Why did you choose osteopathy?

[hottie]

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I am curious how people, who are TRULY INTERESTED in osteopathy, realized that they want to go into osteopathy and/or why they chose this path.
🙂

 

[mshheaddoc]

i wish there was a search option because there are a few good threads I could link you to about it.

Honestly, not to beat a dead horse but many people are intrigued by the OMM and holistic approach. Those are the two sticking points for DO.

 

[jtorres]

i wish there was a search option because there are a few good threads I could link you to about it.

Honestly, not to beat a dead horse but many people are intrigued by the OMM and holistic approach. Those are the two sticking points for DO.

and b/c TCOM is 15 min up the highway. read my writing: DO's are the future of medicine. you heard it here first. jtorres D.O..

 

[Daddydoc]

Gone!

 

[JohnDO]

I am curious how people, who are TRULY INTERESTED in osteopathy, realized that they want to go into osteopathy and/or why they chose this path.

Sounds like someone's trying to answer secondaries. Search is disabled for now, but there have been many threads on this.

Daddydoc good luck with your interview. If you have any questions about it feel free to PM me.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Sounds like someone's trying to answer secondaries. Search is disabled for now, but there have been many threads on this.

good news! the search function in working again, which will help us all out on those secondaries.

for me, i'm applying to both do and md programs but am only applying to md programs that have an emphasis on primary care. i want to do primary care (int med or obgyn) or psychiatry, and i think the holistic approach of osteopathy would be helpful for that. i've also heard great things about the atmospheres of most do schools because people seem more friendly and helpful and less psycho-competitive. do schools are also non-trad friendly, which makes them a good match for me and also says wonderful things about them (not being non-trad friendly is just stupid, imo). also, omt seems like a cool thing to have in your arsenal.

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Hey 🙂

Let me start by saying at this point my resume and GPA is competitive for MD schools, i have yet to take the MCAT but so you know I have the choice to go whereever.

Now after that here is why i choose DO. I have been involved in medicine for quite awhile. My experiences with DO (particular ones) really impressed me. In fact, so much so that I see a couple as personal mentors. Sure in the ER where i work there isnt alot of time for manipulation, thats just how it is. However, i personally have seen somewhat of a difference between how DO interact with staff and patients and how MD's do. Neither is more correct than the other. All that being said, I find that my own personality and practice follows the typical DO philosophy and I tend to interact with patients in a very similar way. Truly it is amazing to hear the comments from the patients for these DO's who see them.

I think you could goto an MD school and still be a holistic person. You could still be an awesome Doc. I also believe you could goto a DO school and not be holistic. The people who go to osteopathy with the midset of holistic medicine really do an excellent job post graduation and get the most out of it.

Do MD's have somewhat of an advantage overall? Maybe they do if for no other reason than the instant recognition of the MD initials. If you have decided to goto DO school for the right reason then it would be to be true to yourself and your personal philosophies.

Anyway thats just my opinion. I work with both Docs and either will be excellent physicians or not as excellent. These traits are often WHO that person is as opposed to WHAT they are.

Hope this is somewhat helpful

I am curious how people, who are TRULY INTERESTED in osteopathy, realized that they want to go into osteopathy and/or why they chose this path.
🙂

 

[hottie]

and b/c TCOM is 15 min up the highway. read my writing: DO's are the future of medicine. you heard it here first. jtorres D.O..

I agree that osteopathy is the future of medicine - holistic approach
🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[hottie]

Sounds like someone's trying to answer secondaries. Search is disabled for now, but there have been many threads on this.

not yet!!! but I am preparing to answer this question..... 🙂

 

[dcratamt]

I used OMM as a physical therapist and wanted further training in it and medecine so went DO. Are you really hot?

 

[jtorres]

Are you really hot?

you know it! 😉

 

[dbth77]

I was really interested in the OMM approach, all the D.O.'s I met were really nice people and good docs, and I was focused on becoming a primary care physcian.....and there was also that little thing were I didn't get into a single allopathic school.

 

[jtorres]

.....and there was also that little thing were I didn't get into a single allopathic school.

a blessing in disguise my friend.

 

[Nate]

Holistic approach to medicine is not unique to Osteopathic medical schools anymore. Perhaps Osteopathic medicine set the trend to it or instigated the revolution but it does not own it. Be careful when generalizing.

