Osteopathic Medicine can be your ticket to better health

What is a Doctor of Osteopathic?

Most people are unaware that there are in fact two different types of physicians in the United States, allopathic physicians (The M.D.’s), and osteopathic physicians, (The D.O.’s). Both D.O.’s and M.D.’s are fully qualified physicians who are licensed to prescribe medications and perform surgery. There are both similarities and differences. D.O.’s emphasize primary care in their training (pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine), although you will find many D.O.’s in all fields in medicine from dermatology to neurosurgery.

Osteopathic physicians focus on wellness and preventive health care and focus on a holistic philosophy on health care. Osteopathic Physicians believe in treating the patient rather than specific symptoms to illnesses. D.O.’s also receive extra training in the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles, and bones), and have a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect other parts. 

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands on care approach to patient care which is incorporated into osteopathic medicine. OMT allows the osteopathic physician to use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, and to encourage the body’s natural tendency toward good health and healing. Using OMT as an extra tool in patient care combined with the standard practice of medicine gives a patient complete comprehensive care.

(Thanks to Joshua M. Rycus, D.O, P.A., for contributing to this blog.  For more information on osteopathic medicine, visit www.holistichealthmagazine.com or call Dr. Rycus at (954) 753-1477).