Hippocrates and Galen are considered the first practitioners of physiotherapy, it has been noted that in 480 B.C, they were already recommending manual treatments like massage.
Physiotherapy deals with the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of people with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. It is practiced by professionals, qualified in physiotherapy, who carry out their duties with confidence and professional autonomy.

The goal of the physiotherapist is to guide the patient towards the recovery of the physical disability via manual therapy, massage therapy, kinesiotherapy and physical therapy. The final aim is to reduce or eliminate pain and other signs or symptoms through the restoration of the equilibrium (homeostasis) of the neuro-musculoskeletal structures that are involved.

Kinesiotherapy involves the carrying out, whether active or passive of specific repetitive movements for therapeutic purposes. In passive kinesiotherapy, it is the therapist who carries out the joint movement, whilst in the active version, it is the patient himself who performs the movements as indicated by the physiotherapist.

Therapeutic exercises are a key part of rehabilitation that are often not considered (valued). These are taught to patients by the physiotherapist during sessions in the clinic but afterwards, it will be the responsibility of the patient to consistently carry them out at home (home).

During the rehabilitation of or the functional recovery from an injury or illness, the physiotherapist plays a key role. It is their skills and experience that will guide the patient to achieve their goal, however to do this, the active participation of the patient during the entire journey is also equally as important.

In 1874 A.T. Still (US doctor) announced his new medical philosophy to the world, calling it “osteopathy”, a combination of the Greek words “osteo” (bone) and “pathos” (suffering), theorizing that all parts of body are connected and, therefore, the person must be treated as a whole. 

Osteopathy is a manual diagnostic and therapeutic approach to joint mobility and tissue dysfunctions in general. Based on the theory that the body is a vital organism where structure and function are coordinated, or rather structure governs function. Illness is an anomaly of both, while therapy is a manipulative restoration of these.

Once homeostasis is restored, the human body is free to heal itself through intrinsic process. The so-called “Artery Law” is associated with this principle, that is the fundamental good functioning of the circulatory system, since poor arterial circulation induces a slower venous return and will cause accumulation of toxins, preventing the self-healing process.

“Find it, fix it and leave it alone” (A.T. Still).

The osteopath has a wide range of treatment techniques suitable for all body regions and tissues. Specifically, in addition to the musculoskeletal system, visceral techniques at the thoracic, abdominal and uro-gynecological level, cranial techniques and craniosacral therapy (CST).

In 2021, the figure of the osteopath was also recognized in Italy as a healthcare profession, aligning itself with other European countries such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Portugal and Swiss, as well as Australia and the USA. In the latter two states, osteopathy is a specialization of the degree course in Medicine, so to become an osteopath you must first be a doctor.

In Italy to date there is a great deal of confusion around the figure of the osteopath, but it has been specified what osteopath can do, i.e. interventions for the prevention and maintenance of health through the manual osteopathic treatment of somatic dysfunctions not attributable to pathology. In addition, a three-year degree course in osteopathy will be established, which will give the same training to students, perhaps putting an end to today’s training, often not adequate, proposed by countless private schools.