What is Osteopathic Medicine?

If your physician has a D.O. after his or her name then you are being treated by an osteopathic physician. D.O.s (doctors of osteopathic medicine) and M.D.s (allopathic physicians) are the only two types of physicians that are licensed by state and specialty boards in this country to perform surgery and prescribe medication. D.O.s practice in all branches of medicine and surgery from psychiatry to obstetrics, from geriatrics to emergency medicine. The majority are primary care physicians practicing in the areas of general or family practice, internal medicine, OB/Gyn and pediatrics. D.O.s represent 5.5% of the total U.S. physician population including military physicians. By the year 2000, it is expected that 45,000 osteopathic physicians will be in practice in the U.S. Although D.O.s and M.D.s practice side by side in the community and have parallel medical education, there are differences that make D.O.s unique.

The founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still, was a minister and an M.D. In the early 1870's Still became disillusioned with the practice of medicine and the misuse and toxicity of the drugs common to the day. He founded a philosophy of medicine that dates back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. Since it was based on anatomy, he called it osteo-pathy (osteon is Greek for bone). This osteopathic philosophy is based on the premise that a patient's history of illnesses and physical traumas are written into the body's structure, that all of the body's systems work together in unity, and that disturbances in one system may impact function elsewhere in the body. It recognizes the body's innate self-healing ability and focuses on the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health. Dr. Still developed a system of hands-on care, called Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) to restore the body's normal function. These techniques (which include cranial sacral therapy, myofascial release and many others) are applied with a precise amount of gentle force. They promote circulation of the bodily fluids (venous, arterial and lymphatic), eliminate dysfunction in the motion of the tissues, and release compressed or misaligned bones, joints and nerves. These hands-on treatments essentially 'set' the body to heal itself. Osteopathic philosophy also stresses preventive medicine, proper eating, and keeping fit.

D.O.s complete four years of medical training at one of the sixteen osteopathic medical schools in this country. They are responsible for the same course work as their allopathic (M.D.) colleagues and in addition they spend 300-500 hours in the study of the musculoskeletal system and the art of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT). OMT is used in concert with the doctor's knowledge of medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. While manipulative medicine is commonly associated with physical ailments such as low back pain, this far-reaching modality can also be used to relieve the discomfort of musculoskeletal abnormality associated with a number of disorders. And when appropriate OMT can be used in conjunction with (or in place of) medication or surgery.

Some common illnesses treated with OMT include:

Pediatric Problems: Colic, Spitting Up, Sucking Difficulty, Delayed Development, Birth Trauma, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disorders

Somatic Pain: Neck Problems, Back Problems, Sciatica, Headaches, Joint Pain Syndrome, Traumatic Injury, Overuse Syndrome

Systemic Problems: Neurologic Syndromes, Digestive Disorder, Genito-Urinary Problems, Chronic Infectious Disease, Head Trauma, Post Concussion Syndrome, Seizures

Ear Nose Throat Problems: Chronic Ear Infection, Recurrent Sore Throats, Frequent Colds, Sinusitis

Respiratory Illness: Asthma, Allergies, Bronchitis, Pleurisy

Pregnancy: Back Pain, Groin Pain, Digestive Upset, Edema

Like many great scientists and forward thinkers, Dr. Still was scorned by the medical community at the time. But his treatments were effective and physicians came from far away to study with him. In 1892 Dr. Still opened the first school of osteopathic medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, now called the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He died in 1917, but his legacy of osteopathy lives on. Here is a small list of his credits:

Was the first to identify the human immune system and develop a system for stimulating it naturally.
Was the first to welcome women and minorities into medical school.
Predicted that this nation would have a major drug addiction problem within the century if physicians did not stop over-prescribing addictive drugs.
Warned that women were far too often the victims of needless surgeries.
Believed that physicians should study prevention as well as cure.
Believed that disease in one body part affected all other parts.
In summary, osteopathic physicians provide all of the best that medicine has to offer. They can specialize in every recognized area of medicine and are trained to take a whole-person approach to medical care, not just focusing on a diseased or injured part. They look for underlying causes for disease rather than simply treating symptoms. And they consider the mental and emotional factors that contribute to illness. Their knowledge and use of the latest medical technology is complemented by their application of a hands-on diagnosis and treatment tool known as OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy). This holistic approach is well suited for the expanding healthcare needs of our community as we move into the next millennium.

For more information about osteopathy, contact the American Osteopathic Association at (312) 202-8000. Or online at www.aoa-net.org or www.osteohome.com.

Karen L. Mutter, D.O., founder of the Integrative Medicine Healing Center in Clearwater FL, practices holistic internal medicine utilizing the tools of modern medicine in concert with complementary modalities to facilitate the body's self-healing ability. (727) 524-0900