The term osteopathy comes from ancient Greek: " osteon " means bone , and " pathos " stands for passion, feeling, sensation, or suffering . Osteopathy thus describes a holistic approach that understands the human being as a unity of body, mind, and soul—not just the bones, but the interplay of all structures.

As early as 1916, DL Tasker wrote in Principles of Osteopathy :

"There are many definitions of osteopathy. Each one tends to limit itself. A definition always limits the thing being defined. Therefore, no definition of osteopathy is complete. We are talking about a principle, namely the universal, which no one knows."

The roots of modern osteopathy go back to the American physician Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917) . He developed a new understanding of health and illness based on the idea that the human being should be viewed as a functional unity of body, mind, and spirit. The goal of osteopathic treatment is to activate self-healing powers , identify movement restrictions, and treat them holistically.

Learn more about osteopathy

The possible applications of osteopathy are diverse and individualized – every osteopathic treatment aims to identify and resolve movement restrictions and blockages in the body. These can be both physical and emotional .

Osteopathy supports the body in activating its self-regulation and healing powers . Therefore, it can be helpful for many different symptoms , including:

• Functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system

• Tensions in the head and jaw area (e.g. temporomandibular joint problems, CMD)

• Indigestion

• Complaints related to stress or inner restlessness

• Cycle-related complaints

• Support during pregnancy or after birth

Important: Osteopathy is a holistic form of therapy – it does not replace conventional medical diagnosis or treatment, but can usefully complement it.

Please note that no form of therapy can promise a cure . Every person and every body reacts differently – whether and how osteopathy can help will vary depending on the individual. You can find an overview of common complaints for which osteopathic treatment can be helpful here: Treatment Spectrum.

Osteopathy is generally suitable for people of all ages : from newborns and babies to children and adolescents, adults and seniors, we offer individual osteopathic treatments.

Our practice has extensive qualifications and recognized training certificates, including:

• The protected Children's Osteopathy Badge of the Association of German Osteopaths (VOD)

• Membership and certification with the Professional Association for Medically Practiced Osteopathy (hpO)

• Further training as a pediatric osteopath at the Institute for Applied Osteopathy (IFAO)

• Specialized training courses such as “To be perfect at the exit – Osteopathy around pregnancy” with Angelika Strunk

• Advanced training in osteopathy during pregnancy and childbirth with Dr. Stephen Sandler

With these qualifications, we guarantee particularly expert, safe, and holistic care – especially for infants, children, and expectant mothers. You can learn more about our team and the individual qualifications of our osteopaths on our team page.

According to a study by the Academy of Osteopathy (AFO) in collaboration with the German Institute for Health Research, the most common reasons why parents visit osteopaths with their infants are:

• A favorite position and resulting asymmetries in the infant's body (48% of cases)

• Head asymmetries (15%)

• Feeding disorders (12.5%)

• Crying babies (12.5%)

• Sleep disorders (11.5%)

Around 150 practices participated in the extensive 2017 study. A total of over 3,200 osteopathic treatments were performed on babies.

In our practice, we offer specialized osteopathy for babies, toddlers, and children . Our therapists have extensive additional training in pediatric osteopathy and regularly undergo further training to ensure the best possible treatment.

Depending on the therapist, a treatment session for babies lasts approximately 30–45 minutes (withIsabelle ) or 60 minutes (with Tina ).

For more information about the qualifications of our therapists, see our team page.

In Germany, osteopathy is legally classified as a medical practice. This means that osteopathy may only be practiced by naturopaths or medically licensed therapists .

Not everyone who practices osteopathy automatically holds a license to practice as a naturopathic practitioner. Our practice places great importance on ensuring that all osteopaths possess the required state qualifications .

In addition, we complete extensive training and further education to guarantee you safe and professional treatment.

You can find more information about our qualifications and accreditations on our team page.

In Germany, many statutory health insurance companies now cover all or part of the costs of osteopathic treatments. Our practice meets the necessary requirements in terms of training , qualifications , and association membership .

Here you will find a list of statutory health insurance companies with their respective subsidy models for osteopathic services .

If you have taken out supplementary insurance for alternative practitioners , the costs will usually be fully reimbursed within the framework of your insurance conditions.

Private health insurance companies also usually cover the entire cost of osteopathic treatments. We are happy to provide you with a transparent cost breakdown based on the fee schedule for alternative practitioners .

