Standards of Competency
For Certified Equine Osteopaths, EDO®
International Association of Equine Osteopaths
November 20, 2010
International Association of Equine Osteopaths, Inc.
615 Hembree Parkway Ste. 100
Roswell, GA 30076
+1 (770) 343-8402
www.theIAEO.org
Copyright 2010 © IAEO
(All rights reserved no part may be reproduced without written permission).
Contents
I. Introduction
and thanks
II. Brief
history of Equine Osteopathy
III.
The Place of Equine Osteopathy in Conventional Medicine
IV.
History of Equine Osteopathic Standards
V. EDO®
Definition of Equine Osteopath
VI.
Quality of Equine Osteopathic Training
A. Structure of content and hours
i.
Minimum requirements for veterinarians
ii. Minimum
requirements for non-veterinarians
B. Qualifications of Instructors
C. Exams
D. Clinical Externship
E.
Thesis
VII. Continuing
Education Requirements
VIII. Accreditation of Schools for Equine Osteopathy
Section I. Introduction and Thanks
Preface:
The IAEO, International Association of Equine Osteopaths,
presents these standards with the hope of uniting all equine osteopaths
worldwide in a single quest; to bring the highest level of equine osteopathic
training and knowledge to the forefront in order to benefit horses around the
world.
We have used as our measuring device the human osteopathic
practice guidelines and the veterinary practice guidelines both in the US and
Europe. Overtime we expect these standards will continue to evolve with the
steady rise in world acceptance of equine osteopathy.
We would like to thank:
The IAEO Standards Board made up of the following equine
osteopaths and veterinarians.
Randy Lindsey EDO,
Lissolatte Noneman DVM, EDO
Kimberly Parker DVM, EDO
Julie Parsonage EDO
Hilde Roos DVM, EDO
Laura Taylor DVM, EDO
Andre Teunissen DO, MRO, EDO
Joan Wilcoxen EDO
We also owe many thanks to all the osteopaths who have come
before us, exhibiting faithful courage to pursue the unknown and bring the
equine osteopathy to where it is today.
And lastly, to all our fellow equine osteopaths we applaud
you and offer our sincerest appreciation for all your continued efforts.
Section
II. Brief History of Equine Osteopathy
In order to understand the history of equine osteopathy one
must first understand the history of human osteopathy.
Osteopathy was invented by Andrew Taylor Still M.D., in
1874. A.T. Still (1828–1917) a conventionally trained medical doctor, grew up
as a farm boy and the son of a preacher. He became interested in alternative
healing therapies only after he lost 4 children to meningitis and pneumonia.
One of the therapies he discovered was the ‘bone setting’
technique of the Shawnee Indians. This technique convinced him of the ability
to influence illness through correction of the locomotive system.
Still then selected, based on his personal experience, and
his religious and empirical values, several different techniques and made them
into his own eclectic protocol. His basic assumption was the unity of body,
spirit and soul.
Still considered standard deviations and immobility of the
spine a central cause of general illness. He felt that every mobility change
decreased the physiology of the neurons and blood vessels. Therefore, restoring
this mobility allowed the self-healing possibility to restore the basic harmony
of the body.
He felt the use of medications was medical weakness and that
surgical intervention was used too quickly and too frequently. And in 1892, he
founded The American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri.
Another important figure in
the history of osteopathy was John Martin Littlejohn. Littlejohn (1865 – 1947) initially
studied languages, theology, medicine, philosophy and sociology. He started out
as a pastor in Britain, and later taught at The University of Glasglow.
Littlejohn was forced by illness to seek another climate and immigrated to
America in 1892 where he taught and later was Head of Amity University, College
Springs, Iowa.
The climate change alone did not heal him therefore, he
asked Andrew Taylor Still for help. Still’s ability to cure him rapidly
impressed him very much. He later went on to lecture in general medical science
at The American School of Osteopathy at Still’s invitation and at this time
started his study of osteopathy.
In 1910 Littlejohn founded the University of Osteopathy in
Chicago, Illinois, which was a huge step forward for the theoretical
advancement of osteopathy. Unfortunately, soon after, it became apparent
Littlejohn had a difference of opinion from Still on the basic principles
regarding the anatomy and physiology of osteopathy. Therefore, when a second
conflict over theoretical foundation versus practical experience erupted,
Littlejohn and Still began to drift apart. And in 1913 Littlejohn moved back to Britain with his
brothers. He later went on to found the British School of Osteopathy in 1917,
which had great influence on osteopathy in Europe.
