Based principally and derived from the philosophy set out by the founder of Osteopathy, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. In this profession, practitioners use their hands to treat the body through different layers of tissue, such as fascial, neuromuscular, articular and visceral. By thoroughly understanding anatomy, physiology and human mechanics, the therapist focusses on the cause of the ailment rather than the symptom. The goal is to keep the structures of the body mobile, which will lead to natural equilibrium and harmony. Think about blocking off a river in one location and how that affects the flow of the river downstream and upstream, and the devastation that causes. Your nerves, arteries, veins, and lymphatics resemble a river which are affected by asymmetry and restrictions. These human river systems transport your body’s natural ability to heal and self-regulate. A loss in flow and mobility causes functional as well as circulatory and nervous limitations. Restrictions may have symptoms locally or distally, causing the body to compensate in other areas in order to maintain equilibrium. Rehabilitative Manual Therapists view the body as a dynamic unit of function and when there are areas of the body not working properly, it can affect the entire body as a whole. Patients of all ages and symptoms can benefit from this holistic and science-based approach to help the body function at its highest level.