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Manual Osteopathic Therapy

Code: 103010
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Physiotherapy OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Iñaki Diez Tendero
Email :
inaki.diez@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Jose Casimiro Moran
Iñaki Diez Tendero

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Be enrolled in the subject and have completed and passed all the subjects of the previous three courses 

Objectives

It is intended that the student acquire theoretical-practical knowledge about the evaluation, the various osteopathic treatment techniques and the different fields in which they can act.

Through the practices carried out in class, it is intended to provide the student with a certain manual dexterity of the different techniques, effectiveness and efficiency when examining and managing the patient, and skill in applying the osteopathic concept so that in their clinical practice it is the effective as possible within certain security parameters.

It is essential that the student finally learns the basic concepts of osteopathy, such as the globality of the human body, the principles of osteopathy, the neurophysiological mechanisms and the fields of action, and that he knows the origin, the founder and the different derived currents. of this type of alternative manual medicine.

Learning outcomes

  1. Explain the physiopathological mechanisms of the disorders that affect the muscle chains, the movement of the nervous system in relation to itself and to its surroundings, and the joints as seen from an osteopathic perspective.
  2. Describe and apply physiotherapy assessment procedures to the disorders that affect muscle chains, the movement of the nervous system in relation to itself and to its surroundings, and the joints as seen from an osteopathic perspective, with the aim of determining the degree of damage to the musculoskeletal system and its possible functional repercussions.
  3. Solve problems.
  4. Work in teams.
  5. Display critical reasoning skills.
  6. Enumerate the different types of of material and apparatus used in physiotherapy treatment, according to the specific methods of muscle chains, neurodynamics and osteopathic manual therapy applied to the treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
  7. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  8. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  9. Propose new methods or well-founded alternative solutions.
  10. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of suggestions for improvement: one's own and those of others.
  11. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing innovative proposals or ideas.
  12. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one?s own area of knowledge.
  13. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  14. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  15. Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
  16. Communicate using language that is not sexist.
  17. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.

Contents

Block of history and principles of osteopathy

- History of osteopathy

- Definition and fields of action (structural, visceral, cranio-sacral)

- Definition of osteopathic principles

- Definition of osteopathic reasoning

Block of physiological bases of osteopathy

- Neurophysiological concepts

- Central facilitation

- Concept of somatic dysfunction

- The somato-visceral and viscero-somatic reflexes

- Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation

- Effects of manipulation on central facilitation

Structural osteopathy block

- Applied biomechanics of the spine: cervical, dorsal, lumbar and pelvis

- Exploration and assessment of the peripheral musculoskeletal system

- Osteopathic techniques of the peripheral musculoskeletal system

- Exploration and assessment of the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and pelvis

- Osteopathic techniques of the spine: cervical, dorsal, lumbar and pelvis

 

Visceral osteopathy block

- Visceral osteopathic pathophysiology

- Tests and visceral osteopathic treatment

- Somato-visceral and viscero-visceral dysfunctions

Cranial osteopathy block

- Generalities of the craniosacral system

- Functions of the craniosacral system

- Principles of the cranial approach

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Preparation of works 25 1
Reading articles and interesting reports 30 1.2
Personal study 48 1.92
seminar 2 0.08
Laboratory practices 33 1.32
Theory 12 0.48 
The subject will be taught through theoretical classes and laboratory practices.The interaction and/or participation of the student will be important, as part of the continuous evaluation. The students must practice among themselves with a prior explanation and demonstration by the teacher. It is essential to go with comfortable clothes and a towel / size for each bunk.Note: 15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the schedule established by the center or the degree, for the completion by the student of the surveys to assess the performance of the teaching staff and for the evaluation of the subject/module.Laboratory practices are mandatory.
Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Anamnesi writing exercice 20% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Written evaluation with objective test 30% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Practical type evaluation 50% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Single assessment
This subject does not provide the single assessment system 


