does not see themselves as a healer but instead as a facilitator of health. 

At CAO, you’ll learn how to break down your findings into these natural principles–so you won’t have to memorize techniques from a book to know when to use them.

Examine Anatomy & Physiology Through an Osteopathic Lens

A good working knowledge of health sciences is an important part of osteopathy. But at CAO, we move 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 model emphasizes the relationship between the many structures and systems of the human body. 

Throughout your training at osteopathy college, you’ll focus on facilitating the health of joints and muscles with the goal of returning the body to a state of normal health. With an in-depth understanding of osteopathic anatomy and osteopathic physiology, you’ll be ready to treat the layers of the body on a personalized, individual level. 

Develop a Mind for Osteopathic Thinking at Our Osteopathy College

As explained above, osteopathy is a completely new way of thinking about the body and approaching physical problems. Delivering effective treatments to clients requires you to adopt the right mindset when problem-solving and working with physical challenges. 

Rather than looking for symptoms and finding ways to alleviate them, osteopathy seeks the underlying cause of the problem. It requires you to think beyond the obvious signs of pain and examine how the whole body may be affected. If the self-healing and self-regulating mechanisms of the body are being obstructed, it is your job to remove that obstruction using manual therapy. Rather than searching for illness, osteopathy requires you to think about how you can revitalize areas where health is affected. 

At CAO, you’ll develop a mind for this approach during our classroom labs and put that mentality to practice in our clinical lessons. 

Are you ready to prepare for your osteopathy specialization? 

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Going Beyond Technique: 3 Things You’ll Learn at Our Osteopathy College appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Are you deciding on a new career path? Are you looking for a rewarding specialization in the healthcare sector? A career in osteopathy could be right for you! Working as an osteopathic manual practitioner is a dynamic role where you’ll interact directly with patients to help them overcome a number of physical challenges. You’ll apply your knowledge of osteopathic principles, theory and techniques to strengthen the framework of the body, providing a non-invasive, manual form of treatment to clients. 

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is here to set you on the path to success with a comprehensive four-year program. Whether you’re looking to switch up your career in healthcare or have no experience in the field at all, osteopathy school can bring a new specialization to your future. Learn more below.

Enjoy Working in a Hands-on Profession 

Many people are drawn to osteopathy as a way to make an active difference in the lives of others. The hands-on nature of osteopathy is well suited to those who are looking for a more dynamic, practical line of work. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll work directly with the interrelated systems and functions of the body, focusing on facilitating the health of joints and muscles through manual techniques. 

While working with your hands, you’ll also have the chance to problem-solve to arrive at the best possible treatment for your patients. If you’re looking for a people-oriented profession, osteopathy offers precisely that. Communicating with your patients, learning about their symptoms, and offering personalized treatment plans are all part of the job when you become an osteopathic manual practitioner. Get ready for a career that allows you to take a more hands-on role in helping others.

Develop a Specialized Skillset in the Healthcare Field

Working as an osteopathic manual practitioner is a challenging and rewarding job that requires advanced knowledge. If you’re thinking about changing careers, you might be looking to develop more precise expertise and specialized skills. An osteopathic manual practitioner needs a solid understanding of clinical anatomy and physiology, osteopathic principles and theories, and practical techniques.

At our osteopathy school, we focus on teaching principles-based, classical osteopathy.  By focusing on the theory and application of these principles, students gain a comprehensive understanding of anatomy and physiology so that they can treat the layers of bodily structure on an individual level. Not to mention, you’ll get first-hand experience treating real-life patients in our free public clinic. 

For those looking to develop their expertise in a specialized area of healthcare, our osteopathy school is the place for you. 

A Flexible Program to Support Your Osteopathy Career Advancement

For many people, switching careers can be a daunting process. It requires time and commitment to training. At the same time, you may have other personal and professional responsibilities to keep. 

