Patient Rights Healthcare Team What Is an Osteopath? By Mary Shomon Mary Shomon Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution." Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 26, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jason DelCollo, DO Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO Jason DelCollo, DO, board-certified in family medicine. He is associate faculty at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as well as adjunct faculty with the Crozer Family Medicine Residency Program, and is an attending physician at Glen Mills Family Medicine in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Training Medical Specialties Benefits of Seeing an Osteopath Osteopathic vs. Naturopathic Physicians Frequently Asked Questions Should you see an osteopathic physician in general? It's important to first understand what an osteopathic physician does, and the focus of this type of medicine, and how it compares to an allopathic medical school. Verywell / Ellen Lindner Training An osteopathic physician is a licensed medical practitioner who was trained in the field of "osteopathic medicine." A "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine" has the initials "DO" after his or her name. Like an "MD," an osteopathic physician is a fully trained and licensed physician. DOs and MDs are considered equal, legally, and in terms of their authority, to diagnose and treat various health conditions, prescribe medications, and perform surgery. The difference between an MD and a DO is in the approach and focus of the medical education they receive. Both DOs and MDs need an undergraduate degree, plus at least four years of medical school. Osteopathic medical school emphasizes the whole person, and the connection between the musculoskeletal system and disease and symptoms. Osteopathic physicians cover the same curriculum as MDs at osteopathic medical schools, plus, they receive an additional 300 to 500 hours of specialized osteopathic training, studying the musculoskeletal system. DOs and MDs then need to complete typically 2-6 year internship/residency program, pass state licensing exams, and obtain continuing education to remain certified. Like MDs, DOs can specialize in particular areas of medicine. Medical Specialties Osteopathic medical schools tend to emphasize primary care training, so more than half of the osteopathic physicians in practice end up in the fields of pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and internal medicine. Some osteopathic physicians function primarily in a conventional capacity, offering traditional diagnosis and treatment. Others incorporate more of the hands-on osteopathic approaches, using the cranial and musculoskeletal systems to help restore balance and relieve neurological, respiratory, digestive, and other symptoms. According to the American Osteopathic Association, there were more than 121,000 osteopathic physicians practicing in the U.S as of 2019. Benefits of Seeing an Osteopath The benefits of seeing an osteopathic physician depend on your health condition, the type of approach that is most effective with you, and of course, as with any physician, on the particular doctor's focus, personality and level of expertise. As noted, some osteopathic physicians focus on musculoskeletal issues, and those osteopathic physicians can be especially helpful for patients with postural imbalances, arthritis, muscle and joint strains, conditions like whiplash and sciatica, and other health challenges. Some osteopathic physicians specialize in more primary care, while others focus on hormone balance and immune health. Because osteopathic physicians are trained to explore your health from the perspective of your complete body—not just a particular disease or condition—you may get more effective care from an osteopathic physician for conditions that involve complex hormone and immune system imbalances. Osteopathic vs. Naturopathic Physicians Some people get confused between osteopathic physicians and naturopathic physicians. Osteopathic physicians are physicians, and like MDs, can be licensed to practice medicine and perform surgery in all 50 states of the U.S. With attendance at a reputable naturopathic medical school and licensing and certifications, naturopathic physicians can be licensed to practice medicine—including writing of most prescriptions—in some (but not all) states in the U.S. Even in states that license naturopaths as full physicians, naturopaths are typically not licensed to perform surgery. Frequently Asked Questions How is osteopathic medicine different than traditional medicine? In most respects, they are the same. Both traditional medicine, also known as allopathic medicine, and osteopathic medicine focus on treating symptoms and diseases with medication and surgery. But osteopathic medicine also includes theories about the role of the musculoskeletal system in diseases. Is a doctor of osteopathy a real doctor? Yes, a doctor of osteopathy, or DO, is a real doctor. DOs and MDs are considered equals. Both are fully trained and licensed physicians with the same level of authority to diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe medication, and perform surgery. What is the difference between an osteopath and a chiropractor? Osteopaths are fully licensed physicians who can prescribe medications, whereas chiropractors are not. Chiropractors are limited to working on the spine and back, while osteopaths are trained and licensed to treat the whole body. Like chiropractors, osteopaths employ spinal manipulation to treat conditions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Davis GE, Gayer GG. Comparison of basic science knowledge between DO and MD students. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2017;117(2):114-123. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2017.022 Kids Health. What's a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine? American Osteopathic Association. Number of new DOs sets a record in 2019. Schwerla F, Kaiser AK, Gietz R, Kastner R. Osteopathic treatment of patients with long-term sequelae of whiplash injury: effect on neck pain disability and quality of life. J Altern Complement Med. 2013;19(6):543-9. doi:10.1089/acm.2012.0354 American Osteopathic Association. Discover the DO Difference. Fleming SA, Gutknecht NC. Naturopathy and the primary care practice. Prim Care. 2010;37(1):119-36. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2009.09.002