Wellness Report
October 2013 - Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic medicine is a branch of medicine that emphasizes a “hands on approach” to diagnosing and treating disease. It was developed in the 1800’s by a Missouri doctor who created a system of medicine that focused on promoting the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This branch of medicine has all the benefits of traditional medicine, such as medications, surgery, and the technology to diagnose. However, osteopathic medicine also focuses on overall patient well-being and uses osteopathic manipulative medicine to help treat patients.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine and practice in the same environments as traditional physicians, such as in the military, in family practices, obstetrics, surgery, and aerospace medicine. A Doctor of osteopathic medicine considers how lifestyle and environment affect a patient’s health. Many D.O.’s are primary care physicians and have adopted the philosophy that a strong background in primary care will make a physician more perceptive to a patient’s needs. From the beginning of their education and training, doctors of osteopathic medicine are trained to see the whole patient, not as just a system of organs. This is called the “whole patient approach.”
To become a D.O., one must complete education and training at an accredited medical institution, and must receive the exact same coursework and training as a traditional physician. D.O.’s make up approximately 7% of all physicians in the US, with 1 of every 5 med school students continuing on to become a D.O. Once coursework and clinical hours have been completed, an additional 200 hours of training and education on osteopathic manipulated medicine must be done. Osteopathic manipulative medicine is a hands on technique that helps alleviate pain, restore motion, support the body’s natural functions, and encourage the body’s structure to help it function more efficiently. Doctors of osteopathic medicine are taught, “structure influences function.” This means that a problem with the structure in one body area can create a problem with function in that area, and possibly other areas of the body. Manipulative techniques are aimed at increasing structural integrity and function, so self-healing can begin.
Often, D.O.’s will practice medicine in rural or urban and underserved areas. About 16% of D.O.’s practice where the population is less than 2,500. Additionally, they spend a large portion of their time researching ways to advance medicine and show how osteopathic medicine can benefit patients.
To learn more about the benefits of osteopathic medicine, call Community Wellness Center and schedule an appointment with Dr. Nunn.
Source: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
