Osteopathy Program

Guy Voyer has developed a training program and teaches at several schools offering a course over a six-year period which leads to an Osteopathic Diploma (DO) and an International Osteopathic Diploma (IDO).

Goal

To develop highly qualified osteopaths as well as the next generation of teachers who will transmit the philosophy and the thousands of techniques they will have acquired.

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Académie Sutherland d'Ostéopathie du Québec (Montréal, Canada)

The approach

Approach to teaching osteopathy

Guy Voyer is convinced it is necessary to return to teaching osteopathy in a non-complacent way; his approach respects traditional methods, but also takes into account progress made since Still’s time.

Here are some examples:

There is more and more talk of “holistic” global and interactive medicine, and we forget to apply the philosophy of complexity to teaching, practice and diagnostic and therapeutic methodology. Osteopathy is first and foremost a philosophy which is worth teaching and understanding.
The mobility of bodily fluids is due to the constant pressure and aspiration exercised by the four principal diaphragms of the human body; however, one must know how to treat them.
Still is the father of osteopathy. He said, “Structure controls function”. It is, therefore, necessary to master with precision all adjustments needed for structural normalization.
More and more illnesses are due to hormone disorders (especially in women); however, one must know how to treat hormone chains.
Since Littlejohn, we now know the importance of the sympathetic system in osteopathy; however, one must know how to control it.
Sutherland made extraordinary inroads with respect to cranial work; 80 years later, in order to avoid any esotericism, one must control the anatomy and biomechanics of the cranium’s bones and membranes.

All training programs developed by Guy Voyer stress the fasciae’s anatomy, biomechanics, physiology as well as their role and function.

The structure and methodology

Program structure and methodology

The program consists of 7,810 hours of theoretical and practical training spread over
6 years, as illustrated in the following table.

Table – Distribution of hours of training per year

Description	Year
Description	1	2	3	4	5	6
Theoretical preparation for practical seminars	500	500	500	500	500	500
Practical seminars	250	234	253	253	253	207
Team projects	40	40	40	40	40	40
Clinical observation training sessions	8	16	24	32	40
Clinical practice			600	800	1000	600
Total number of hours of training per year	798	790	1417	1625	1833	1347

Theoretical preparation

Each student prepares for the seminars by studying the handbooks and notes taken during the course. This requires a minimum of 10 hours of studying per week, 50 weeks a year.

The theoretical training includes basics in anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, semiology, cinesiology, osteopathy and fascialogy.

Practical seminars

Each student attends five to seven seminars per year. They last four to five days depending on the topic. Each seminar is documented with digital photographs of the techniques to be demonstrated and an audio recording of the instructions by Dictaphone (verbatim report).

Practical training focuses on the mastery of over 1,000 techniques:

self-normalization techniques (myo-fascial stretches, longitudinal osteo-articular decoaptation stretches, proprioception, circulatory and respiratory exercises, muscular strengthening, etc.)
osteopathic treatment techniques (treatment of the fasciae, treatment of the cranium, treatment of viscerae and glands, osteo-articular treatment)

Team projects

At the end of each seminar, a group of students is responsible for preparing a document with photographs and descriptions of all the techniques studied during the seminar as well as the verbatim report of the seminar’s audio recording, which is transcribed in its entirety. Each document is then corrected and given to other students in the form of a reference CD-ROM.

Clinical observation training session

Each student observes clinical treatments performed by Guy Voyer.

Clinical practice

During their training, students must account for a total of 3,000 treatments they will provide to their patients in order to present their DO. Depending on their qualifications, this work may begin only in the third year. They absolutely must validate the treatment of 3,000 patients before the end of the sixth year. As written proof, students must submit their patients evaluations to the school.

The program outline

Outline overview

This table summarizes the 6-year training program
which leads to the Diploma of Osteopathy (DO).

Note :

Download the complete
list of topics

(pdf file - 83 pages - 556K)

The first figure in the left-hand column indicates the reference year (e.g.: Y1 for Year 1) and the figure on the right-hand side, the number of the seminar (R indicates a seminar of review and perfecting).

