Osteopath

Osteopaths prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems using manual therapy, exercise and advise.

An Osteopath focuses on the whole body so you will need to be an expert in the human skeletal system including muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joints and cartilage, and their relationship to other systems of the body in the promotion of good health. Your aim is to promote the best health, based on the individual needs of the patient. You might use a a variety of different hands-on methods, including, spinal manipulation, soft tissue massage techniques and articulation of the body using gentle rhythmic joint movements.

Role Characteristics

Understand your patients medical history, including both general health (lifestyle and diet) and specific symptoms
Assess the patient's general posture and check for restrictions or tensions in joints or muscles by asking them to perform a series of active movements
Give a diagnosis and plan treatment in partnership with the patient
Restore the normal function and stability of the joints to help the body heal itself
Use their hands to treat the body in a variety of ways, using a mixture of gentle and forceful techniques
Provide appropriate treatments and make lifestyle and dietary recommendations to patients in areas such as posture, eating, exercise and relaxation

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Communication
Decision-making
Goal-setting

Day in the life

Watch this video to learn about Robert's role as an Osteopath.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

BTEC

A-Levels

Undergraduate degree

Postgraduate degree

How to become

You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths and sciences, or equivalent and will need either A-Levels, BTEC or T-Levels depending on your preference in learning. However, volunteering and work experience is valued by employers. You will need to undertake either a Degree or Masters level qualification which typically last four to five years and are a combination of academic, research and over 1,000 hours of patient-facing clinical training.

Following your training, you must register with the General Osteopathic Council to practice in the UK.

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

You may choose to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner through postgraduate training in a specific area of practice such as sports injuries, care of the elderly or working with children.

Once established, you may develop specialist interests or work with specific patient groups, for example, athletes.

You can progress by moving into the leadership or management of a team or by pursuing an extended scope practitioner role.