 

[dcratamt]

Holistic approach to medicine is not unique to Osteopathic medical schools anymore. Perhaps Osteopathic medicine set the trend to it or instigated the revolution but it does not own it. Be careful when generalizing.

By holistic we mean actually treating the neuromusculoskeletal system with OMM. I don't believe that allopathic schools do that..................yet.

 

[gerido]

I think you could goto an MD school and still be a holistic person. You could still be an awesome Doc.

🙄

 

[housecleaning]

and there was also that little thing were I didn't get into a single allopathic school.

it's not often we see honesty around these parts. welcome pardner.

 

[DD214_DOC]

and b/c TCOM is 15 min up the highway. read my writing: DO's are the future of medicine. you heard it here first. jtorres D.O..

You really think that MD's don't practice some holistic approach to healthcare? There's nothing superior or special about DOs; it's an equivelant degree. It may attract a different type of personality, but functionally DOs don't do anything that MDs can't do.

 

[DD214_DOC]

By holistic we mean actually treating the neuromusculoskeletal system with OMM. I don't believe that allopathic schools do that

That's because it doesn't actually do anything! Other than problems directly related to the musculoskeletal system, OMM has a nil chance of actually helping to cure anything.

It reminds me of the Chiro who said he could cure down's syndrome, like a genetic disorder is actually caused by a vertebral subluxation. Or the time a med student at a school that will remain unnamed (VCOM) claimed that a professor said OMM can be used exclusively during cardiac arrest to revive a patient. Riiiight...

I know, I know, you won't concede this unless there's a plethora of peer-reviewed research claiming that OMM does, in fact, only work for a minute set of structural problems. Research seems to have replaced logic and common sense.

 

[box29]

Whoever said OMM can cure anything? I have never once heard a professor or any other DO for that matter claim that OMM can cure anything. That's foolishness. OMM facilitates the body's innate ability to restore physiological function so that it may "heal itself" and sometimes it cannot. The alleviation of pain is one of the many effects of OMM that some may mistakenly consider to be a "cure" (for lack of a better word), but to assume otherwise is nonsense.

To say it does nothing without ever having experienced it or learning it is just closed minded and ignorant. After having experiences and learning OMM, one can believe what one wants.

The "holistic" aspect of osteopathic medicine has become so cliche. Being holistic is not just performing OMM or the ability to do so. There are many other physicians out there, osteopathic and allopathic, who have different philosophies on the practice of medicine. Being holistic is just that, a philosophy - which is to some varying degree taught at DO schools. There are MDs who have learned OMM and use it as well. OMM, through the refinement of touch, aids in diagnosis. Moreover, it is an additional treatment modality available to the osteopathic physician. Don't make the mistake in generalizing that DO's are the only physicians who are holistic. Being holistic is a decision that one personally choses, regardless of the degree, when it comes to the practice and philosophy of medicine.

 

[dcratamt]

That's because it doesn't actually do anything! Other than problems directly related to the musculoskeletal system, OMM has a nil chance of actually helping to cure anything.

It reminds me of the Chiro who said he could cure down's syndrome, like a genetic disorder is actually caused by a vertebral subluxation. Or the time a med student at a school that will remain unnamed (VCOM) claimed that a professor said OMM can be used exclusively during cardiac arrest to revive a patient. Riiiight...

I know, I know, you won't concede this unless there's a plethora of peer-reviewed research claiming that OMM does, in fact, only work for a minute set of structural problems. Research seems to have replaced logic and common sense.

To the beginner a punch is just a punch. I see you are definitely a beginner.

 

[DD214_DOC]

To the beginner a punch is just a punch. I see you are definitely a beginner.

It's funny that you say that. Bruce Lee once thought that a punch was more than just a punch, but ultimately realized that a punch is, in fact, just a punch.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Whoever said OMM can cure anything? I have never once heard a professor or any other DO for that matter claim that OMM can cure anything. That's foolishness. OMM facilitates the body's innate ability to restore physiological function so that it may "heal itself" and sometimes it cannot. The alleviation of pain is one of the many effects of OMM that some may mistakenly consider to be a "cure" (for lack of a better word), but to assume otherwise is nonsense.

To say it does nothing without ever having experienced it or learning it is just closed minded and ignorant. After having experiences and learning OMM, one can believe what one wants.

