Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAllopathic and Osteopathic MedicineWhole Person ApproachFour TenetsDifferences in Training
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine
Whole Person Approach
Four Tenets
Differences in Training
Medical doctors (MDs) and osteopathic doctors (DOs) are two types of physicians who can practice in all medical specialties. Both use modern and scientifically proven medical treatments, including medication and other interventions, to treat illness.
The main difference is that osteopathic doctors also receive extra training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), a hands-on method for diagnosing and treating patients.Osteopathic doctors have additional training to perform osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) during the visit.
OMT is a hands-on technique that involves moving a person’s muscles and joints to help diagnose, treat, and prevent certain common conditions, usually musculoskeletal. Patients can often leave the visit with symptom relief after having OMT performed.
A patient might choose one over the other based on which approach seems best for them.
Osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the country. DOs account for approximately 11% of doctors in the United States.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Doctors who have an MD degree practiceallopathicmedicine, a term coined during the early 19th century to differentiatehomeopathy(which uses natural substances to stimulate the immune system) from science-based medicine.
By contrast, doctors with a DO designation practice osteopathic medicine, a medical discipline that emphasizes the treatment of illnesses through the manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles.While some people will describe it as “alternative medicine,” a physician with a DO degree is held to the same standards as an MD.
Both attend four years of medical school and complete their training in the same residency programs.Doctors who want to beboard-certifiedin a specialty will take similar tests for certification, regardless of their designation as an MD or DO.
Learn About the Various Types of Specialists
Osteopathic Medicine and the Whole Person
The philosophy behind osteopathic medicine is centered around a “whole person” approach to care, emphasizing wellness and prevention as opposed to just treating an illness.
While this was considered a major difference in the past, MD programs now actively embrace the approach, educating doctors to look beyond the symptoms and to integrate mind and body in a more holistic and thoughtful way.
Traditionally, doctors of osteopathic medicine have pursued careers in family medicine. In recent years that has changed, with graduates now pursuing a wider range of medical andsurgical specialties.
Physicians with DO degrees should not be confused with non-medical osteopaths, who have no medical background and are trained solely in body manipulation. They not only lack the skills to treat medical conditions, but they are also barred from using the DO designation in the United States.
Four Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine
The four tenets, or principles, that guide osteopathic medicine are as follows:
Osteopathic Medical Training
There is a lot of overlap in the training involved in becoming an osteopathic doctor and a medical doctor, but there are some differences as well.
Students who want to become MDs or DOs must:
The requirements differ in these ways:
DOs and MDs both often attain board certification through the American Osteopathic Association or the American Board of Medical Specialties (only for MDs). Board certification typically involves a combination of written, practical, and simulator-based tests. Boards also require continuous lifelong learning competencies.
What Is a Doctor of Osteopathy?
Osteopathic doctors are specially trained in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMM). “Manipulation” in this case is a general term used to refer to several different techniques in which the DO uses their hands to apply pressure or force to the body. OMM is one way that DOs treat structural and functional issues in the bones, joints, tissues, and muscles of the body.
Summary
Osteopathic doctors (DOs) and medical doctors (MDs) both receive rigorous, traditional medical training. DO education strongly emphasizes the “whole person” approach, taking into consideration the environmental and spiritual factors that shape a person. DOs also receive extra training in a hands-on manipulation technique to help diagnose and treat certain ailments.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Osteopathic Association.What is osteopathic medicine?
Davidson J.A Century of Homeopaths.Springer New York.2014. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-0527-0_1
Ahmed AH, Schnatz PF, Adashi EY.Allopathic and osteopathic medicine unify GME accreditation: A historic convergence.Fam Med. 2019;49(5):374-7.
UCLA School of Medicine.DO vs. MD: What’s the difference?.
Stark JE.A historical perspective on principles of osteopathy.International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 2013;16(1):3-10. doi:10.1016/j.ijosm.2012.10.001
Gevitz N.From “Doctor of Osteopathy” to “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine”: A title change in the push for equality.J Am Osteopath Assoc.2014;114(6):486–497. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2014.099
American Osteopathic Association.International licensure.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Whole person health: What you need to know.
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.Osteopathic medical manipulation explained.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
