MODEL RELEASED. Osteopathy spine manipulation. Osteopath manipulating his female patient's mid- dorsal spine using a technique called 'lift off'. The osteopath 'hugs' the patient and uses a sudden upward force to pull on the mid-dorsal spine to relieve pressure between the joints and/or align the spine. Osteopathy is a therapy that acknowledges that abnormalities in the function of the musculoskeletal system can cause as much ill- health to the body as damage by a disease can.