Oh right, I see. Since I don't know OMM then I'm not able to comment on it. Well, I've never been shot in the face either, but I am pretty sure it would hurt.

Besides, I've had a massage and I've cracked my back a few times. That's pretty much OMM.

I used to be a starry-eyed DO wannabe as well, forcing myself to believe all the hype and that DOs were somehow special in their own right. I'm past that stage. Many people obviously aren't.

 

[DD214_DOC]

OMM facilitates the body's innate ability to restore physiological function so that it may "heal itself" and sometimes it cannot.

Gee, I read almost the same exact thing in a DO school pamplhet. Care to explain exactly how it facilitates the body's innate ability to restore physiological function?

 

[Taus]

I'd also like to point out that the intent of this thread was to provide our reasons for choosing our career. I didn't see anyone ask for their reasons/beliefs/thoughts to be analyzed and critiqued. Just thought that I should point that out....but whatever....let the pissing contest continue....

 

[JohnnyOU]

That's because it doesn't actually do anything! Other than problems directly related to the musculoskeletal system, OMM has a nil chance of actually helping to cure anything.
.

The benefits of OMM are scientifically proven in all the areas I am interested in....cronic back pain, headaches, etc. I see a D.O. as an M.D. who can also do chiropractic manipulation and is more versed on the human body.

Since over half the population suffers from back problems I think it'd be good to learn to help that too...MDs should also learn it. I'm applying to both the MD and DO schools in my state, and if I decide to go MD I will still learn OMM because it makes sense to have as much skills as possible.

There may very well be something to all the other OMM stuff about helping the body heal itself...I don't know enough to say...I doubt you'll cure herpes or cancer with it, but it may help with some problems. Most experienced docs will tell you all they do anyway is to help the body heal itself....wounds heal on their own, etc...it's a freakin miracle that stuff even happens.

 

[mshheaddoc]

There is ALOT of medicine about the body that still remains a mystery. To some extent OMM is part of that allure. I have had OMM used on my before. It helped relieve some pain my my neck/back as well as hips, shoulders, arms. I was surprised how tight my body was. Other times I had a HORRIBLE cramping of the diaphram and OMM wasn't able to help me at all.

Yes OMT has its time and place. But to say its worthless? I have heard TOO many stories from DO's in practice of when they HAD used it at a point where MD's were searching them out in the hospital to pop a rib back into place or things of the sort.

Its not chiropractics (went to one for back issues) and its not cracking your back (I do that everyday) Its relaxing the bones/muscles/cartiledge/etc to put your body back into balance (as a simple way to explain). Honestly I'm completely intrigued by it. I was a skeptic before I had it used on me and honestly, now I'm sold b/c I had issues I never could figure out how to fix. I also have always had a clicking in my back that my chiropractor wasn't able to fix. Now I am working towards eliminating that clicking (I forget what it actually is) as well as maintaining my stress levels. I'm sure some people had negative experiences with OMM but its NOT for everyone. Some people are blessed with this gift and able to use it WELL. I'm in luck that I happen to be dating of one of them (I'm not biased 😉 ) and I hope to look forward to learning alot from him.

As for holistic approach, it depends on the person and the schools approach. Everyone teaches patient skills, some concentrate more than others. Some teach to ask different questions. Ultimately its up to the doctor to take the time to ask all the questions. Some choose to use it, others don't.

 

[dcratamt]

Oh right, I see. Since I don't know OMM then I'm not able to comment on it. Well, I've never been shot in the face either, but I am pretty sure it would hurt.

Besides, I've had a massage and I've cracked my back a few times. That's pretty much OMM.

I used to be a starry-eyed DO wannabe as well, forcing myself to believe all the hype and that DOs were somehow special in their own right. I'm past that stage. Many people obviously aren't.[/Quote
Well you solved that last riddle. Now here is the next quandry. Did Bruce Lee find that a punch was just a punch...........or was he saying that to the expert a punch seemed like just a punch because the expert no longer had to think about the hip torque, wrist snap, tightening just before contact and other aspects of a proper punch? To the beginner a punch is just a punch, then a punch is more than a punch, and in the end, again, a punch is just a punch. It is the progression of learning. It is similar to OMM learning too. Who beat you up for liking osteopathy anyway? I remember when your "starry-eyed" posts. Don't let people kill your interest. The genius is the one who aims at a target others cannot see.............and hits it.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Ok, fine. Maybe I don't know enough about OMM and its effect on helping to facilitate the body's natural healing. I'm still waiting for an explanation.

