What is an Osteopathic Doctor vs. Osteopathic Manual Therapist?
There seems to be a lot of confusion about osteopaths - especially in the equine world.
For humans, there are Doctors of Osteopathy (physicians) as well as Manual Osteopaths. Despite what title you obtain in the end, this education usually comes in the form of a college degree, doctorate or diploma.
No matter which route is taken, the title for ‘Osteopath’ is earned and obtained through proper education and examination. There are different councils around the world that examine and approve candidates within the profession and certify their credentials.
Doctors of Osteopathy or DO’s in the US graduate from medical schools and often operate as physicians rather than manual therapists.
Sometimes you will hear of DO’s specializing in OMM/OMT. This stands for Osteopathic Manipulation Medicine or Osteopathic Manual Therapy.
Diploma of Osteopathy, also called D.O.’s, are extensively trained in manual therapy. It is more common to see this title and education in the UK, Canada, and other countries.
Diploma of Osteopathic Manual Practice (DOMP)’s are manual osteopathic practitioners.
Traditionally, osteopathy was intended to be a manual therapy and treatment that explores and restores mobility throughout the whole body.
By following this link you can learn from the American Associations of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine just how many OMM techniques osteopaths are expected to learn. There are 40 listed here and many more that could be. This is what sets osteopathy apart from other manual therapies. The options for tools and techniques are expansive.
One common misconception is that osteopaths are solely concerned with the musculoskeletal system and joint mobility. While this may be true for some osteopaths and chiropractors, especially in the human practice, most osteopaths believe in addressing the entire body - which means ALL systems of the body.
Mobility is not solely dependent upon the articulation of joints. We have to look at the intricacies of the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and neurology which then includes the organs. We must not forget the craniosacral system either.
