"If you don't use or understand visceral osteopathy you're not a real osteopath": Professional identity in Australian osteopathy through the lens of a single traditional technique.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Manual therapists utilise a range of techniques in the clinical practice to manage predominantly musculoskeletal complaints. There are, however, a number of practitioners who utilise techniques that are directed towards the bodies' visceral structures. Osteopaths are one such professional group that utilise these techniques in their practice. Like many health professions, the identity of the osteopathy profession is evolving, and the techniques osteopaths use form part of this identity. OBJECTIVE: Explore free text responses to a questionnaire about the use of techniques directed towards the viscera. METHODS/DESIGN: Australian osteopaths who were part of a practice-based ..