Osteopathie, was bist du?

Based on various international and national historical events and a lack of identity of osteopathy, there is an indistinction between manual medicine and osteopathy in Germany. As a first step, there is a need for a clear definition of osteopathy. Since this can only be derived from partial areas, the subjective-active area of technique execution was chosen as the object of investigation for this study. Thus, the aim is: to find similarities and differences of the subjective-active aspect during the execution of the technique between osteopaths and manual physicians. A two-stage methodology was used, starting with a qualitative content analysis of the Still Compendium, followed by four expert interviews, which were analysed qualitatively as well. From the qualitative content analysis of the Still Compendium it can be concluded for the subjective-active aspect that the osteopath thinks like a mechanic during a technique execution – whereby this term is to be understood in the biographical-sociocultural context of A.T. Still – and thus has a clear picture of the normal body present in his or her mind based on profound and comprehensive knowledge of anatomy. The expert interviews revealed that the subjective-active component shows heterogeneity between the two disciplines studied, especially in the context of the holistic approach to the patient as well as a concentrated feeling while executing the osteopathic technique. In contrast, the respectful treatment of the patient, the type and methodology of the technique and the neuroreflective connections on which the treatment is based are common.