Abstract

This article analyzes the results of a series of qualitative interviews on the gestures performed by osteopaths and perceived by patients. The results show the existence of an expectation of reciprocal recognition on which the patient's participation in care and the effectiveness of the treatment depend. These results also suggest that the adjustment between therapist and patient may be due more to the diversity of osteopathic treatments on offer as a result of incomplete professionalization than to the mastery of adjustment gestures, which is nonetheless desirable for the development of the discipline.