That’s why CAO offers a flexible program in order to accommodate students who are already working full-time but are seeking a career transition. The combination of online and in-person classes makes training that much easier; students attend in person once a month for intensive hands-on training, while online lecture days are grouped for easy scheduling. 

At CAO, we also understand that osteopathy is a brand new language and a new way of thinking for everyone, even if they already have a healthcare background. For those without a healthcare background, our Prep course is designed to bring you up to speed on essential anatomy knowledge. While adjusting to a full course load can be a challenge, there are plenty of support systems available for students at our campus, including access to a Student Success Coordinator and a faculty passionate about the success of their students.

Ready to get started on your osteopathy career advancement?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Looking to Change Careers? Why Osteopathy School Is a Great Option appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

As a patient-centred profession, osteopathic manual practitioners need to develop a number of professional skills that can help them deliver safe, effective, and ethical treatments. Along with the practical techniques of the profession, you’ll need to know how to approach patients with care and understanding while arriving at the best possible solution for the individual. Interpersonal skills and critical thinking are essential qualities to build during your training. 

While working on challenging osteopathic problems and gaining real clinical experience, students at CAO learn firsthand the importance of applying these professional skills to their practice. Here’s a look at some of the top skills you’ll need to use during and after your osteopathy training. 

1. Good Communication Skills Are Important

When working with patients of any kind, good interpersonal and communication skills are essential. When it comes to osteopathy, your patients will be looking for you to assist them with a number of physical problems. Treating those clients with respect, empathy, and your full attention will reassure them that they’re in safe hands. At the same time, a big part of communication is listening to your client carefully. Let them explain what they are experiencing and their health history. In turn, you can customize a treatment just for them. By building a positive rapport with patients from the get-go, you can maintain good professional relationships with clients throughout your career.

2. Exercise Your Problem-Solving Skills

In an osteopathy specialization, you’ll be working with clients experiencing a variety of different challenges, from postural problems to sports injuries to long-term pain to sleeping difficulty. Every patient is different, and their symptoms will present in different ways. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll need to apply your knowledge of osteopathic principles and surgical level functional anatomy to pinpoint the osteopathic lesion. Often, a patient may be experiencing pain in one area of the body while the source of the pain is located somewhere else. In that case, good problem-solving skills will help you to consider all possibilities and arrive at the right course of action for your patient.

3. Pay Attention to Detail as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

Strong attention to detail will help you look beyond where symptoms may be expressing themselvews and consider the whole body. At CAO, we focus on teaching principles-based osteopathy in which students get an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology so they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level. Our students learn to closely examine all the interrelated symptoms and functions of the body–including the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, systems, viscera and fascia. By developing this kind of attention to detail, our students are able to look beyond the surface of pain and find ways to return the body to normal health so it can self-heal and self-regulate.

4. Practice Adaptability When Working With Patients

A good osteopathic manual practitioner doesn’t see themselves as a healer but as a facilitator of health. You’ll be working with the body to restore its natural balance and functions rather than imposing treatments upon it. Working with the body in this way requires a certain level of flexibility. You’ll need to adapt your practice to the physical condition, medical history, and personal preferences of the patient. Often, you may have a solution in mind that does not work with a specific patient’s body. In that case, keeping an open mind when trying a new course of action will help you better accommodate the needs of the individual. 

Are you interested in training as an osteopathy professional?

Start your career with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post 4 Professional Skills You’ll Use as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Have you made the decision to attend osteopathy school? Are you thinking ahead to your first year in training? Students at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy will find a dynamic and challenging program that prepares them to step into rewarding careers as osteopathic manual practitioners. Over the course of four years, our students develop their knowledge through a combination of principles-based theoretical learning and hands-on clinical training. But perhaps you’re wondering how you can prepare to make the transition to your studies. From organizing your schedule to reading up on the first-year curriculum, here are a few ways you can prepare to jump right into your training.

