Paths to Healing: Osteopathic medicine
By Michael Miller · May 16, 2024
Our newsletter team examines six different approaches to healing
Emphasis on the interrelation of structure and function is central to this hands-on approach to healing
Definition
Osteopathy is a form of medicine that uses manual therapies, like massaging and manipulating the spine, “treating people as a whole instead of targeting specific systems and symptoms.”
Number of practitioners
Approximately 148,000 in the U.S.
History
Osteopathy was started in the late 1800s by frontier physician Andrew Taylor Still “based on the philosophy that harmony between the body’s structure and function is essential to achieving optimal health.”
Approach
Osteopathic medicine takes a “whole-person” approach to wellness that includes body, mind, and spirit. One of its tenets is that the “body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing and health maintenance.” The emphasis on the interrelation of structure and function is central to osteopathy. This focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system and the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment. “The neuromusculoskeletal system is the body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of our body mass. Osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) is the therapeutic application of manual pressure or force to restore functionality and/or remove barriers to motion and healing.”
Lifestyle factors that may affect a patient’s health or recovery are also important in osteopathic treatment. A key distinction in osteopathic medicine is the use of hands-on joint manipulation, tissue manipulation, and massage as part of therapy.
Common ailments treated
Osteopathic physicians can treat the gamut of health problems but specialize in health concerns that can be addressed by OMT “to help identify and correct the source of the underlying health concerns.” This can be especially effective in dealing with concerns like pain at various locations in the body (e.g., back, legs), asthma, headaches, sinus issues, menstrual pain, and migraines. “If it’s something more serious, like heart disease, you’ll get the standard medical treatment that an MD would provide,” according to WebMD.com.
Certification and licensing
Osteopathic doctors have completed all the training for and met all requirements of practicing medicine as an M.D. They then must complete up to seven years of extra residency and 200 more hours of coursework. Training is required in internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family practice, surgery, psychiatry, radiology, preventive medicine, and public health. They must then pass state licensure.
Read about other paths to healing:
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. The information is not meant to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health professional.