The biopsychosocial model of pain and contemporary osteopathic practice

Pain is one of the most common reasons for entry into the primary health care system which includes seeking care from osteopaths, primarily for musculoskeletal pain.Pain is now appreciated from the biopsychosocial perspective, as is human health and functioning in general, and is considered part of evidence-based ‘best practice’.The biopsychosocial model in general is congruent with osteopathic philosophy and provides a wealth of evidence which underpins the osteopathic approach. This includes the concept that pain is perceived as a threat to biological integrity influencing a wide range of neuroendocrine and homeostatic mechanisms in order to restore normal function.This review utilizes pain as the exemplar in the discussion of the biopsychosocial model and its relation to the commonly accepted tenets of osteopathic philosophy.