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YEAR 1
sémi- nar	MAJOR	MINOR	SECONDARY	HAND-OUTS
Y1-1	1 : Osteopathic pumping of the upper limbs 2 : Osteopathic pumping of the lower limbs 3 : The philosophy of osteopathy	1 : History of osteopathy 1 2 : Anatomy and biomechanics of the upper limbs 3 : Anatomy and biomechanics of the lower limbs 4 : Cinesiology 1 5 : The physiology of an inflammation	1 : General anamnesis 2 : The different plans of osteopathy	History of osteopathy 1 The paradigm of complexity Inflammation Cinesiology Biomechanics of the upper limbs Biomechanics of the lower limbs Biomechanics of the rachis Osteopathy
Y1-2	1 : Osteopathic pumping of the pelvis 2 : Osteopathic pumping of the lumbar rachis 3 : Osteopathic pumping of the dorsal rachis and the thorax 4 : Osteopathic pumping of temporomandibular articulations (TMAs)	1 : History of osteopathy 2 2 : Anatomy and biomechanics of the trunk 3 : Cinesiology 2	1 : Descriptive and functional arthrology sheets 2 : Muscular synthesis sheets 3 : Physiology of bones and articulations	TMAs 1 Thoracic diaphragm 1 History of osteopathy 2 General anamnesis Physiology of the muscle Muscular energetics
Y1-3	1 : Myofascial stretching of the lower limbs 2 : Myofascial stretching of the upper limbs 3 : Myofascial stretching of the trunk 4 : Description of the 22 axes of the pelvis	1 : History of osteopathy 3 2 : Anatomy and biomechanics of the lower limbs 3 : Physiology of energy and metabolism	Physiology of muscles	Muscles of the anterior and antero-lateral walls of the abdomen Muscles and articulations of the rachis Anatomy of arteries 1 Anatomy of veins 1 Respiratory physiology -ardio-circulatory physiology
Y1-4	1 : Treatment of the thoracic diaphragm 2 : Circulatory techniques	1 : Cardiovascular physiology 2 : Physiology of breathing 3 : Methodology of awareness 4 : Osteopathy’s situation	Reading: Philosophy of systemism	Anatomy of the veins Thoracic diaphragm 2 Biomechanics of Littlejohn LOADS Anatomy of the nervous system 1
Y1-5	1 : LOADS (Longitudinal osteoarticular decoaptation stretches) 2 : Lemniscates approach	1 : Physiology of the nervous system 2 : History of osteopathy 4	Sympathetic system approach	Anatomy and biomechanics of the temporal bone Anatomy of veins 2 Anatomy of arteries 2 Anatomy of the nervous system 2 Posture (Fukuda test) General information on the fasciae
Y1-6	1 : General symptomatology; anamnesis 2 : Biological examinations
Y1-R	1 : GOT: General osteopathic treatment 2 : Respiratory techniques	1 : Oral presentations 2 : Cardio-circulatory physiology adapted to pathological situations 3 : Respiratory physiology adapted to pathological situations 4 : Review of the year’s program	Methodology for learning about anatomy	GOT: General osteopathic treatment After correction, each student gives a presentation
YEAR 2 top of page
sémi- nar	MAJOR	MINOR	SECONDARY	HAND-OUTS
Y2-1	1 : F0 2 : Listening and touching 3 : Diagnosis and general fascial treatment	1 : Physiology and philosophy of listening and touching 2 : General embryology	General physiology: How the human body is organized	Anatomy and biomechanics of the occiput and sphenoid bone Listening and touching Embryology Anatomy of fasciae of the lower limbs
Y2-2	1 : Palpatory anatomy of the lower limbs 2 : Treating fascial chains of the lower limbs	Philosophy: the paradigm of complexity	1 : Physiology of the digestive system 2 : Anatomy of the peripheral nervous system and the plexuses	Orthopedic symptomatology Fascial chains of the lower limbs Anatomy of the fasciae of the upper limbs Embryology and evolution of the cranium during growth
Y2-3	1 : Palpatory anatomy of the upper limbs 2 : Treatment of fascial chains of the upper limbs	Symptomatology of the musculoskeletal system	Anatomical approach of the autonomic nervous system	Fascial chains of the upper limbs Anatomy of fascial chains of the anterior and posterior sides of the trunk Anatomy of the mediastinum Relational anatomy of the cervico-thoracic diaphragm