Review Your Knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology 

Here at CAO, we place a unique emphasis on the principles and theory of osteopathy. The program is rooted in an understanding of osteopathic thinking and assessment, in which the body is examined as a whole dynamic unit of function. This kind of training gives students an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, so they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level. That means a solid foundation in anatomy is needed to succeed in the program. 

However, many students come to CAO with limited experience in healthcare. In that case, our Prep course is here to help you learn or review essential anatomy and physiology content before beginning Year 1 of the program. As you prepare to begin osteopathy college, consider your current level of experience and whether you need to enrol in our Prep course.

Create a Schedule for Your Studies

Starting school brings new commitments to juggle. Incorporating your studies into your daily routine requires some planning, especially when you have a family or job to attend to. As you prepare to start your osteopathy training, think about creating a schedule for your studies and setting aside time to review in-class material. With a plan in place and some good time management, you’ll be better positioned to keep up with the demands of the program. 

At CAO, we aim to assist students by offering a simple, flexible schedule format. Students attend in person once a month for intensive hands-on training, and online lecture days are condensed together for easy scheduling. The school makes special accommodations for those coming in from out of province, allowing students to combine clinical shifts to limit transportation costs and time.

Establish a Support System for Osteopathy College

Training for an osteopathy specialization is demanding work. In particular, our program covers a comprehensive four-year curriculum that is designed to challenge students on their way to becoming highly experienced osteopathic manual practitioners. For incoming students, having a solid support system in place is the best way to make the most of this experience. 

Along with your family and friends, your fellow students at CAO can become a great resource to motivate and encourage you throughout your training. Think about ways you’ll take advantage of our community-centred school environment with athletics, annual events, and more. By knowing what to expect from your osteopathy program and what’s on offer at your school, you can set off on the right path to a successful career.

Are you ready to start your training at an osteopathy academy?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today.

The post 3 Tips for Preparing to Attend Osteopathy College appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The faculty at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is passionate about inspiring the next generation of osteopathic manual practitioners. At CAO, we promise you a challenging, engaging, and rewarding learning experience that exceeds your expectations–and this is all thanks to the commitment of our instructors.

Throughout the four-year program, your classes will be led by experienced educators who are passionate about what they do and experts in their fields. Whether you’re learning about osteopathic theory and principles or getting hands-on training in our clinic, our instructors are there to support your understanding at every stage. Here’s a closer look at what distinguishes the faculty at CAO.

Working Professionals in the Osteopathy Field

A unique quality of the faculty at our osteopathy academy is that all of our instructors are industry-experienced professionals; they actively work (or have experience working) as osteopathic manual practitioners. Many even run their own private practices alongside their work at CAO. In a learning environment that is led by professionals with a foot in the industry and an understanding of current osteopathic practices, you can be sure that your training is tailored to the needs of clients today. 

Diverse Backgrounds and Experiences

Each instructor at CAO has taken a different path to become an osteopathy professional. Each one has now built a successful and rewarding career as an osteopathic manual practitioner and is able to guide students of all backgrounds and experience levels. 

Their various interests in the field of osteopathy allow them to offer more specialized training to our students. For example, CAO Professor Cole Ruston opened a clinic with an emphasis on educating patients on the value of general movement and other health practices.

Many of our instructors are even alumni of CAO. They know the curriculum inside out and are able to offer more focused support to help you navigate the program. Students can learn from the personal experiences of those who came before them and gain inspiration for their own professional pathways.

Ready to Offer Personalized Support at Our Osteopathy Academy

Our outstanding teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve, allowing you to achieve the highest level of comprehension and achievement possible. Whether you’re working in the classroom or our free public clinic, the instructors are there to supervise and guide your training with hands-on support. 

You’ll gain expertise in a variety of areas, such as clinical anatomy & physiology, osteopathic history & theory, principles in practice, and more. In each area, our instructors will make sure you’re progressing through your education at the right pace and understanding how each topic feeds into the next. You’ll feel fully supported throughout your education, with access to lifelong career support after graduating. 