In 1900 William Garner Sutherland graduated from Still’s College in Kirksville and began his own path in osteopathy. William Garner Sutherland (1873–1954) was born in Wisconsin, US, he studied at the University of Upper Iowa and later became editor of the Daily Herald in Austin, Minnesota. From 1889-1900 he studied osteopathy with A.T. Still.
Sutherland supported himself as a student by editing texts for his physiology teacher, Littlejohn. This perpetuated his interest in the mobility of the skull bones, and in1939 he published a paper entitled “The Cranial Bowl”. Sutherland is well known for coining the terms "liquid light", "potency", "breath of life" and "primary respiratory mechanism” (PRM). For his contributions he is considered the father of CranialSacral Osteopathy.
At this point in time in the history of osteopathy the schools began to split into different theories and philosophies of technique depending on the location and culture. In America the osteopathy began forming more along the lines of medical influence. In Europe because the therapists were restricted to manual therapies only, this part of the osteopathy flourished there. While osteopaths such as Viola Fryman and John Upledger pushed forward with the cranial techniques, John Pierre Barral and Weisschenk were making huge strides in the development of the visceral manipulation techniques. It is thanks to these British and French influences that in the Netherlands the first strong push for complete osteopathy consisting of parietal, visceral and cranial techniques came together in 1985.
This brings us to the influence of human osteopathy in
creating equine osteopathy. Just as cultural and municipal influence changed
the human osteopathy in Europe so did it influence the path of the development
of the equine osteopathy.
It was in 1980 that French veterinarian and osteopath
Dominique Giniaux was the first to contemplate the use of osteopathy on horses.
Giniaux founder of the “Wiener Schule für Equine Osteopathie” passed away as a
result of a heart attack in 2004.
1984 in Britain Stuart McGregor DO, began developing his own
form of equine parietal techniques.
In 1990 a Dutch osteopath, Janek Vluggen, began his
development of equine osteopathy focusing primarily on the visceral techniques.
In 2002 Pascal Evrard DO, wrote the book: “Osteopathy
Vétérinaire, Introduction a L’osteopathy” describing his findings in equine
parietal osteopathy. And in 2003 he founded the “International School of Equine
Osteopathy” in Frankfurt, Germany.
In 2003 Evrard and Vluggen joined forces in Europe and America
to further develop the equine osteopathy and taught the first American equine
osteopathy course in Florida. Unfortunately the course was not completed before
Pascal died at the age of 44 in a tragic car accident.
After the untimely accident, Janek Vluggen continued with
the development of the parietal, visceral and cranial techniques and in 2005
patented the title “Equine Osteopath EDO®” worldwide. This same year, together
with veterinarian Bob van der Heyden and physical therapist Martin van den Dungen
founded World Wide Equine Education and started their first course for equine
osteopathy simultaneously in Europe and America.
Due to philosophical differences in osteopathy eventually
this partnership dissolved and in 2007 Janek Vluggen founded “The Vluggen
Institute for Equine Osteopathy and Education”, based in America and Europe.
In 2008 a veterinarian and graduate of the Vluggen
Institute, Kimberly Parker DVM EDO®, founded the “International Association for
Equine Osteopaths”. And in 2010 after developing The Standards of Practice and
Competency For Equine Osteopaths, EDO®, the IAEO took over the certification
process for equine osteopaths worldwide.
III. The Place of Equine Osteopathy in
Conventional Medicine
Equine osteopathy is a complementary therapy to conventional
medicine and surgery. It can be used as a diagnostic tool to lead the
practitioner in the direction of disease where other testing, if needed, can be
facilitated. Equine Osteopathy is also a substitute for medication or invasive
surgery when appropriate.
The view of the equine osteopath is that lack of mobility
equals disease and together with the skills necessary can alleviate many
problems in equine.
IV. History of Equine Osteopathic Standards
In January 2008, Dr. Kimberly Parker, a graduate of the Vluggen Institute of Equine Osteopathy and Education, founded the International Association of Equine Osteopaths, with the purpose of developing worldwide standards of practice and competency for the profession of equine osteopathy. She together with the Standards and Education Committee wrote these standards during the Summer of 2010.
