About Osteopaths

There are likely to be misconceptions in the lay community about whether osteopaths, or doctors of osteopathy, are in fact fully licensed physicians. The allopathic physicians, considered by some to be their counterparts, are more commonly referred to as medical doctors. In truth, however, osteopaths learn the same information as do medical doctors, then receive hundreds of hours of additional instruction in the musculoskeletal system and hands-on medicine, often referred to as osteopathic manipulation. Osteopaths, while trained in hands-on medicine, are medical doctors as opposed to chiropractors. Both utilize musculoskeletal manipulation to bring relief, but chiropractors do not have a foundation in medicine.

History

Dr. Andrew Still, a traditionally trained physician of the 19th century in America, felt that the practice of medicine was less than all it could be. He distrusted many of the medications available in that time period and began to study all he could about good health.
From his studies, Dr. Still developed a philosophy of medicine that differed from the teachings of his time, and he used ideas from Hippocrates in the development of his philosophy. "That philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts" (American Osteopathic Association).
The medical science of osteopathy was "born" in 1874, using a holistic approach to the individual and to their health.

Function

Osteopaths, like M.D.'s, are able to practice the science of medicine, prescribe medications and perform surgery. Whatever procedures a licensed medical doctor is allowed by law to perform in his state, the osteopath may perform, as he is a licensed physician.

Features

The extra 300-500 hours of instruction that a medical student must take to become an osteopath are hours spent learning about hands-on, manual medicine, including osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT). OMT is part and parcel of the osteopathic philosophy that the body functions as one unit, rather than in various systems or parts. The osteopath performs OMT to ensure the body functions freely, with nothing to block its own natural healing powers.

Types

While most osteopathic schools prepare their students to become primary care physicians, osteopaths may choose to specialize in one area or another. With additional instruction and residency, an osteopath is eligible to become board-certified in a specialty area such as urology, neurology or internal medicine just as is the case with their M.D. counterparts.

Considerations

First Dr. Andrew Still, then those osteopathic physicians who followed his lead in a change from the traditional philosophy of medicine, practiced the concept of wellness a century before it was popularized in the general health-care community in the 1980s. Osteopaths practice medicine by including the patient, providing education and obtaining the patient's input on health-care decisions.

References

• What an Osteopath is and does
• Doctor of Osteopathy