What do osteopaths specialize in

After graduating from medical school, DOs take a rigorous national licensure exam, which contains the same material as the exam to become an MD. Both kinds of doctor are licensed by state medical examination boards.

DOs must complete a residency that could last 1 to 7 years depending on the practice area. Although many medical students graduate from traditional medical schools, interest in studying osteopathic medicine is growing. Today, there are 37 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States. Although DOs are trained in conventional Western medicine, osteopathy is considered a complementary practice.

The primary difference between an MD and a DO is that while osteopathic physicians may use conventional medical treatments, some also use manual therapies, like massaging and manipulating the spine. While many MDs also use alternative treatments, osteopaths receive special training in treating people as a whole instead of targeting specific systems and symptoms.

A naturopathic doctor ND attends a 4-year graduate program in naturopathic medicine and must pass a rigorous exam given by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. Naturopaths are another field that is distinct from naturopathic doctors. Naturopaths have no governing body, are unlicensed, and may not be educated to the same degree as DOs. In some states, a naturopathic doctor can be a primary care physician, diagnosing and treating patients with natural and homeopathic approaches.

In other states, their responsibilities are much more limited. A DO is licensed in all 50 states to perform the same medical diagnostics and treatments as a medical doctor. Although some DOs use alternative and natural approaches, many rely on conventional treatments and methods. Chiropractors and DOs both receive specialized training in the relationship between the musculoskeletal system and overall health. These were also the areas she was experiencing pain on examination, even though she presented complaining primarily with abdominal pain.

Using manipulation, I was able to begin to reduce some of the muscle tightness and joint restriction. Once the structural problems resolved, normal gastrointestinal function returned.

It has been several months since I initially treated this young woman. She began to experience almost immediate relief of her symptoms with her first treatment, and was markedly improved after two sessions using osteopathic manipulative medicine. She currently sees an osteopathic physician near her home every four to six weeks as a preventative measure, and has been essentially symptom free without medication for six months.

As you can see from this case, osteopathic manipulative medicine offered an approach for this patient that was specific to her. Another patient with similar symptoms may have a different cause or different ways in which stress is manifested in the body, thus requiring a different, patient-specific treatment approach to resolve the problem.

This particular patient responded very well to manipulative therapy. Such a response is common in our clinical experience using manipulation to treat a wide variety of conditions.

Often, when people hear about osteopathic manipulation, they compare it to chiropractic adjustments or massage therapy. In reality, osteopathic manipulation is different from both of these types of manual therapy for a number of reasons. One primary difference between osteopathic manipulation and other forms of therapy is that only the osteopathic physician has the training to apply the underlying philosophy of osteopathic health care with comprehensive medical training in all systems of the body, thus setting the stage for how manipulative medicine can be used with each patient.

This case illustrates how osteopathic physicians consider the whole person when making a diagnosis and developing a treatment plan rather than focusing solely on the symptom or disease process. Stark J. A degree of difference: the origins of osteopathy and the first use of the "DO" designation. A qualitative grounded theory study of the conceptions of clinical practice in osteopathy - a continuum from technical rationality to professional artistry.

Man Ther. Updated by: Amit M. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Editorial team. A DO has the same career pathway available to them as an MD. An osteopathic physician can also work in medical research if they choose. Osteopathic physicians are most likely to work alone or in a group practice as primary care physicians. When a DO works with a patient, they perform tasks that include:.

An osteopath also engages in physical manipulation techniques that resemble chiropractic techniques, but use movements that are more gentle and slow. An osteopathic treatment typically consists of the physician manipulating the affected part of the body in a slow and methodical manner to release the myofascial structures underneath.

The manner and course of treatment are determined by the condition or problem the patient needs relief from. In turn, the DO examines the condition and decides how to treat based upon their training and knowledge of what causes the condition in the first place.

An osteopathic physician follows the same educational trajectory as a traditional doctor of medicine, including:. The first step towards becoming an osteopathic physician is to obtain a bachelor's degree.

There is no specific undergraduate major required but there are necessary prerequisites to get accepted into a school of osteopathic medicine or traditional medicine. Taking classes in the physics, chemistry and biology arenas are all helpful for admission.

Upon completion of the bachelor's degree, the prospective student has to take the Medical College Admissions Test MCAT for entry into the school of choice. This test is taken the year before applying to a school that offers an MD or DO program. After getting the license, the new DO has to complete a residency that lasts anywhere from one year to seven years and complete hours of coursework that focuses primarily on the musculoskeletal systems and framework.