Is osteopathy a legitimate treatment?

This post is also available in: Français (French)

The direct answer:

Yes, osteopathy can be a legitimate treatment – with the right practitioner.

Here’s the important nuance:

According to INSERM,“in all cases, the efficacy of osteopathy appears modest at best” and“with no proven superiority over more conventional alternatives“. But this assessment encompasses a very heterogeneous profession – with excellent practitioners unfortunately rubbing shoulders with less rigorous approaches.

So it all depends on the training,approach andintegrity of your osteopath.

Let’s explore the subject:

• The situation in Quebec
• What is osteopathy?
• Differences with other professions
• What science says
• Risks to be aware of
• What to expect
• For whom it’s suitable
• How to choose an osteopath
• The verdict
• Frequently asked questions

First, an important reality in Quebec

Key point to remember: In Quebec, the practice of osteopathy is currently tolerated, but not regulated (2025).

Without a professional association (2025), the quality of training varies enormously between practitioners. Serious osteopaths must be members of a professional association in order to practice and have insurance, but standards are not uniform.

What is osteopathy, really?

As an osteopath graduated from the Collège d’études ostéopathiques* de Montréal (CEO Montréal) and a certified athletic therapist since 2004, I practice osteopathy in the sense that I base myself on a thorough understanding of anatomy and biomechanics.

It’s a manual approach that assesses how the body’s various structures (bones, muscles, fascia, organs) interact with each other.

Good to know: * CEO Montreal has closed its doors (2025) in favor of university training. This is a sign that the practice of osteopathy is becoming normalized.

The scope of practice recommended by the Office des professions is :

Assess the limitations of movement of human body structures and of these structures in relation to each other, determine a manual treatment plan and perform interventions with the aim of reducing these limitations and aiding healing and pain relief..

Osteopath in Quebec ≠ doctor

Very important: In Quebec, an osteopath is NOT a doctor.

He can’t:

• Diagnosing diseases
• Prescribing drugs
• Surgery

If you’re accustomed to the American medical scene, or if you read literature from our neighbor, you should know that in the United States, things are different. DOs(doctor of osteopathy) are full-fledged physicians. Here in Quebec, an osteopath is a manual therapist.

What science really says (and why it’s nuanced)

Osteopathic studies are complicated to interpret, and here’s why it’s important to understand.

The research challenge

Unlike a drug, which can be tested blind, it’s impossible to pretend to manipulate someone. What’s more, each osteopath has his or her own approach, making it difficult to standardize study protocols.

Under-exploited potential

Many rigorous osteopaths suspect that current studies do not reflect the true potential of osteopathy practiced by well-trained practitioners with a scientifically sound approach.

Risks (which you rarely hear about)

INSERM highlights“the rare but very worrying occurrence of serious vertebro-basilar accidents during cervical manipulations“. Translation: neck manipulations can, in very rare cases, cause strokes.

It’s rare, but it does exist.

What to expect from one or more osteopathic sessions

Approximate cost

Research assisted by artificial intelligence (Anthropic) has revealed that you can expect to pay between $80 and $120 per regular session. This service is not covered by RAMQ, but may be covered by private insurance.

My services are usually covered by most insurers.

Here are my rates:

Duration

Allow 3-5 sessions to see if it helps.

Are you tempted by osteo?

The first step is to determine whether it’s right for you.

Here are some great ones to use as reference points. However, this list is not exhaustive and it’s not because I’m trying to hide anything from you 😉

✅ Try if…	❌ Avoid if…
Persistent musculoskeletal pain	Looking for a medical diagnosis
Your doctor has ruled out serious causes	Very recent pain (less than 48 hours)
You prefer to avoid drugs	You suffer from severe osteoporosis
You’re ready to play an active role (exercises, advice)	You are taking anticoagulants
You understand that it’s not magic	Promises to “cure” serious illnesses

How to choose a competent osteopath

In an unregulated market, here’s how to identify serious practitioners.

Solid training to look for:

• Minimum 3100 hours of training (recommended by the Office des professions)
• Training at a WHO-certified school
• Regular further training
• Member of an established professional association

---

Key questions to ask

What exactly is your training, and where did you receive it?

Which association are you a member of?

I am a member ofOsteopathy Quebec (OQ). You’ll find me listed in their botin of active members by doing a search: Marie-Claude Dion.

When should I consult a doctor or other healthcare professional?

Even if you trust me, you should know that I have no right to make a diagnosis. Nor am I the right person if you need immediate care. When you make an appointment with me, you’ll be asked to fill in a health questionnaire. In addition to being better prepared to receive you, this allows me to refer you if I shouldn’t be the first person to intervene.

If you want to better understand who does what, I’ve written articles on the differences between osteopaths and other health professionals:

• What’s the difference between an osteopath and a chiropractor?
• What’s the difference between an osteopath and an athletic therapist?
• What’s the difference between an osteopath and a physiotherapist?

How many sessions do you estimate for my type of problem?

I’m usually able to tell my clients the truth about their problem, right from the first meeting. However, unless I know you well, I can’t estimate how long your body will need to recover with my therapeutic support.

---

Summary

✅ Signs that you can probably trust this practitioner…	❌ Red flags, attention.
Carry out a detailed interview before any treatment	Promises to cure serious illnesses (cancer, diabetes, etc.)
Collaborates with other health professionals	Systematic criticism of conventional medicine
Refers you elsewhere if necessary	Refuses to work with other professionals
Explains clearly what he does and why	Talks about “energies” with no anatomical basis
Don’t promise the impossible	Can’t justify his training

After avoiding dubious practitioners, there’s of course a question of fit. Find out whether the osteopath’s approach suits you (in short, do you like him?), whether his availability is convenient for you, whether he can refer you if necessary, and whether you can afford his help.

The nuanced verdict

Osteopathy in Quebec is at a turning point: a profession awaiting official recognition, with real therapeutic potential but highly variable quality of practice.

Reality:

• Current scientific evidence is encouraging but insufficient
• The practitioner’s training and approach make all the difference
• Rigorous osteopaths often achieve better results than general studies suggest
• In the absence of regulations, particular care must be taken in selecting the right product.

If you have persistent musculoskeletal pain and a doctor has ruled out serious causes, osteopathy with a well-trained practitioner may be a relevant treatment option. Choose someone who practises scientifically-based osteopathy, in collaboration with the healthcare system.

Keep this summary as a reminder and share it with friends and family.

Answers to your questions and comments

Check that he or she is a member of a recognized professional association. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and ask for proof of qualifications.