Risch Andreas.pdf - Osteopathic Research

Frequent metaphors for the concept of “orientation” in the field of “speaking” (17%,
HEALTH AS GUIDANCE, DIRECTION, WAY, SEARCH, TARGET) are revealing
difficulties in finding a clear direction of communication with colleagues and other
medical professions, as well as in the osteopath-patient relationship. However, it
suggests a better competency for change and adaptation (“change”) compensating
for the communication deficits but increasing the problem of professional
identification (“dissociation”). A good sense of orientation is also depending on a
good cognitive assessment of one's position in relation to the direction of movement.
The low representation of the categories of „organism“, „circle/cycle/rhythm“ and
„game/sports“ (all at 1%) is a surprise, considering the strong presence of the
concept of movement, cycles and rhythm in osteopathic literature (Liem, Sommerfeld,
Wührl (HRSG.), 2008). Again, the academic background and the professional
experience might play a role for the low amount of metaphors found in these
categories, suggesting that they seem to become less important in the
conceptualization of health among expert osteopaths. This hypothesis needs to be
further investigated, especially since most osteopaths explicitly value their personal
experiences higher than their professional or academic training in reaching their
concepts of health.
Although or maybe because of health is expressed as “TREASURE, HIGHEST
VALUE, AS A JEWEL, AS THE MOST PRECIOUS OBJECT” the cost and expenses
of health is hardly an issue for osteopaths (3%). This might be due to the fact that
most of the interviewed osteopaths have a direct treatment contract with their
patients and are directly reimbursed by them thus avoiding the discussion of
insurance payment and political health debates.
The osteopathic concepts about health found in this study can be well associated
with the concept of salutogenesis (Antonovsky, 1997) due to the fact, that the
concepts of health in osteopathy are less expressed in metaphors for fighting or
removing symptoms, but in positive health oriented phrases with focus on self healing
abilities, increase and build up of health and resistance resources (e.g. HEALTH AS
POTENTIAL, CONFIDENCE, UNDERSTANDING, COHERENCE,