In the United States, there are two types of physicians who are licensed as doctors to practice medicine – Osteopathic Physicians (DOs) and Allopathic Physicians (MDs). Both of these physician types may practice in any of the various primary care and specialty fields. When you attend an appointment with a physician, they will be either a DO or an MD. In many instances, you, as the patient, may not know the difference.
Osteopathic Medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare, capitalizing on the body’s ability to heal itself if the correct conditions are put into place. That being said, there is no longer a strict rule that “DOs practice holistically and MDs do not.” Depending on the specific medical training received by the physician and their personal approach to medicine, a holistic approach is commonly offered by MDs in addition to DOs. Certainly, there are plenty of examples of MDs taking a holistic approach and DOs not as much.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)- Not just cracking backs!
One difference that has persisted is the addition of training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a mandatory aspect of Osteopathic medical school. While not all DOs use OMT when they complete training, all are required to learn this skill in medical school. In short, OMT is a hands-on approach to diagnosing and treating abnormalities of the skeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons). While OMT is learned by all DOs, MDs must seek out training as an addition to their medical school regimen should they desire to use OMT in their practice.
Want to know how restoring function can decrease pain? Read on!!
What can OMT do for me?
- Treat structural and tissue abnormalities
- Restore muscle and tissue balance
- Relieve joint restriction and misalignment
- Promote the overall movement of blood flow throughout the body
Is this the same as Chiropractic treatments? No. While there are similarities in some of the techniques and may appear similar superficially, there are differences in approaches between the various professionals who provide hands-on treatments, including Osteopathic Physicians, Chiropractors, and Massage Therapists. While Osteopaths and Chiropractors believe in alignment of the spine as a method to help restore health, Osteopaths treat a far broader scope of disorders. Osteopaths, as fully licensed physicians, can also leverage the complete library of diagnostic examinations, treatments beyond spinal adjustments, and pharmaceutical therapies.
At the end of the day, the best type of healthcare provider for each patient is individually specific and decisions on which is best for you should only come after you have spent some time learning about the various forms of medicine available as resources to you.