And nobody, "beat me up" about osteopathy. I just believe it's given way too much focus despite how limited its usefulness really is. I, personally, think it has more to do with preserving the profession as a separate entity from allopathic medicine than it does some overwhelming medical benefit.

And a punch is just a punch because there isn't as much to it as what was attempting to assigned to it.

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Here are some articles if you want to learn more about EBM and OMM. There has been ALOT of research done on OMM and the majority of it shows and increase in positive outcomes and a statististically signifigant positive change in patient condition. This is just a small cross section.

J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005 Jan;105(1):7-12. Related Articles, Links
Click here to read
Effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pediatric patients with asthma: a randomized controlled trial.

Guiney PA, Chou R, Vianna A, Lovenheim J.

Family Practice Residency Program, Department of Family Practice, Peninsula Hospital Center, 51-15 Beach Channel Dr, Far Rockaway, NY 11691-1042, USA. [email protected]

Asthma is a common chronic condition that has long plagued the pediatric patient population. Asthma in children can cause excessive school absenteeism, hospitalizations, and even death. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is an underutilized noninvasive treatment method for patients with asthma. The use of OMT may help decrease mortality and morbidity rates among this patient group. The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial attempting to demonstrate the therapeutic relevance of OMT in the pediatric asthma population. With a confidence level of 95%, results for the OMT group showed a statistically significant improvement of 7 L per minute to 9 L per minute for peak expiratory flow rates. These results suggest that OMT has a therapeutic effect among this patient population. The authors suggest that more clinical trials are required to better demonstrate the effectiveness of OMT in patients with asthma.

J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2004 Nov;104(11 Suppl 8):S13-8. Related Articles, Links
Click here to read
The unique role of osteopathic physicians in treating patients with low back pain.

Licciardone JC.

Department of Family Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2604, USA. [email protected]

Low back pain is a common and costly condition in industrialized nations. Consequently, a variety of treatment modalities and providers are available. A widely recognized clinical practice guideline states that spinal manipulation, as potentially provided by various types of practitioners, can be helpful for patients with acute low back problems without radiculopathy when used within the first month of symptoms. The underlying principles of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) suggest the potential utility of OMT in both acute and chronic low back pain. The author summarizes the methodologic characteristics and results of the three major clinical trials of OMT for low back pain conducted in the United States and discusses their implications for osteopathic medicine.

Int J Mol Med. 2004 Sep;14(3):443-9. Related Articles, Links

Nitric oxide as a possible mechanism for understanding the therapeutic effects of osteopathic manipulative medicine (Review).

Salamon E, Zhu W, Stefano GB.

Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA.

Throughout the history of medicine we have seen the progression of medical therapies from the empirical to the counter-intuitive, with much pressure being placed upon the scientific community to distinguish the two. This exercise has proven the effectiveness of numerous modern therapeutic techniques that have been adapted into modern medicine with remarkable success. While it is certain that many of these techniques yield beneficial results, the mechanisms by which these results are achieved have not been fully realized. In the present report, we consider the case of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), which represents a therapeutic technique developed over a century ago as a means of non-invasive treatment for numerous ailments. Our intention is to use current findings from our laboratory, as well as those of our colleagues in the area of nitric oxide (NO) research to explain the mechanism through which osteopathic manipulations aid the patient. These reports demonstrate that fluidic motions applied to vascular and nerve tissue in a manner comparable to manipulations can cause a remarkable increase in NO concentration within the blood and vasculature. These findings combined with the overwhelming amount of research into the beneficial effects of constitutive NO provide a dynamic theoretical framework to explain the therapeutic effects of OMM.

Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Jul-Aug;10(4):74-6. Related Articles, Links

The effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on immune response to the influenza vaccine in nursing homes residents: a pilot study.

Noll DR, Degenhardt BF, Stuart MK, Werden S, McGovern RJ, Johnson JC.

Department of Internal Medicine, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine-A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO, USA.

Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2004 Apr;11(2):93-7. Related Articles, Links
Click here to read
[Osteopathic versus orthopedic treatments for chronic epicondylopathia humeri radialis: a randomized controlled trial]

[Article in German]

Geldschlager S.