Y2-4	1 : Palpatory anatomy of the anterior and posterior planes of the trunk and head 2 : Osteopathic treatment of the fascial chains of the anterior and posterior planes of the trunk and head	1 : Physiology of water 2 : Physiology of elimination 3 : Physiology of thermoregulation 4 : Physiology of skin 5 : Water and Man	1 : Anatomy of the urovesical system 2 : Physiology of the nephrologic and reproductive systems	Anatomy and biomechanics of TMAs 2 Anatomy of the temporal bone 1 Biomechanics of the temporal bone Rheumatologic semiology Fascial chains on the surface of the trunk Radiology 1 (approach) Craniometry
Y2-5	1 : History, philosophy, and methodology of cranial treatment 2 : Primary Respiratory Movement (PRM) and consequences of its dysfunction 3 : Analytical treatment of the temporal bone 4 : Treating the chain of the temporal bone	Anatomy of the temporal bone 2	Different approaches to the conception of PRM	Cervico-thoracic diaphragm Cardiovascular semiology Thoraco-pulmonary semiology Electro-cardiogram exercises Relational anatomy of the pelvic diaphragm Fasciae of the face and cranium
A2-6	Semiology of the musculoskeletal system: 1 : History-taking 2 : Signes fonctionnels 3 : Bone inspection and palpation 4 : Joint inspection and palpation 5 : Spinal inspection and palpation 6 : Sacro-iliac examination 7 : Radiological approach 8 : Semiological classification: - Radiological anomalies in the bone - Anomalies in the articular liquid (osteoarthritis, arthritis) - Anomalies in the phospho-calcium metabolism (osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism, etc.) - Bone tumefactions (osteitis, tumors, etc.) - Complementary examinations
Y2-R	1 : Treatment of the cervico-thoracic diaphragm 2 : Osteopathic tests and diagnosis of pelvic lesions	1 : Definition of intraosseous lemniscates 2 : Review of the year’s program	Overview of aromatherapy	General information: radiology, scans, tomography, ultrasounds, MRIs Anatomy of the mediastinal system Anatomy of the lymphatic system Anatomy of the nerve plexus system Anatomy of the venous plexus system Functional anatomy of the thorax
YEAR 3 top of page
sémi- nar	MAJOR	MINOR	SECONDARY	HAND-OUTS
Y3-1	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the pharynx 2 : Osteopathic treatment of the larynx 3 : Osteopathic treatment of the thyroid 4 : Topic of thesis	How to write a thesis	The voice	Anatomy and biomechanics of the occiput and sphenoid bone Anatomy of the larynx, pharynx and thyroid Styloid diaphragm
Y3-2	Treatment of the occiput, sphenoid bone and sphenobasilar symphysis	1 : Embryology and evolution of the cranium during growth 2 : Topic of thesis	Movements of the sphenobasilar symphysis	Electrocardiogram
Y3-3	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the parietal, frontal and ethmoidal bones 2 : Topic of thesis	Mediastinal pathology	Embryological evolution of the mediastinum	Relational anatomy of the mediastinum TMAs 2
Y3-4	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the mediastinum 2 : Topic of thesis	Clinical approaches	Presentation on the 22 axes of the pelvis and their visceral incidences 1	Cardiovascular semiology Pelvic diaphragm
Y3-5	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the facial bones 2 : Complete treatment of the temporomandibular joint 3 : Topic of thesis	Relational anatomy of the pelvic diaphrag	Presentation on the 22 axes of the pelvis and their visceral incidences 2
Y3-6	1 : Cardiovascular semiology 2 : Thoraco-pulmonary semiology
Y3-R	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the pelvic diaphragm 2 : The 22 axes of the pelvis 3 : Osteopathic treatment of the fasciae of the face and cranium	Clinical approaches	Relational anatomy of the trunk
YEAR 4 top of page
sémi- nar	MAJOR	MINOR	SECONDARY	HAND-OUTS
Y4-1	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the thoracic cage : the lungs 2 : Osteopathic treatment of the thoracic cage : the heart 3 : Examining the credits of the Certificate of Osteopathy (CO)	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Venous sinuses Cranial ventriclesricles Dura mater and membranes
