After all, they have the letters MD (for doctor of medicine) after their last names, right? But what if you see the letters DO? You might be surprised to learn that DO is an abbreviation for another type of physician: a doctor of osteopathic medicine, or osteopathic physician.
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/osteopath.html
What is Osteopathic Medicine? Osteopathic Medicine is a system of medicine based on the theory that disturbances in the musculoskeletal system affect other bodily parts, causing many disorders that can be corrected by various manipulative techniques in conjunction with conventional medical, surgical, pharmacological and other therapeutic procedures.
https://www.lmunet.edu/academics/schools/debusk-college-of-osteopathic-medicine/do/admissions/what-is-osteopathic-medicine
A doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is a fully trained and licensed doctor who has attended and graduated from a U.S. osteopathic medical school. A doctor of medicine (M.D.) has attended and graduated from a conventional (allopathic) medical school. The major difference between osteopathic and allopathic doctors is that some osteopathic doctors provide manual medicine therapies, such as spinal manipulation or massage therapy, as part of their treatment. After medical school, both M.D.s and D.O.s must complete residency training in their chosen specialties.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/osteopathic-medicine/faq-20058168
A Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), more correctly called a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, is very much like a traditional medical doctor (M.D.), but receives additional training in the body's musculoskeletal system.
http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-a-doctor-of-osteopathy.htm
Patients are more than just the sum of their body parts. That's why doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) practice a whole person approach to health care. Instead of just treating specific symptoms, osteopathic physicians concentrate on treating the patient as a whole.
https://www.lmunet.edu/academics/schools/debusk-college-of-osteopathic-medicine/do/admissions/what-is-osteopathic-medicine
A doctor of osteopathy is trained to palpate, or to feel out what is sometimes called the body's living anatomy. The D.O. is concerned with how fluids flow throughout the body, the texture and movement of tissues, and the structure of the body.
http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-a-doctor-of-osteopathy.htm
Whether you opt for a DO or an MD, both are good choices when it comes to your child's health. In fact, both DOs and MDs: can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine, such as surgery or obstetrics. complete a residency program, which usually takes 3 to 6 years of additional training.
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/osteopath.html
A doctor of osteopathy typically practices manipulative medicine treatment in addition to more traditional methods of symptom relief and prevention. A doctor of osteopathy studies the body as a whole. A doctor of osteopathy is less likely to specialize than a medical doctor.
http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-a-doctor-of-osteopathy.htm
A key part of osteopathic medicine is a technique called OMT, or osteopathic manipulative treatment. In OMT, physicians use their hands as a primary tool to diagnose and treat illness and injury.
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/osteopath.html
What Does a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Do? Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) can take care of you from head to toe. “We are fully licensed and certified physicians who have a few extra tools in our toolkit,” says William Burke, DO, dean of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dublin. More than half of DOs focus on primary care as internists, family doctors, and pediatricians.
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/osteopathic-doctor
what is a doctor of osteopathy?
A fully trained and licensed doctor who has attended and graduated from a U.S. osteopathic medical school. A Doctor of Osteopathy is a fully trained and licensed doctor who has attended and graduated from a U.S. osteopathic medical school.