What distinguishes osteopathy from other medical fields is the philosophy of the profession. Osteopathy is a form of treatment where the tool is the osteopath's knowledge and hands.

The subject focuses on the essential connection between how the individual body is built (structure) and how it works in practice (function).

All parts of the body work together and are interdependent. In practice, this means that if one part of the body is limited in its function, parts of the rest of the body will react. It is therefore essential that the entire body is examined for any limitations.

The goal is to find and influence the limitations that cause the body to not function optimally and thereby enable the individual body to heal itself.