Ready to start your career as an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post What Makes the Faculty at Our Osteopathy Academy Special? appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Here at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, we are experts in guiding students toward successful careers as osteopathic manual practitioners. We offer a comprehensive four-year program that prepares graduates to take up both business and job opportunities across Canada. 

However, we also understand that the road to success isn’t always easy. Many students face challenges throughout their studies, from personal commitments to academic struggles to financial pressures. Luckily, the community at CAO is here to help through hands-on instructors, student support services, a flexible learning format, and more. Keep reading to learn more about the resources that are available to help you navigate your osteopathy training.

Hands-on Attention from Our Faculty

Academic support is available in different forms at our osteopathy school. In the classroom, it starts with our team of dedicated instructors who are passionate about what they do and experts in their field. 

Whether you’re examining the principles and theories of osteopathy or applying osteopathic principles in our on-campus clinics, your instructors will be there to answer your questions, review any material, and offer hands-on support. Our small class sizes allow for more individualized attention and academic support from instructors, allowing you to reach the highest level of comprehension possible. 

Outside of the classroom, you’ll also have access to our Student Success Coordinator, who can discuss any challenges you may have with the coursework or nature of the program. 

Tutoring from Upper-Year Students

CAO offers a community-centred learning environment–one in which students work together and support one another at every stage of the program. You’ll not only have the chance to form close connections with your classmates, but you’ll also be able to learn from them. For example, upper-year students regularly act as table tutors in the under-year clinic. In the process, under-year students are able to learn from their peers further along in the program, receive guidance from those who have been in their position, and practice assessing and treating their fellow students. In a safe, supportive environment, you’ll have the freedom to make mistakes, ask questions, and overcome any barriers to your knowledge.

Flexible Scheduling to Suit Your Commitments 

Many students at CAO are already working full-time or part-time. Other students may have personal or family commitments to uphold. Whatever your current circumstances, we want to make the path to becoming an osteopathic manual practitioner as easy as possible. That’s why we offer a flexible, full-time format that allows you to continue working while studying, with added support for those commuting from out of province. Students attend in person once a month for intensive hands-on training, and online lecture days are condensed together for easy scheduling. You can rest assured that you’ll get the training you need while balancing your work and home life.

Financial Assistance at Our Osteopathy School

We understand that school comes as a major financial burden for most people. However, your training is also a valuable investment in your future as an osteopathic manual practitioner, and we want to reduce the challenges that come with it. As a small college, we are able to give personalized advice to each student to help them identify opportunities for financial assistance. 

At both our Hamilton and Calgary campuses, the CAO is proud to announce that students enrolled in the M.OMSc program may be eligible for loans, grants, or awards granted under the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Private lending institutions are also very supportive of our students since our tuition is low and our graduate incomes are high.

With the right level of support and guidance, you can progress seamlessly through our program and into your professional career.  

Are you looking to become an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Start your training with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post 3 Ways Our Osteopathy School Helps You Overcome Challenges in the Program appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is a leading Osteopathy school, delivering a challenging and comprehensive program that prepares graduates for a successful career. Our students range from those working as healthcare professionals to those with a degree in Health Science to those with limited or no healthcare background at all. Whatever your motivations for attending osteopathy school, you likely have some questions about what to expect as an incoming student. 

At CAO, our team of experienced instructors and the community-centred environment are there to ease the transition to the program for every student. To get you started, here’s a closer look at what to expect in the first year of our osteopathy program. Feel confident and prepared as you begin your journey to a new career!

Preparing for the Curriculum at Our Osteopathy School

Students at CAO come from all different backgrounds and with various levels of experience in the health care field. We teach osteopathy as a practice in and of itself–not as an add-on to other modalities– and we want every student to start with the same level of knowledge. 

For those with limited experience in health care (personal trainers, pilates or yoga instructors, etc.) or no health care background at all, we have you covered! Our Year 1 Prep course is open for those students to learn and review essential anatomy and physiology content before beginning Year 1 of the program. Students with a degree in Health Science may be eligible to bypass this induction course. Regardless of your level of experience, you can expect to enter our osteopathy school with the foundation you need to excel.

