Naprapathy
Evidence Based Manual Medicine
Defining Naprapathy
Naprapathy is defined as a system of specific examination, diagnostics, manual treatment and rehabilitation of pain and dysfunction in the neuromusculoskeletal system. The therapy is aimed at restoring function through treatment of the connective tissue, muscle- and neural tissues within or surrounding the spine and other joints.
The definition of naprapathy is translated from: Naprapatins Grunder (The Foundations of Naprapathy), Skillgate et.al., Studentlitteratur, uppl 1:1, Lund 2011, ISBN 978-91-44-05408-7
Naprapathic treatment
Naprapathic treatment consists of combinations of manual techniques for instance spinal manipulation and mobilization, neural mobilization and Naprapathic soft tissue techniques. The manual techniques are often combined with advice regarding physical activity and ergonomics as well as medical rehabilitation training in order to decrease pain and disability and increase work ability and quality of life. A Dr. of Naprapathy is specialized in the diagnosis of structural and functional neuromusculoskeletal disorders, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with problems of such origin as well as to differentiate pain of other origin.
Naprapathy as a Health Care Profession
Naprapathy originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It is today practiced mainly in Sweden, Norway and Finland and, to some extent, in other European countries and the United States. Since 1970 Naprapathy has grown and developed steadily i the Nordic countries and today it constitutes one of the leading professions within the field of manual medicine in Sweden as well as Norway and Finland.
Naprapathy is a part of the Swedish and Norwegian health and medical care systems, by license from the respective National Boards of Health and Welfare, for treating patient with pain and disability from the neuromusculoskeletal system. In Sweden more than one third of the population has received Naprapathic treatment and each year over 1.5 million Naprapathic treatments are performed. Most of the patients that receive Naprapathic treatment do so for low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, sciatica or other radicular symptoms as well as athletic injuries.”