[Osteopathic medicine].

Osteopathic medicine is a healing modality applied with the doctor's two hands that is similar to but goes far beyond the Manual medicine/chirotherapy which is well known in Germany. Founded in 1874 by Dr. A.T. Still in Kirksville, Missouri in the USA, osteopathic medicine is in addition to the M.D. degree in allopathic medicine a fully accepted and regulated medical profession ending in the granting of the D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree. In 2009 the German Medical Council presented a position paper on osteopathy and osteopathic medicine which has ignited controversial discussions about the possible integration of this modality into the German medical health care system. There is currently an enormous interest in osteopathy and osteopathic medicine in Germany and the demand for this modality is continuously increasing. Although this modality is over 140 years old there are few solid studies that conclusively show its effectiveness.