A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is a physician
licensed to practice medicine and surgery. Osteopathic
physicians complete four years of medical school and can
choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. However,
osteopaths receive additional training in musculoskeletal
problems and manual treatments. An osteopathic physician can
diagnose physical conditions and can prescribe treatments and
medication.
Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to
treating and healing the entire patient as a whole, rather
than focusing on one system or body part. Osteopaths hold to
the principle that a patient’s history of illness and physical
trauma are written into the body’s structure. An Osteopath
will often use a treatment method called manipulation – a
hands on approach to assure that the body is moving freely.
This enables the body to heal itself.
Osteopaths recognize the impact of
stress on the immune system and posture on various body
systems. The osteopath’s highly developed sense of touch
allows the physician to palpate (feel) the patient’s flow of
fluids, motion and texture of tissues, and structural
problems. The osteopath gently applies a precise amount of
force to promote healthy movement of tissues, eliminate
abnormal movements, and release compressed bones and joints.
This process is called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
Doctors of osteopathic medicine are
found in all health care settings: academic medical centers,
community clinics and private practice.
