Osteopathist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A practitioner who utilizes hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat health concerns related to the musculoskeletal system for overall well-being
2. An individual skilled in the application of manual therapy to enhance health by correcting physical imbalances affecting the body
3. A healthcare professional who employs manipulative methods to address and improve physical ailments associated with the body's structure and function

Etymology: Andrew Taylor Still, a physician in Kirksville, Missouri, built a medical system on the idea that many illnesses stem from misaligned bones, muscles and connective tissue, and that hands-on manipulation could restore the body's own healing. He named the approach osteopathy, combining the Greek "osteon," meaning bone, with "pathos," meaning suffering or disease. The practitioner's title came from that system. "Osteopath" was formed from "osteopathy," and "osteopathist" adds the Greek-derived "-ist" ending, which denotes a person who practises a craft or discipline, as in "dentist" or "physicist." "Osteopathist" is a less common variant of "osteopath," and most dictionaries list the shorter form.