Osteopathy
Topic Overview
What is traditional osteopathy?
Osteopathy emphasizes overall health and the relation among the body's nerves, muscles, bones, and organs. Doctors of osteopathy (DOs) base diagnosis and treatment on the idea that the body's systems are interconnected. Instead of treating specific symptoms or illnesses, DOs regard and treat the body as an integrated whole. Osteopathic medicine focuses on disease prevention and health maintenance.
Osteopathic doctors must complete 4 years of basic medical education from an accredited college of osteopathic medicine. Accreditation of colleges of osteopathic medicine is recognized by bodies such as the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Council on Post-secondary Education. Like medical doctors (MDs), DOs must complete an internship and residency program after their basic medical education. Currently, DOs are rare in Canada and have received their training in other countries, such as the United States.
What is osteopathy used for?
Like medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy may serve as primary care providers. DOs can prescribe medicines, order medical tests such as X-rays, and do surgery. DOs often are able to provide treatment in a hospital. More than half of all osteopathic doctors practise in primary care areas, such as with children (pediatrics), pregnant women (obstetrics), women's health (gynecology), or general adult health (internal medicine).
Some osteopathic doctors still use hands-on manipulation of bones and muscles, or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), is still found in their training and practise of some osteopathic physicians. OMT allows osteopathic doctors to use their hands to diagnose injury and illness and to promote healing.
Is osteopathy safe?
Osteopathic medicine is a safe, established practise of medicine. Like MDs, DOs must pass a medical board exam administered by a recognized body such as the American Osteopathic Association to obtain a licence and enter practise. Each province sets its own requirements and then issues the licence for the osteopathic doctor to practise in that province. All provinces require licensure for osteopathic doctors.
If you are interested in choosing a DO as your primary care provider, check his or her education, licence, and experience. Recommendations from family members, friends, or other health professionals may be helpful.
Always tell your health professional if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH | Last Updated: April 3, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics | |
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