Finding ‘the health’ in a dynamic system

Founder of osteopathy, Dr Andrew Taylor Still’s quote “To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease”, encapsulates his philosophical approach to health and the core principles of osteopathy.

Part of the osteopathic approach to treating the animal patient lies in understanding the complex, dynamic system that is the body, and the multitude of influencing factors that contribute to, or detract from, ‘health’. By focusing on finding and fostering the existing health within and removing hindrances to that health, we can approach the animal’s care holistically, moving beyond just addressing the presenting symptoms.

When he wrote, “…anyone can find disease”, A.T. Still may have been highlighting that the signs and symptoms of dysfunction are often more easily distinguished; meanwhile, identifying the root cause can prove more challenging. This aligns with the well-known saying, ‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease.’ This adage emphasises the tendency to prioritise the most prominent issues, much like how the ‘squeak’ attracts attention. Like neglecting other parts of the wheel by solely addressing the squeak, treating only symptoms can neglect the underlying causes that might be affecting the local area and the global ‘whole’, resulting in the ‘squeak’. To truly find the path to health, osteopaths respect the entire animal and all the unique factors that are currently influencing their health, along with those that have shaped their health history.

The animal patient is an active participant in their healing process. In most cases, the condition or state of disease did not happen “to” the animal (as this would suggest that the animal plays a passive role as a recipient). Instead, dysfunction or disease emerges from a complex interplay of internal and external factors that have culminated in a way that has compromised the animal’s ability to adapt and manage (compensate) in response. Even in an injury situation, it could be that the body’s decreased adaptability to various factors like stressors, toxins, previous health issues, and unsupportive environments has predisposed them to injury. As discussed in the previous post, nothing is happening passively – the current ‘state of health’ shapes the animal’s susceptibility to health or disease. The issue becomes when the animal is not successful in finding its way back to homeostasis.

Dr Still’s advice to ‘find health’ speaks to the understanding that even when an animal is experiencing dysfunction, there is a reservoir of innate health potential that exists. By identifying and addressing the root cause(s); finding the best entry point for treatment (local or further afield initially); operating at a pace that is acceptable to the animal; and allowing the animal time to assimilate the treatment and make the necessary changes, we can provide the conditions necessary for recovery from the dysfunctional state and help facilitate the animal’s natural healing process and return to health.

This may mean working with motion (range and quality of movement) or motion of fluid flow (providing optimal nutrition, innervation, and drainage to all body tissues). It may mean supporting immune system function and hormonal balance; working to help the animal restore optimal structural/functional relations; reducing stressors in the environment and reviewing the demands placed on the individual animal; reviewing diet and nutrition; adhering to the Five Freedoms as fundamental to their wellbeing; fostering social bonds and interaction; and working with the wider environment to help establish beneficial settings, practices and routines that are conducive to vitality, harmony and balance.

There is no doubt that the ability of the animal to find a healthy state relies strongly on the animal’s owner/caregiver. By working with and educating owners we can help them understand the active agency and influence they have to impact their animal’s health and wellbeing positively. Empowering owners to understand their role in shaping a supportive environment, making informed health-promoting choices, and minimising risk factors leads to better outcomes for their animals. In this way, part of ‘finding the health’ for the animal patient is to help the owner see their responsibility in the process (and their power) in creating a sustainable path towards wellbeing. This support can be just as crucial as any treatment provided.

It could be argued that Dr Still’s quote emphasises not only the finding, establishment, and maintenance of health but also, via prevention in the first place, the support of health. As it is often said, the best offence is a good defence; in this case, the best offence is to prevent dysfunction from occurring as much as possible. When the body is experiencing favourable conditions, it will always strive for recovery and health in its natural state. Preventing an issue from becoming an issue in the first place through careful and proactive management, or early identification and intervention if an issue is emerging, is an essential component of the osteopath’s scope, and this is achieved through the personalised, tailored and empathetic assessment, treatment and management of the animal and its environment.

Osteopaths are always reassessing and revisiting the animal patient with new eyes. Because the body is a dynamic system, and the individual assimilates treatment at its own pace, making the changes as it can each time the animal is seen, the osteopath knows that the variables will have changed. Understanding this ensures that the assessment is always current and that only necessary interventions are provided to avoid overtreatment.

Osteopathic treatment supports the animal in navigating the allostatic process and regaining homeostasis. The ability to ‘find’ the ‘health’ is really the osteopath’s ability to identify and remove the barriers to health, encourage the inherent health, and allow the animal’s own healing capabilities to take over. Ultimately, Dr. Still’s quote highlights the holistic approach and patient-centred philosophy at the core of osteopathy.