Osteopathic Manipulation
Osteopathic Medicine represents one of two distinct schools of medicine in the United States. Osteopathic medical institutions issue a D.O. degree (doctor of osteopathy) while allopathic medical institutions issue an M.D. degree (medical degree). The educational process is the same regarding the study of basic and clinical sciences but osteopaths focus on osteopathic concepts and manipulation. After graduation, a D.O. assumes an internship for a year and then goes on to specialty training or practices primary care. The D.O. is fully qualified in all of the capacities an M.D. is. D.O.s are certified in all medical specialties including general practice.The uniqueness of the osteopathic profession lies in the application of Osteopathic concepts. Allopathic medicine is a therapeutic system designed to be antagonistic regarding the existence of a condition under treatment. Osteopathic medicine harnesses the belief that the body in normal structural relationship is capable of mounting its own defenses against a pathologic condition. Often times the osteopath, with his holistic approach, focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal systems to apply osteopathic diagnostic technique and therapeutic interventions realizing that an abnormality in structure can lead to abnormal function. To correct this, an osteopath frequently utilized manipulation techniques to improve joint motion, muscle and fascia balance, circulation, lymphatic drainage and nervous impulses.
Historically, the osteopathic profession was founded by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D. Dr. Still was a military physician in the civil war who noted in the mid 1880s medical practitioners were poorly trained, had little understanding of disease, and treatments were unsophisticated to the point of being dangerous. He lost three children to a meningitis outbreak and became disenchanted with orthodox medicine which was unable to save them. This lead Dr. Still to a very intensive study of physiology and anatomy as well as immunology and the vascular system, and he set forth a number of observations on nature, setting the foundation of Osteopathy. Osteopathy was officially founded on June 22, 1874.
As of 1990, there were 15 schools of Osteopathic Medicine, D.O.s are licensed in all 50 states, and are currently providing medical care for at least 10% of America's population.
In summary, Osteopathic philosophy sees the human body as an integrated unit with self-regulatory mechanisms with an inherent capacity to defend and repair itself. At times, the human body needs assistance to work through restrictive patterns, soft tissue and musculoskeletal, and Osteopathy offers an excellent tool with which to address such problems.
For further information on Osteopathy or to learn the whereabouts of local osteopaths, a good resource is the American Osteopathic Association in Chicago (phone #312-820-5800). In addition, most states have their own osteopathic association and are happy to provide information on regional osteopathic physicians.