Praxis fur Osteopathie/Naturheilkunde, Munchen, Germany.

BACKGROUND: The Epicondylopathia humeri radialis is mainly caused by an overload of the extensor muscles of the hand, the afflicted side is generally the dominant hand. There is a multitude of treatment methods, none of them, however, can guarantee success. OBJECTIVE: Can an osteopathic treatment of the chronic Epicondylopathia humeri radialis reduce the pain more effectively than an orthopedic treatment? STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 53 patients were randomly distributed among examination and control group. They were treated for 8 weeks. The osteopathic treatment was done exclusively manually, with parietal, visceral, and craniosacral techniques, individually chosen for each patient. The orthopedic treatment was performed with chiropractic techniques, antiphlogistics, and mostly with injections of cortison. Four common tests were used, all 4 valuing pain and development of power: pressure pain test, Thomsen test, middlefinger extension test, and test for strength. Additionally a questionnaire about the attendant circumstances of the chronic Epicondylopathia humeri radialis was raised. RESULTS: Subjective pain sensation reduced from 50% to 33% (p < 0.01) in the intervention group and from 48% to 32% (p = 0.03) in the orthopedic group. A reduction of pain as well as an increase of power could be measured. The difference between the two treatment methods, however, was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this study it was possible to successfully treat the chronic Epicondylopathia humeri radialis with an osteopathic approach. A significant difference to an orthopedic treatment could not be proved. Copyright 2004 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg

Fam Pract. 2003 Dec;20(6):662-9. Related Articles, Links
Click here to read
Randomized osteopathic manipulation study (ROMANS): pragmatic trial for spinal pain in primary care.

Williams NH, Wilkinson C, Russell I, Edwards RT, Hibbs R, Linck P, Muntz R.

Department of General Practice, University of Wales College of Medicine, Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, University of Wales-Bangor, Bangor, Wales, UK. [email protected]

BACKGROUND: Spinal pain is common and frequently disabling. Management guidelines have encouraged referral from primary care for spinal manipulation. However, the evidence base for these recommendations is weak. More pragmatic trials and economic evaluations have been recommended. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to assess the effectiveness and health care costs of a practice-based osteopathy clinic for subacute spinal pain. METHODS: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial was carried out in a primary care osteopathy clinic accepting referrals from 14 neighbouring practices in North West Wales. A total of 201 patients with neck or back pain of 2-12 weeks duration were allocated at random between usual GP care and an additional three sessions of osteopathic spinal manipulation. The primary outcome measure was the Extended Aberdeen Spine Pain Scale (EASPS). Secondary measures included SF-12, EuroQol and Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Health care costs were estimated from the records of referring GPs. RESULTS: Outcomes improved more in the osteopathy group than the usual care group. At 2 months, this improvement was significantly greater in EASPS [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-9.8] and SF-12 mental score (95% CI 2.7-10.7). At 6 months, this difference was no longer significant for EASPS (95% CI -1.5 to 10.4), but remained significant for SF-12 mental score (95% CI 1.0-9.9). Mean health care costs attributed to spinal pain were significantly greater by 65 UK pounds in the osteopathy group (95% CI 32-155 UK pounds). Though osteopathy also cost 22 UK pounds more in mean total health care cost, this was not significant (95% CI - 159 to 142 UK pounds). CONCLUSION: A primary care osteopathy clinic improved short-term physical and longer term psychological outcomes, at little extra cost. Rigorous multicentre studies are now needed to assess the generalizability of this approach.

 

[dcratamt]

Ok, fine. Maybe I don't know enough about OMM and its effect on helping to facilitate the body's natural healing. I'm still waiting for an explanation.

And nobody, "beat me up" about osteopathy. I just believe it's given way too much focus despite how limited its usefulness really is. I, personally, think it has more to do with preserving the profession as a separate entity from allopathic medicine than it does some overwhelming medical benefit.

And a punch is just a punch because there isn't as much to it as what was attempting to assigned to it.

Well i don't know how it does it........it just does.

 

[Dorkus Maximus]

And nobody, "beat me up" about osteopathy. I just believe it's given way too much focus despite how limited its usefulness really is. I, personally, think it has more to do with preserving the profession as a separate entity from allopathic medicine than it does some overwhelming medical benefit.

Are you going to tell the admissions committee this in your interviews? 🙄