What Is Osteopathic Medicine?
Osteopathic medicine is a hands-on, patient-centered approach to healthcare that integrates the philosophy of osteopathy with the needs of the individual patient, using current practices in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics. Like allopathic medicine (M.D.s), osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) involves medication and surgery, but with additional benefits. D.O.s are trained to look beyond symptoms, taking the patient’s lifestyle into account to provide the most comprehensive care.
Osteopathic medicine treats conditions such as back pain, migraines, and sports injuries using gentle manipulation techniques, emphasizing a ‘whole person’ approach to care. Rather than focusing solely on specific symptoms or illnesses, osteopathic physicians view the body as an integrated whole. During treatment, D.O.s consider the impact of lifestyle and community on a patient’s health. They strive to help each patient maintain optimal health through treatment, as well as health education, injury prevention, and disease prevention..
Along with the comprehensive education required for all licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians undergo additional training in the musculoskeletal system—the interconnected network of nerves, muscles, and bones. D.O.s use this specialized knowledge to understand how health issues in one part of the body can affect other areas..
Finally, D.O.s use osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a technique that involves using the hands to diagnose illness and injury while promoting overall well-being throughout the body..