Osteopathy is a form of holistic medicine with some unique characteristics. Osteopaths are trained to treat the whole body and person rather than focusing only on the specific area of complaint, illness or injury. According to the American Osteopathic Association, there are an estimated 92,028 osteopathic physicians (or DOs) in the United States.
The philosophy of this type of medicine is that when one part of the body is compromised due to pain or illness, other parts of the body will compensate for it, causing additional health concerns and potential long-term issues with the overall health of a patient. Therefore, osteopaths will evaluate the entire person and will consider the impact of an injury or ailment on the entire body, rather than focusing solely on relieving one symptom or curing one complaint.
Osteopathy typically is viewed as a drug-free and non-invasive form of medicine, although osteopaths are board-certified medical doctors and are able to write prescriptions for patients in the same way a medical doctor would. The American Osteopathic Association notes that osteopaths are “a separate yet equal branch of American medical care.”
Osteopaths may be more likely to treat an ailment in natural ways prior to including drugs or invasive procedures. An osteopath typically will work to heal the body by treating the musculoskeletal framework, which involves the spine, muscles and joints. By ensuring that the body is working in alignment, the osteopath positively affects the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems. This holistic practice of medicine is believed to balance the systems of the body and improve overall health. Patients often experience a sense of well-being and feel more connected and in control of their health with this approach.
Four Reasons to see an Osteopath
If you’re in search of a healthcare provider who will look at your entire being and evaluate your overall health, rather than focus on isolated health concerns, you may want to work on finding an osteopath.
Consider the following reasons why you should see this unique type of doctor.
- It’s possible you may need less treatment if you see an osteopath. In many cases, because osteopathy treats the whole body, patients see improvements more quickly and suffer fewer complications associated with their ailments, resulting in fewer doctor visits, less of a need for medication and a shorter treatment time. An osteopath will work with you to ensure that all aspects of your health are addressed, not just the immediate symptoms you might have at the moment. This approach helps ensure that you’ll be working toward overall health from the time of your first visit, rather than returning with new, associated complaints at a future date.
- If you want solid advice on how to maintain good health and practice preventive self-care, you may want to see an osteopath. Osteopaths are excellent resources for guidance on how to implement self-care techniques, such as stretching exercises, breath control, proper lifting techniques, good posture and stress reduction. In addition, an osteopath will be able to make sound recommendations regarding lifestyle changes that can improve your overall health, reduce the need for medical intervention and keep health costs at a minimum. By partnering with this type of physician, you are making a wise and holistic investment in your overall well-being.
- You may wish to consider including an osteopath on your healthcare team, even if you’re happy with your other doctors. Osteopaths often team up with other practitioners to help heal a patient. It’s a well-rounded approach to treatment. If you’re suffering from an illness that requires a specialist in a particular field, ask if you might benefit from an osteopath's treatments. The holistic, whole-body approach of this unique type of healthcare professional may ease other symptoms, assist with the overall management of your health condition or help you recover more quickly.
- You may notice that you experience unexpected, additional health benefits after seeing an osteopath. For example, you may sleep better after seeing this type of doctor. Because sleep is often disrupted by pain or discomfort associated with various health conditions or due to body systems that operate at less than optimum capacity, it makes sense that a person would sleep better after having his or her body properly aligned.
Whether you suffer from back pain, arthritis, digestive concerns, joint pain, fatigue, menstrual pain, injury, a long-term illness or health condition, or an acute illness, an osteopath may be the physician of choice for you. An osteopath will conduct an examination and assess the state of your muscles, nerves, circulatory system, organ function, connective tissue and skeletal system prior to beginning any treatment.
The unconventional treatment an osteopath offers often involves therapeutic approaches such as gentle stretching, joint mobilization and massage to ease symptoms, create balance in the systems of the body and to improve overall health. In addition, when prescription medication or other interventions are necessary, an osteopath is trained and board certified to provide these services.
Because of the nature of this type of treatment, osteopathy is very effective in managing the following types of ailments.
- Headaches
- Repetitive use injuries
- Work-related injuries
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries
- Digestive ailments such as constipation, indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic fatigue
- Back pain
- Hip, ankle, wrist or knee pain
- Balance issues
- Gynecological problems
- Post-natal issues
- Behavioral problems in children
- Learning disabilities
- Hyperactivity in children
- Acid reflux, colic or sleeping problems in babies
As with any physician, be sure to create open lines of communication with your osteopath and describe all of your healthcare concerns or goals. Remember that this type of healthcare provider seeks to treat the whole person, so the more information you provide, the better care you will receive.