Yes, our team is a member of various recognized osteopathic associations, including:

• VFO (Association of Independent Osteopaths)

• VOD eV (Association of Osteopaths Germany) – the largest and oldest national association for osteopathy in Germany

• hpO eV (Professional Association for Medically Practiced Osteopathy)

Thanks to our extensive osteopathic qualifications, we are entitled to be members of renowned associations such as the VOD (Association of Osteopaths Germany eV) – the largest and oldest national association for osteopathy.

For our young patients, we offer specialized treatments in pediatric osteopathy and osteopathy for babies . Tina Mahnke and Isabelle Tilch are particularly qualified in this area (see qualifications on our team page ). Violetta Beck also successfully completed a practical pediatrics examination as part of her master's degree in osteopathy at Fresenius University.

With these qualifications, we meet all the requirements for potential reimbursement by health insurance companies . Please check with your health insurance provider before your first appointment to find out whether and to what extent your osteopathic treatment will be subsidized.

Yes and no: A doctor's referral is generally NOT required for treatment in our osteopathic practice ! However, if you wish to apply for reimbursement of osteopathic treatment costs from your health insurance provider, they will usually require a doctor's prescription in addition to a copy of your invoice. This depends entirely on the insurance provider. Each insurance provider has different reimbursement conditions. Please inquire about this before your first visit. A quick phone call is sufficient; you can usually find the insurance provider's phone number on your insurance card.

Are you a new or existing patient and have decided to undergo osteopathic treatment at our osteopathy practice ? Then schedule an appointment online , by phone , or by email . Please use the answering machine if necessary, as for your peace of mind, we generally do not answer the phone during osteopathic treatments. We will call you back within the next 24 hours.

Your appointment at our osteopathy practice is reserved exclusively for you – we deliberately keep this treatment time free for you.

If you are unable to keep your appointment , please let us know as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the appointment . This way, we can offer the appointment to another patient on the waiting list if necessary.

You will receive an automatic reminder email the day before your appointment. Please note: For last-minute cancellations (less than 48 hours in advance) or no-shows, we charge a cancellation fee of €60–€100 , depending on the scheduled treatment. This cancellation fee for osteopathy is generally not covered by statutory or private health insurance .

Thank you for your understanding and consideration for others who are urgently waiting for a free appointment.

The first appointment consists of a detailed medical history , followed by an examination and diagnosis . These form the foundation for the subsequent treatment sessions. Osteopathy is a manual therapy . This means that osteopathic treatment is performed with the hands . Through palpation, loosening, and stretching, as well as massage techniques and therapeutic exercises, we get to the root cause of complaints, striving to treat the person as a whole. We would also be happy to discuss with you how you can actively participate in supporting the recovery and healing process.

Loose and light clothing generally doesn't interfere with palpation of tension and therefore doesn't need to be removed. Thicker materials (e.g., sweaters or jeans) should be removed if possible. Visual examination of the spine (e.g., by providing a clear view of the skin on the back) is also important for our diagnosis. Many of our osteopathic patients are treated in stretchy or loose sportswear, swimwear, or underwear. The most important thing for us is that you feel comfortable in your clothing. We also have light blankets available for our patients to cover you with if necessary.

For the sake of the environment, we ask you to bring your own towel to your osteopathic treatment . It may also be helpful to bring any existing findings (MRI, CT, and/or X-rays), lab reports, or doctor's letters to your first osteopathic appointment .

Our osteopathic practice is located in Pankow , directly on the border with Prenzlauer Berg : at Hallandstrasse 14 , 13189. Our immediate proximity (400m) to Vinetastrasse (U2, trams 50 and M1, bus line 250) means we have good public transport connections. Other stops on Wisbyerstrasse and Bornholmerstrasse (600m) are about an 8-minute walk away (tram 50, M1, M2, and M13, as well as bus lines 10 and M1). If you're traveling by car, you'll find free parking on Hallandstrasse , directly in front of the osteopathy practice . Depending on the time of day, you may need to allow a little extra time to find a parking space! Although our osteopathic practice is on the ground floor, the entrance to our premises has three steps, so unfortunately, access to our practice is not wheelchair accessible.

You can pay for your osteopathic treatment in our practice, directly after the treatment, in cash or by debit card. Alternatively, you can transfer the treatment costs after receiving the invoice within 14 days of the osteopathic treatment . We offer traditional bank transfers using an IBAN or QR code, as well as payment via PayPal.

