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During your academic and clinical training detailed below, you will develop as a learner, as a practitioner and as a person. Underpinning your academic learning are personal and professional skills, such as communication, problem-solving, analysis, critical reflection, self-awareness, responsibility, autonomy and leadership.
Year: 1 (level 4) Full-Time
Focus Areas:
Osteopathic studies including theory, philosophy, concepts & principles, and practical skills such as case history taking, palpation (a refined sense of touch), observation, joint movement and soft-tissue techniques. Contact teaching time is far in excess of the University standard, which is essential for learning practical skills. Participation in the outpatient clinic is mandatory even at level 4.
Supporting Studies:
The detailed study of anatomy and physiology of the entire body, inside and out. Sociology of health and illness.
Year: 2 (level 5) Full-Time
Focus Areas:
The osteopathy classes continue to build on the skills learnt at level 4, and progress to integrating the knowledge acquired in the other level 5 classes. Examples of techniques practised are articulation, muscle energy techniques, functional and indirect approaches, and high velocity thrust techniques. In clinic, students participate in an increasing range of patient examinations and treatments.
Supporting Studies:
A broad range of pathology, including theory, symptoms, signs, and how to assess using standard medical examination procedures. Some adjudicative studies such as pharmacology and imaging.
Year: 3 (level 6) Full-Time
Focus Areas:
The osteopathy classes build on level 5, and continue to feature significant amounts of practical work alongside theoretical constructs.
Skills are applied to a wide range of scenarios, and clinical reasoning and hypothesis generation are expanded.
In clinic, students become ‘senior students’, responsible for conducting and evaluating patient care.
Supporting Studies:
Continuation of differential diagnosis, integrating co-morbidities into management plans. Research studies encompassing qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
Year: 4 (level 7 MOst) (level 6 BOst) Full-Time
Focus Areas:
Osteopathy classes consolidate previous learning and find expression in autonomous clinical practice. The amount of support needed from Clinic Tutors decreases, and students play a role in helping junior students develop.
All of this is aimed at ensuring students are ready for their role as an independent healthcare professional at the point of graduation.
LSO osteopaths graduate as ‘general practitioners’, with basic skills in specialist areas which they may choose to go on and develop further in their future careers. These areas include paediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics, sports injuries and rehabilitation, cranial, visceral and classical approaches.
Supporting Studies:
Professional practice including regulation, ethics and medico-legal considerations.
Business studies including preparing a business plan.
Research activities culminating in writing a dissertation (MOst) or research proposal (BOst) on a topic of your choice.