On November 20, 2010 these standards of competency to qualify for the title EDO®, Equine Osteopath, were voted in by the members of the IAEO at the annual conference.
From this date forward in order to be a certified equine osteopath and use the title EDO® a candidate must meet the criteria for competency outlined within this document.
V. EDO® Definition of Equine Osteopath
An EDO®, equine osteopath, is a manual therapist trained in osteopathic medicine for the species equidae. He is competent in all areas of equine osteopathy including, parietal, visceral and cranialsacral techniques.
The IAEO expects the certified EDO® to behave at all times in a manner which is in the best interest of the horse. He must have integrity in all matters and represent equine osteopathy well.
VI. Quality of Equine
Osteopathic Training
A. Structure of requirements, content and hours – the
curriculum must consist of the
following in order to be considered for EDO® certification.
i.
Minimum requirements for professionals – to be considered a professional
the student must have previously received a degree in a field of
medical arts related to equine osteopathy in adherence to the laws in their specific area
of the world. Related fields include Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine,
Diplomate of Osteopathy, Doctorate of Chiropractic Medicine, Physical
Therapist, or other related field approved in advance by the IAEO Standards
and Education Committee.
a.
Content of Equine Osteopathic Education and Hours for Professionals
Structural
Equine Osteopathy
110
minimum hours of theoretical study
110
minimum hours of practical study
Visceral
Equine Osteopathy
30
minimum hours of theoretical study
30
minimum hours of practical study
Cranial Sacral Equine Osteopathy
15
minimum hours of theoretical study
15
minimum hours of practical study
ii. Minimum
requirements for non-veterinarians – a non-veterinarian is a student
who has not previously received a professional degree as listed above
but who qualifies for an extended study program of equine osteopathy.
These students are approved based on their individual profile of
previous experience and education on a case-by-case basis. In order for a
non-veterinarian student to be considered for certification, the IAEO requires
the student to work under the supervision of a veterinarian sponsor. This supervision is mandatory
with no exceptions.
a.
Content of Equine Osteopathic Education and Hours for Non-veterinarians.
Anatomy,
Physiology & Pathology
90
minimum hours
Structural
Equine Osteopathy
110
minimum hours of theoretical study
110
minimum hours of practical study
Visceral
Equine Osteopathy
30
minimum hours of theoretical study
15 minimum hours of theoretical study
15 minimum hours of practical study
It
is the IAEO’s position that any non-veterinarian EDO® or student
of equine osteopathy must seek the expertise of a qualified veterinarian to perform any visceral manipulations intra-cavity based on the laws in their practice area. The
IAEO will not be held legally responsible for any EDO® or student neglecting to adhere to this policy.
B. Qualifications of Instructors – All instructors must have
a degree in human or equine
osteopathy. An individual school
may petition the Standards and Education
Committee for approval of other instructors who are qualified specialists
in their field.
C. Exams – The Individual IAEO certified school of equine
osteopathy should be
left to their own discretion as to the content of any interim or final examinations.
However,
the following criteria must be met in order for the graduates
to receive their EDO®
i.
A certified EDO® must be present at all final exams. (the individual school
is responsible for any financial burden associated with meeting this requirement).
ii.
The final exam must test theoretical and practical knowledge of the parietal,
visceral and cranialsacral equine osteopathy techniques.
iii.
The student must pass both the theoretical and practical portions of the final
examination within two attempts in order to qualify for the certification
of EDO®
D. Clinical Externship – Between the first and second year of
study each student
is required to attend a clinical externship approved by the Standards and Education
Committee.
E. Thesis – Within one calendar year from receiving the certification of EDO® each member must present a research paper on a topic approved by the Standards and Education Committee. Any members who were grandfathered in before January 2011 must turn in this thesis before January 1st, 2013 in order to maintain your certification as an EDO®.
VII. Continuing
Education Requirements
In order to retain the certification status of EDO®, each
graduated member must submit to the Standards and Education Committee proof of
15 hours of approved continued education hours by January 1st of
each odd year commencing January 1st, 2013.
VIII. Accreditation
for Schools of Equine Osteopathy
Any school of equine osteopathy requesting certification status from the IAEO may submit in writing a request for application from the Standards and Education Committee. Each school must meet the requirements listed in these Standards of Practice and Competency document in regards to subjects taught and hours attended and will be reviewed individually on their own merits.