In most countries osteopathy is a form of
complementary medicine, emphasizing a
holistic approach and the skilled use of a range of manual and physical
treatment interventions (
osteopathic manipulative medicine, or OMM in the United States) in the prevention and treatment of disease. In practice, this most commonly relates to musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain. Many osteopaths see their role as facilitating the body's own recuperative powers by treating musculoskeletal or
somatic dysfunction. According to the
American Osteopathic Association, the difference between an osteopath and an
osteopathic physician is often confused.
[1] In the United States,
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) are fully
licensed medical
physicians and
surgeons, practicing in all clinical specialties along with their M.D. colleagues. Just like
M.D.s, D.O.s practice the full scope of
medicine.
In the United Kingdom, courses in Osteopathy have recently become integrated into the university system. Instead of receiving a Diploma in Osteopathy (D.O.), with or without a Diploma in Naturopathy (N.D.), graduates now become Bachelors of Osteopathy or Bachelors of Osteopathic Medicine, or Bachelors of Science in either Osteopathy or Osteopathic Medicine, according to the institution attended:
[2] but these degrees do not lead to prescribing rights and in this case Osteopathy and Osteopathic Medicine are synonymous. There is one "cross-over" institution, the London College of Osteopathic Medicine
[3], which teaches osteopathy only to those already qualified in medicine. Before using the title of "osteopath," graduates have to register with the UK regulatory body by statute; the
General Osteopathic Council.