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Ankle Sprain
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Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic medicine was developed over 100 years ago by a physician named Andrew Taylor Still, MD. At that time, medical care was very different from the high tech specialized medical care of today. The most commonly used treatments consisted of toxic medications and barbaric surgical procedures. Antibiotics had not yet been developed and many of the medications that were administered induced profuse diarrhea and/or violent vomiting (cathartics).

Dr. Still become despondent over his medical training when he lost three of his children to meningitis. Consequently, he spent a great deal of time researching alternative medical treatments, and developed a new approach to medicine that included exercise, nutrition, and spinal manipulation. He called his new system of healing: Osteopathic Medicine. Today, osteopathic medicine has evolved into a unique form of medical care.

One can tell if their doctor practices osteopathic medicine by their medical degree. Osteopathic physicians have a D.O. degree, which stands for doctor of osteopathic medicine. Allopathic physicians have an M.D. degree, which stands for doctor of medicine. Many people have seen the D.O. degree at their doctor's office or in the hospital but still do not know the difference between a D.O. and an M.D. Although both have similar medical training, there are distinct differences between the two types of physicians. Like an M.D., a D.O. has to complete four years of college, take the medical college admission test, attend four years of medical school and then complete a residency program in a particular medical specialty.

A D.O. is a medical doctor just like an M.D., but with extra training in osteopathic medicine. Included within this extra training is osteopathic manipulative medicine. This is a form of manual medicine that attempts to balance the body through the musculoskeletal, lymphatic, and circulatory systems. In addition, the osteopathic physician is taught a different philosophy of medicine. Osteopathic medicine considers the human body to be an integrated unit and the prevention of illness is as important as the treatment of illness.

Like an M.D., a D.O. is a licensed medial doctor and can perform surgery, prescribe medications, and specialize in any field. The difference between the two is the extra training that the D.O. receives in osteopathic medicine and their approach to the patient. There is nothing an M.D. can do that a D.O. can not. However, the D.O. can treat patients with osteopathic medicine in addition to standard medical treatments. The M.D. can only use standard medical treatments.

Because many osteopathic physicians use spinal manipulation when treating their patients, many have assumed that they were similar to chiropractors. This is certainly not the case. A chiropractor is not a licensed medical doctor. A chiropractor is only licensed to perform spinal manipulation. An osteopathic physician is a licensed medical doctor who is trained in all forms of modern medical care including medications and surgery. Their training in manipulation is in addition to their standard medical training. In other words, an osteopathic physician is a medical doctor who can also manipulate the musculoskeletal system.

For more information on Osteopathic Medicine click here

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Last modified: 05/05/08