Osteopathic medicine, established in the United States in the 1860s by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, is a distinctive form of healthcare that emphasizes a holistic body-mind-spirit approach. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are fully licensed physicians authorized to practice medicine and surgery in all 50 states. While DOs are represented in every medical specialty, they have traditionally emphasized primary care.
DOs partner with their patients to promote health, prevent disease, and treat acute and chronic conditions. Their education encompasses comprehensive training in the biological sciences, medicine, surgery, and obstetrics. Additionally, DOs receive specialized training in holistic and preventive medicine, and the interrelationship of body systems, particularly the neuromusculoskeletal system.
A unique aspect of osteopathic training is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), specialized hands-on techniques used to diagnose and treat various conditions. By integrating OMT with conventional medical management option such as medication, surgery, and other healthcare modalities, DOs provide some of the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
The practice of osteopathic medicine is founded on the following Osteopathic Tenets:
- The body is a unit; the person is a unity of body, mind, and spirit.
- The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
- Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
- Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these principles: body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
These tenets guide DOs in their holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the integration of all body systems to promote overall health and well-being.