- According to the United States National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, doctors of osteopathy---known as osteopaths---receive the same core training as mainstream medical doctors, and may specialize in any area of medicine. In addition, they receive instruction in certain hands-on methods of adjusting muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. These techniques, known as osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMTs), are designed to remove potential blockages to proper body function that may underlie a number of illnesses.
- Osteopaths (D.O.s) most commonly specialize in the fields of internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine. If you see an osteopath for a given condition, he will begin treatment with the standard medical methods used in his field, including taking a medical history and conducting a physical exam. Compared with histories taken by an M.D., he may probe further into your background and seek more detail on physical incidents in your past. Similarly, his physical examination will likely be more detailed and in-depth. Among other things, he will pay special attention to your posture and balance, as wells as the condition of your spine and the rest of your musculoskeletal structure.
- If your condition is best addressed through the use of medication or other conventional treatments, your osteopath will make suitable recommendations. However, he may also choose to treat you with appropriate OMTs. Potential treatments include range of motion manipulations, adjustments of the bones of your skull or jaw (craniosacral therapy), stretching or loosening of your joints or muscles, muscle resistance techniques, and massage. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the conditions most likely to respond well to osteopathic methods are back and neck pain. There are also certain conditions that do not generally respond well to osteopathic treatment. These include scoliosis, osteoarthritis, headache, postoperative pain, muscle spasms and sprains and strains.
- You should not seek out an osteopath if you have certain musculoskeletal symptoms or conditions, including breaks or dislocations, osteoporosis, ligament damage, infection or rheumatoid arthritis in your neck. You should also avoid treatment if you are using a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin). Two techniques used by some osteopaths are quite controversial: craniosacral therapy and a blood-cleansing technique called chelation. While chelation is commonly accepted as a treatment for heavy metal poisoning, it is sometimes used in attempts to remove other potentially harmful substances from the body. The American Cancer Society labels both this form of chelation and craniosacral therapy as unproven. Consult your osteopath for detailed information on any procedure he may wish to perform. If you have concerns about the usefulness of a given technique, you may also consult an M.D.
