Revealing the Body’s Innate Restoring Power with Osteopathy

With the advancement of modern technology and pharmaceuticals, our healthcare system has become increasingly focused on identifying abnormalities—on lab tests, imaging studies, and diagnostic markers.

Many times, I hear my patients say things like:

"My doctor said I have arthritis."

"They told me I have a disc bulge."

"My lab work came back positive for RF or ANA."

As a society, we’re constantly chasing the most advanced tests, trying to find explanations in numbers and scans. We’ve learned to equate test results with our symptoms, often assuming that any abnormality must be the cause of our discomfort. But is that always true?

What if the pain or symptoms you’re experiencing aren’t actually caused by that arthritis or that positive RF result?

Did you know that nearly 1 in 2 adults over the age of 65 has arthritis—often without any symptoms?

According to the CDC, approximately 49.6% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with doctor-diagnosed arthritis (CDC, 2023). And that Rheumatoid Factor (RF)—commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis—has a sensitivity of approximately 60–70% and a specificity of about 78–87% This means many people can test positive for RF without having rheumatoid arthritis, making it an unreliable screening tool when used in isolation (UpToDate; BMJ, 2000; Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2002).

You may have coincidentally tested positive for RF or ANA, but linking those results directly to your symptoms without considering the whole picture may not lead to the best care.

As an osteopathic physician, my focus is different. I aim to find health, not just diagnose disease. And every day, I’m amazed by the body’s innate capacity to heal when given the right conditions.

My treatments use gentle, hands-on techniques to help bring the body back into structural balance. I often tell my patients:

“I just give your body a little push—it’s your body that does the healing. Drink plenty of water, eat nourishing food, and rest well.”

After just one session, many patients return saying:

“I didn’t know my body was supposed to feel this way.”

“I didn’t even realize how stiff my back was.”

“I can’t believe I’ve been living like that for years.”

As A.T. Still, the founder of osteopathy, said:

“The health is always present. To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease.”– A.T. Still, Philosophy of Osteopathy

Osteopathy is about discovering the body’s natural intelligence—the force that drives growth, repair, and adaptation. Health is not a passive state, but an active, living force within each person. The role of the osteopath is to recognize and support this force, rather than simply cataloging symptoms or labeling diseases. Let’s take a second to look back—and bring forward the power that already exists within you. Healing is not something imposed from the outside. It’s something awakened from within.