The OPP Difference

D.O.'s. or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, are doctors. They can take care of your sore throat or low back pain, deliver your babies, care for your high blood pressure or diabetes, do your heart surgery or fix your broken hip, depending on their specialty. What makes D.O.s special is their philosophy on patient care and their intensive training in the musculoskeletal system.

The osteopathic philosophy is summarized by four principles:

1. the body is a unit
2. structure & function are interrelated
3. the body has its own pharmacy for self healing
4. rational patient care integrates these principles

In addition to training in how to apply this philosophy in patient care, all D.O.s receive extensive additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of the musculoskeletal system (bone, muscle, joint) beyond the traditional medical curriculum. For this part of their training, D.O.s learn how to check joints for too much or too little motion, and how to do manipulation to loosen up tight joints. This has shown to reduce the time to recovery and return to work after soft tissue injuries.

D.O.'s are trained in the interrelationships of diseases of the internal organs and the musculoskeletal system, and how to use manipulation to hasten recovery from disease, such as pneumonia in the elderly and ear infections in children.

Because of this philosophy, D.O.'s tend to practice in a holistic manner and prefer primary care, where they can care for their entire patient, body, mind and spirit.