An osteopathic treatment costs approximately €90-100. The calculation of treatment costs is based on the fee schedule for alternative practitioners (GebüH). We offer discounts for those in difficult financial situations. Please feel free to contact us!

Because osteopathy addresses your individual needs and your body, the number of osteopathic treatments can vary greatly from person to person. It depends, among other things, on the symptoms presented, your body's reaction to the treatment, your compliance (e.g., when performing exercises), and numerous other factors (age, exercise, dietary habits, stress levels, smoking, etc.). Osteopathy is not limited to treating symptoms; it considers the person as a whole and attempts to get to the root cause of complaints. The diagnosis therefore develops from treatment to treatment. Each time, we assess what you and your body still need. With this holistic therapeutic approach, we strive to tailor the planning and course of each individual osteopathic treatment to your individual needs. Experience shows that in most cases, acute, recently occurring complaints can show significant improvement after 1-3 osteopathic treatments held 1-2 weeks apart. For long-standing or chronic complaints, experience has shown that multiple osteopathic treatments (3-6 sessions) are required, but at longer intervals. If osteopathic treatment is purely preventative, a treatment interval of 2-3 months has proven effective. Last but not least, you, as the patient, determine whether you benefit from our osteopathic treatment and how often you book a session. We do not guarantee the success of the treatment; this is considered unfair advertising in Germany and therefore cannot be promised for legal reasons.

An osteopathic treatment in our osteopathy practice lasts between 45 and 60 minutes for adults (infants are usually treated for a shorter time, approximately 30-40 minutes, see answer 4).

To be more specific: Experience has shown that an initial treatment for adults typically lasts 60 minutes due to the detailed health questionnaire, while follow-up appointments can usually be completed within 45-50 minutes. Please bear in mind that osteopathic treatment under time pressure is counterproductive; in this case, we recommend postponing your osteopathy appointment . If possible, take some time after the treatment: It may be helpful to schedule some free time in your personal schedule after the osteopathic treatment to allow your body some rest or sleep.

Osteopathy is a non-invasive therapy method and is often perceived by patients as a very gentle and relaxing treatment. However, osteopathic treatment can have lasting effects on many different levels and thus be more strenuous for the body than initially expected due to its gentle nature. For example, osteopathic treatment can stimulate the body's detoxification process. Therefore, it is recommended not to introduce any further toxins into the body immediately after osteopathic treatment. If possible, avoid alcohol, nicotine, or other substances for 24 hours before the osteopathic treatment. To support the detoxifying effect, it is recommended to drink plenty of water after osteopathic treatment – approximately one liter of water in addition to your normal fluid intake is a good guideline. An osteopathic treatment can be very exhausting, both physically and mentally. Take time the day after the session for rest or moderate exercise: Walks in the fresh air are recommended, as are yoga, Pilates, gymnastics, dancing, running, or swimming. Try out which form of exercise suits you best. Osteopathy takes time. In the time between your osteopathy appointments, your body may react to the treatment. The full effect of an osteopathic treatment may not be noticeable for a few days, sometimes even a few weeks.

With some natural methods and manual therapies, symptoms may initially worsen briefly after treatment. However, this is considered a positive sign of the effectiveness of the therapy applied. Typical symptoms of an initial worsening or reaction after an osteopathic treatment include symptoms such as a feeling of muscle soreness or tenderness in the osteopathically treated tissue, mild fatigue, headaches, or tiredness. Such reactions occur primarily in the first few days (48 hours) after osteopathic treatment and can also occur far from the treated area. In osteopathy , the body is often compared to a "perpetual motion machine": everything is interconnected and has a reciprocal effect. This means that the origin of complaints can often be found far from the site of their symptoms. Osteopathy is not limited to the treatment of symptoms but considers the person as a whole and thus attempts to get to the root cause of complaints. Osteopathy therefore always works on several levels and the body needs time after an osteopathic treatment to adapt and regenerate, if necessary to eliminate toxins and to adjust to the new conditions in statics, posture, digestion or general self-regulation (homeostasis).

Osteopathy has very clear limitations when it comes to certain conditions. Conditions such as acute infections, fractures, mental illnesses, tumors, and the like should be treated by a specialist. However, accompanying osteopathic treatment can be provided in close consultation with the treating physician.