Y4-2	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the venous sinuses 2 : Osteopathic treatment of the cranial diaphragm 3 : Osteopathic treatment of the ventricular chain 4 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Functional anatomy of the nose and adnexa Functional anatomy of the ear and adnexa
Y4-3	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the sensory organs 2 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Functional anatomy of the mouth and adnexa Functional anatomy of the eye and adnexa
Y4-4	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the sensory organs 2 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Principal neurological syndromes Electroencephalogram Relational anatomy of abdominal viscerae
Y4-5	1 : Osteopathic treatment of abdominal viscerae (Part 1) 2 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies
Y4-6	1 : Digestive semiology 2 : Semiology of the urinary system			Cranial orifices and their connection
Y4-R	1 : Pelviology 2 : Presentation of the report on cranial therapy	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Glands
YEAR 5 top of page
sémi- nar	MAJOR	MINOR	SECONDARY	HAND-OUTS
Y5-1	1 : Osteopathic treatment the digestive system (Part 2) 2 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Presentation of book reports by other students Methodology of structural osteopathy 1
Y5-2	1 : Structural manipulation of the upper and lower limbs 2 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Structural osteopathic treatment Methodology of structural osteopathy 2
Y5-3	1 : Structural manipulation of the spine 2 : Pumping the lymphatic system 3 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Various approaches to manipulation Methodology of osteopathic manipulation of the viscerae 1
Y5-4	1 : Osteopathic treatment of the renal and cystic systems 2 : Examining the credits of the CO	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Fasting and draining Methodology of osteopathic manipulation of the kidneys 2 Orthopedic radiology 2 (complete)
Y5-5	1 : Radiology 2 : Paper on fascialogy 3 : Examining the credits of the CO 4 : Last structural manipulation of the viscerae	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Biological assessments Physiology of the pregnant woman and methodology of childbirth Evolution from new-born to baby and from baby to child Hormones
Y5-6	1 : Semiology of the genital and reproductive system 2 : Obstetric semiology 3 : Endocrinal semiology 4 : Examining the credits of the CO 5 : Treatment of the genital and reproductive system 6 : Osteopathic treatment of pregnant women and babies	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	The first seven nerves of the cranium
Y5-R	1 : Clinic 2 : Osteopathic treatment of hormone chains 3 : Osteopathic treatment : glandular pumping 4 : Methodology of DO and IDO exams	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	The last five nerves of the cranium
YEAR6 top of page
sémi- nar	MAJOR	MINOR	SECONDARY	HAND-OUTS
Y6-1	Treatment of the first seven nerves of the cranium	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies
Y6-2	Treatment of the last five nerves of the cranium	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies	Anatomy of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system
Y6-3	Osteopathic treatment of the neurovegetative system 1: - theory - osteopathic treatment of the centrifugal function	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies
Y6-4	Osteopathic treatment of the neurovegetative system 2 : - osteopathic treatment of the centripetal function - referred pain - multidirectional pain - osteopathic treatment of the parasympathetic system	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies
Y6-5	1 : Preparation for the thesis and DO exam 2 : Clinic	Group clinical demonstrations	Case studies
Y6-6	1 : Symposium 2 : Clinical and oral tests of DO 3 : Defence of report	Group clinical demonstrations

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