The prevalence of paediatric osteopathy
Item
- Title
- The prevalence of paediatric osteopathy
- Author(s)
- Willoughby, B
- Abstract
-
The previous research discussed within this study, has shown the potential for Osteopathy as a valuable form of treatment for babies and children. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into how often osteopaths are treating this age group of patients within personal practice, with regards to the common complaints seen and treatment approaches most used. The study further investigated characteristics of paediatric patients visiting an osteopath, and characteristics of the osteopaths treating this age group. Two research strategies were implemented in order to reach research objectives. Firstly 600 questionnaires were posted to randomly selected GOsC registered osteopaths within 6 areas of the UK, 107 questionnaires were returned. The second strategy was using case history files of patients attending the ESO Children's Clinic between the years of 2005-10, in order to gain an insight into patient characteristics and presenting complaints. Out of the I I hypotheses that the study aimed to prove/disprove, 4 hypotheses were unable to be tested statistically due to a low sample number and 3 hypotheses were disproved. Descriptive statistics were used were possible forfurther analysis.Key words that were used in the search of literature were: Children, babies,Paediatric, Osteopathy, Osteopath, infants, treatment, \cranial, colic and postural asymmetry. Databases searched: Science Direct, PubMed, BioMed Central, Swetswise, Springerlink, Google Scholar. Other facilities used include the ESO student library.Descriptive statistics of the study suggested that osteopaths have preferred treatment approaches for specific age groups and common complaints of
paediatric patients within personal practice. In the context of the ESO Children's Clinic, the majority of paediatric patients were under the age of 1 year, and genders were predominantly male during 2005-
10.ESO clinic data also showed that between the years 2005-2010 paediatric patient numbers attending osteopaths had increased, and that 51% of osteopaths participating in the study felt also that there had been a rise. Thus reflecting a growth of the profession within this age group at the ESO clinic and for osteopaths practicing within the UK. The study concluded that when treating paediatric patients, osteopaths prefer to use specific approaches according to age and complaint of the patient. It also highlighted the increase in paediatric patients attending an osteopath within the UK, perhaps due to the growing awareness of the profession within this field. - presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 22.1.2013 16:23:36
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15304
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Paediatric osteopathy
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Willoughby, B, “The prevalence of paediatric osteopathy”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 17, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/761