Short answer
One of the core competencies the WHO has defined for osteopaths is the interpretation of imaging and laboratory results. Knowledge of radiology helps in taking account of serious pathology and of the contraindications to manual treatment, and in speaking a common language with the doctor. However, an image is not a diagnosis, and the osteopath does not make a diagnosis from an image.
The WHO requirement
One of the core competencies the WHO has defined for osteopaths is to carry out a physical examination and to interpret imaging and laboratory results.
What does radiology help with?
- taking serious pathology — signs of fracture, tumour, infection and instability — into account;
- identifying the contraindications to manual treatment;
- speaking a common language with the doctor and referring the patient in good time.
Limitations
An image is not a diagnosis. According to a systematic review of studies carried out in people without pain, disc degeneration is found in 37% of 20-year-olds and in 96% of 80-year-olds, and disc bulging in 30% and 84% of cases respectively. Imaging findings should therefore always be interpreted together with the complaints and the clinical examination.
The osteopath’s role
The osteopath does not make a diagnosis from an image. That is within the remit of the doctor — the radiologist or the treating physician. The osteopath’s task is to understand imaging results and reports, to compare them with the clinical picture and, where necessary, to refer the patient to a doctor.
Sources
- World Health Organization (2010). Benchmarks for training in osteopathy. ISBN 978-92-4-159966-5. who.int (opens in a new window)
- Brinjikji W. et al. (2015). Imaging findings of degenerative spinal changes in people without pain: a systematic review. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 36(4):811–816. DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173 (opens in a new window)
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace a physician's advice.