The evaluation system will consist of:Written assessment (30%): completion of a multiple choice written test, with a global weight of 30% of the final mark and with a maximum duration of 2 hours. A total of 80 questions will be asked, with four possible answers, and only one correct answer, on the matter taught in the theoretical and theoretical-practical classes. Wrong answers deduct 0.1 points from a question.Practical evaluation (50%): there will be a practical test in which the student will have to demonstrate their abilities in the application of different techniques, both for evaluation and treatment. The exam will be done in pairs (15 min per couple). Each student will have to demonstrate 3 techniques/assessments that have been done in class and will be chosen at random.Anamnesis simulation (20%): Consists of simulating a first visit with a real patient. The following will be valued: the ability to extract relevant information, the application of osteopathic reasoning both in the exploration and in the elaboration of the proper treatment of the first visit and subsequent visits.To pass the subject, these conditions on continuous assessment must be met:-Pass the theoretical and practical exam and the written exercise with a minimum of 5 points out of 10 possible.-Having attended 80% of practical classes. In case of justified absences, it will be possible to recover through additional work, wich it will be delivered the next PLAB day.-Active participation in class.-If the student does not take any evaluation test, regardless theorical or practical, this subject will be recorded in the minutes as non-assessable.-Students who have not passed one of the parts of the subject in the continuous assessment may take a recovery exam where the maximum grade will be 6.-For ERASMUS students, the same criteria and the same evaluation methodology will be applied as the students enrolled in the subject.

Bibliography

1. BARRAL, J.P. Manipulaciones viscerals 1. Ed Elsevier Masson, 2009

2. BARRAL, J.P. Manipulaciones viscerales 2. Ed Elsevier Masson, 2009

3. COUX, G. CURTIL, P. Tratado práctico de osteopatia estructural. Ed Paidotribo, 2009.

4. HEGBEN, E. Osteopatia visceral, fundamentos y técnicas. Ed McGraw Hill, 2005

5. LIEM, T. La osteopatia craneosacra. Ed Paidotribo, 1a edición, 2001.

6. MAIGNE, J.Y. Mecanismos de acción del tratamiento manipulativo vertebral. Elsevier. 2002.

7. PAOLETTI, S. Las fascias: El papel de los tejidos en la mecánica humana. Ed Paidotribo, 2004.

8. PICKAR, J.G. Efectos neurofisiológicos de la manipulación vertebral. Elsevier, 2011.

9. RICARD, F. SALLÉ, J.L. Tratado de osteopatia. Madrid: Ed Panamericana, 3a edición, 2003.

10. RICARD, F. Tratamiento osteopático de las algias lumbopélvicas. Ed Panamericana, 2005.

11. TORRES, R. La columna cervical, síndromes clínicos y su tratamiento manipulativo. Ed Panamericana, 2008.

12. TUTUSAUS, R. POTAU, J.M. Sistema fascial: Anatomia, valoración y tratamiento. Ed. Panamericana, 2015.

13. RICARD, F. PASCUAL A.O. La osteopatia basada en la evidencia. Ed. Medos. 1a ed. 2017

14. FRYER, G. Integrating osteopathic approaches based on biopsychosocial therapeutic mechanisms. Part 1: the mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2017.05.002

15. FRYER, G. Integrating osteopathic approaches based on biopsychosocial therapeutic mechanisms. Part 2: clinical approach. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2017.05.001

16. FRYER, G. Muscle energy technique: An evidence-informed approach. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2010.04.004

17. FRYER ,G. Special issue: Osteopathic principles. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2012.12.001

18 FRYER, G. Paraspinal musclesand intervertebral dysfunction: part one. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.02.006

19 FRYER, G. Paraspinal muscles and intervertebral dysfunction: part two. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.04.008

20. D'Alessandro, G. Sensitization and Interoception as Key Neurological Concepts in Osteopathy and Other Manual Medicines. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2016.00100

Software

The main program is Microsoft Office: We use Microsoft Teams for theoretical classes and Power point for PLABs and oral defense of works.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 301 Catalan second semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 301 Catalan second semester afternoon
(SEM) Seminars 301 Catalan second semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 302 Catalan second semester afternoon
(SEM) Seminars 302 Catalan second semester afternoon