Clinical reasoning and therapeutic approaches of experienced osteopaths

Clinical reasoning refers to the decision-making processes which occur during practice. Over the last thirty years research in the health sciences has explored the clinical reasoning processes of a number of health professions such as medicine, nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. As the osteopathic profession continues to grow, osteopaths are increasingly considered to be important providers of neuromusculoskeletal care. However, there has been minimal research into the clinical reasoning processes and therapeutic approaches used in osteopathy. The aim of this research was to explore the clinical reasoning processes of osteopaths in the UK, and to construct an explanatory theory of clinical reasoning in osteopathy.