A Strong Focus on Osteopathic Theory and Principles

The program is rooted in a classical and principles-based understanding of osteopathic thinking, assessment, and treatment. This approach to osteopathy training begins in Year 1. 

As a first-year student, you can expect to build an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, preparing to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level. Our curriculum covers three core areas: Principles and Practice, Osteopathic Theory and History, and Health Sciences. Instead of jumping right into skills training and memorizing osteopathic techniques, you’ll explore the “who, what, where, when, and why” behind osteopathic assessment and treatments. By adopting a fully integrated osteopathic model that views the body as a whole dynamic system, you’ll develop the foundation to diagnose and treat patients more effectively. 

Supervised Practice in Our Student Clinics

From Year 1, we want students at our osteopathy academy to develop their confidence in a clinical setting. After all, osteopathy is a hands-on, people-oriented practice, so it’s important to understand how its theories and principles apply to a real-world setting. While training in our practice clinic, you’ll learn to report patient history, understand how to catch symptoms of the body, practice assessing fellow students, and practice intake procedures. This will give you a strong foundation of skills and techniques to use in our charitable Public Clinic, where you’ll hone in on these important clinical skills. Under the supervision of our professional instructors, get ready to apply your knowledge in a practical and supportive space.

Are you interested in training to become an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started.

The post What to Expect as a First-Year Student in Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers engaging, high-quality training for students at every stage of the four-year program–whether they’re just getting to grips with osteopathic principles or taking the lead in patient treatments. Students in the upper years of our osteopathy program will find a particularly useful learning experience in our Apprenticeship semester. 

During this time, upper-year students act as teaching assistants in our under-year clinic and the classroom lab. This is their chance to monitor other students and gain a practical understanding of the osteopathy clinical practice as a whole. Continue reading to learn more about the value of completing an Apprenticeship semester at CAO.

Learn by Teaching 

One of the biggest advantages of the Apprenticeship semester is the chance to learn by seeing the material reviewed again and monitoring other students in the under-year clinic at our osteopathy college. You’ll be overseeing students as they learn the information for the first time in the classroom, refine their information in the clinical semester, practice interview and intake procedures, learn to report patient history, assess and treat their peers, and understand how to catch red flags or symptoms of the body. 

Assisting these students is an additional opportunity for you to increase your exposure to different osteopathic scenarios. Every patient and circumstance is different, and the more exposure you get, the better equipped you’ll be in your own practice. At the same time, you can see how your fellow students approach each case and apply different osteopathic techniques.

Solidify Your Knowledge of the Program Material

Working as an osteopathic manual practitioner requires you to bring together all your knowledge of functional anatomy, physiology, osteopathic principles, and techniques. While there’s a lot to learn, CAO is here to support you in reviewing and applying this essential knowledge at every stage of the program. 

The Apprenticeship semester is a great opportunity for upper-year students to go over some of the foundational material that’s covered in the lower years. While monitoring other students, you have the chance to fill in any gaps in your comprehension of the program material. At the same time, you’ll see how the osteopathic principles, history, and theories you learned come together in a clinical setting.

Improve Your Confidence in a Clinical Setting 

As a hands-on profession, an osteopathic manual practitioner will need to feel confident taking the lead on patient treatments. During the Apprenticeship semester, you’ll familiarize yourself with work in a clinical setting, guiding other students in their practice. During this time, you’ll hone in on observing and evaluating patients, deliver real results to patients, and foster relationships. By practicing with your fellow students in the classroom lab and clinic, you have the chance to make mistakes, learn from new experiences, and improve your confidence in a real clinical environment. Upon graduating, our students are ready to practice safe, effective, and informed osteopathy. 

Are you ready to start training in an osteopathy specialization?

Get started with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post 3 Benefits of the Apprenticeship Semester at Our Osteopathy College appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.