Osteopaths’ perspective and experiences of elite track and field athletes osteopathic treatments: A descriptive phenomenological study

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate osteopaths' perspectives regarding their lived experience of osteopathic treatments of elite Track and Field athletes to contribute to developing integrated models of care.

Methods

Participants were selected through purposive sampling due to the hard-to-reach feature of the population. The data gathering was carried out through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed in an inductive way using a descriptive phenomenological approach.

Results

Data saturation was reached with 10 participants (female = 2; male = 8). Participants' ages ranged from 26 to 64 years old. The analysis showed one overarching theme: “Passion might not just be enough … Don't do it alone”, six themes, and twenty-four categories. Themes were: (1) “Track and field osteopaths are passionate professionals who inform manual expertise with clinical experience to perform under pressure,” (2) “The osteopath participates in the athlete's career through an ongoing relationship based on trust,” (3) “The osteopath responds responsibly to the athlete's health needs by working in preventive terms and on increasing performance,” (4) “The osteopath considers psychosocial factors in the athlete's education aimed at managing adaptations through body awareness,” (5) “The team must face ethical and economic sustainability challenges,” and (6) “The knowledge of the technical gesture enhanced by technology allows solid planning.”

Conclusion

results from the present study can serve as a framework to understand the relationship between osteopaths and elite track and field athletes. It might help to organize the future research agenda regarding osteopathy and track and field since there is a gap in the literature to date.