Naprapathy is a manual therapy discipline that many Canadians have not yet heard of. For people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, it is worth knowing about. It is one of the services available at Best Osteopathy. It is now offered in Canada thanks to a small group of practitioners. They sought training abroad and brought this discipline home.
What Is Naprapathy?
Dr. Oakley Smith founded naprapathy in 1907 in the United States. The name comes from two roots. One is the Czech word “Naprava,” meaning correction. The other is the Greek suffix “Pathos,” meaning suffering. The name captures the essence of the practice, which is correcting the cause of suffering through hands-on treatment.
Naprapathy is a system of treatment focused on the manipulation of connective tissue and adjoining structures, including ligaments, joints and muscles. Its core theory is that shortened and changed connective tissue is the source of a significant proportion of neuromusculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. It targets these connective tissue restrictions through manipulation, stretching and soft tissue techniques. The aim is to relieve pain, restore movement and improve overall function.
Naprapathy is well established in Nordic countries, Spain and certain US states. It is recognized there as a licensed profession. In Canada, the profession is still developing. However, there is a growing body of evidence supporting naprapathic treatment for chronic back and neck pain, as well as other musculoskeletal conditions.
How Is Naprapathy Different from Osteopathy?
Both naprapathy and manual osteopathy are hands-on, whole-body approaches to musculoskeletal pain. They share many techniques. These include soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilization and stretching. The key distinction is in their theoretical emphasis. Osteopathy takes a broad structural-functional view of the body. Naprapathy places particular focus on connective tissue, which means fascia, ligaments and tendons, and their role in neuromuscular dysfunction.
In practice, the two disciplines complement each other well. For this reason, Best Osteopathy practitioners trained in naprapathy often integrate both perspectives in the same session.
What Conditions Does Naprapathy Help With?
Research supports naprapathic treatment for chronic back and neck pain. It is also used for other musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Shoulder pain
- Hip and knee pain
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Tension headaches linked to cervical connective tissue restrictions
- Postural problems that have developed over years of sedentary work or repetitive activity
Naprapathy in Canada
Best Osteopathy is one of a small number of practices in British Columbia currently offering naprapathic treatment. The Canadian Naprapathic Association (CNA) has begun its national operation. Its goal is to regulate the profession and protect the public. York College of Naprapathic Medicine is also working toward offering a campus-based program in Canada in the near future.
Call (604) 445-1456 or email info@bestosteopathy.ca. Learn more about our practitioners.
Best Osteopathy treats chronic musculoskeletal pain with naprapathy at our Downtown Vancouver, New Westminster, Brentwood Burnaby, and Richmond clinics.
