Osteopathy?!
Question: Well right now (15-sophmore year) I'm wondering what I want to be and I had my eyes on being a Chiropracter. Then I saw something called osteopathy and reasearched into that.
I realize that they are really similar to Chiropractics and basically they just work on more body parts....
My question is what exactly is the difference...like what do they do that chiropractics don't.
P.S. Like I did some research and I know some of the basic differences (not too much in debt though...) so I want to know more information on it.
Thank you!
Answers: Well right now (15-sophmore year) I'm wondering what I want to be and I had my eyes on being a Chiropracter. Then I saw something called osteopathy and reasearched into that.
I realize that they are really similar to Chiropractics and basically they just work on more body parts....
My question is what exactly is the difference...like what do they do that chiropractics don't.
P.S. Like I did some research and I know some of the basic differences (not too much in debt though...) so I want to know more information on it.
Thank you!
Osteopathy...was originally a drug free way to heal...Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy..several years ago the US Osteopathic community became almost absorbed into medicine. Now few DOs in the US use OMT. The profession has the same specialties as MDs....surgeon, family practice, etc. DOs write prescriptions, do surgery. etc., same as MD.
Chiropractors do not write prescriptions. In some states do only minor in office surgery (skin lesions). They treat the neuromusculoskeletal system with Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment....primarily the spine...but can work well with any joint. Some use physical therapy modalities in addition to the manipulation. Most have relationship with MD/DO community and refer to appropriate speciality when needed.
Training time about the same.
DOs are "mainstreamed" as a part of medicine
DCs are not because they do not prescribe drugs. The ones I know do not want to Rx medications. That is why they chose to be DC.
As i see it an Osteopath is between a chiropractor and an MD.
My PCP is an O.D. and I see absolutely no chiropractor in him. He is into chemical medicine. Personally I think ODs are better educated than most PCPs who are MDs.
Depends very much on where you live. In the US Osteopathy is a medical discipline performed by medical doctors - some do Chiropractic like manipulations, some don't and some just give drugs and refer to physical therapy like other MDs.
In Europe, Osteopaths are not MD's and are licenced as naturopaths - again some do Chiropractic like treatments, some don't and some go off into some very wild (and unscientific) directions.
As an osteopath in the US you would have access to MD insurance reimbursement. Chiropractors work on just as many areas of the body as osteopaths, but that depends on the chosen specialty and method of treatment of the individual practitioner. Best luck in the choice of your education and career, and I'm glad you wish to have a career helping people! Good luck with your studies.