Osteopathic Medicine

Getting to the Heart of a DO

 

What is the DO Difference?

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or DO, is a fully licensed physician who practices in all areas of medicine. DOs use a unique whole-person approach to help prevent illness and injury. Osteopathic medicine is a patient-focused approach to healthcare that considers every aspect of the patient, including their physical, personal, and spiritual health. Applying a whole-person tactic to treatment and care, DOs are trained to listen and connect with their patients to help them get healthy and stay healthy long-term.

Primary care continues to be a strong focus for the osteopathic profession; DOs practice in all medical specialties. Throughout medical school, they receive specific training in the musculoskeletal system, your body’s interlocked system of nerves, muscles, and bones. By fusing this knowledge with the most up-to-date innovations in medical technology, they offer patients the most well-rounded care obtainable in medicine.

Today, more than 120,000 DOs practice their distinct philosophy of medicine throughout the United States. Approximately 25% of medical students are enrolled in colleges of osteopathic medicine. This is one of the fastest-growing factions in the healthcare community.

DOs focus on prevention and being proactive, looking into how a patient’s way of life and environment can influence their well-being. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine aims to aid their patients in being genuinely healthy in mind, body, and spirit – not just free of symptoms.

Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment (OMT)

Osteopathic physicians understand that every person exhibits health and disease differently, and the absence of disease does not necessarily imply the presence of health. These physicians are trained to notice shifts in body structure that alter function, which may contribute to health issues. In addition to treating medical conditions with pills and surgery, DOs are specifically trained in osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT). OMT is the application of manual techniques by a DO to focus on the changes in body structure to enhance physiologic function. These techniques can range from mild palpation to high-pressure, forceful manipulation.

Who Can Benefit From OMT?

People of all ages will benefit from osteopathic manipulative treatment. Applying this method to the muscles, joints, and other tissues allows the body to reach a higher degree of health more quickly. OMT can be helpful for many different conditions, stretching from headache treatments to lower back pain.