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About Osteopathy What Is Osteopathy? Is Osteopathy Right for Me? How Do I Choose?

Glossary Treatment Applications Types of Osteopathy Credentials

Osteopathic Physician
Like MDs, osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully qualified and licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery. The DO focuses on a "whole person" approach to medicine and on preventive health care. DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system (the interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones), and in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which involves physicians using their hands to diagnose patients and to treat ailments by applying directed pressure.

Traditional Osteopath
Like MDs, osteopaths (DOs) are fully qualified and licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery. The DO focuses on a "whole person" approach to medicine and on preventive health care. DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system (the interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones), and traditional osteopaths focus primarily on osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), in which they use their hands to diagnose patients and to apply directed pressure to treat ailments.