What Is an Osteopathic Physician?

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In the United States there are two recognized groups of physicians, Allopaths and Osteopaths. The Allopaths represent over 85% of American physicians, they have MD after their name. The Osteopaths are a minority among American physicians and have DO after their name. Both MDs and DOs go to medical school, train in a certified residency program and go on to care for patients as fully licensed physicians. Just as with MDs, DOs enter various specialties of medicine, from Family Practice, to Neurosurgery. DOs are represented in all medical specialties, you or your loved ones may have been treated by a DO and not know it.

 

Some notable DOs include:

• Dr. Robert Blanck, DO, the 39th Surgeon General of the United States. 

• Dr. Steven Pitt, DO, a famous forensic psychiatrist

• Dr. Earl Haas, DO, a Family Practice physician and inventor of the modern tampon

• Dr. Gabriel Ham Chang Chiu Jr, DO, a plastic surgeon 

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So what's the difference between MDs and DOs?

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While the medical school curriculum of MDs and DOs is nearly similar, the DOs get an additional course specialized in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, OMT for short (it can also be referred to as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, or OMM). 

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The tenets of Osteopathic Medicine are:

1. The Body is a Unit

2. A Person is a Unit of Mind, Body and Spirit

3. The Body is Capable of Self-Regulation, Self-Healing and Health Maintenance

4. Structure and Function are Reciprocally Interrelated

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At Loudoun Osteopathic Clinic, Dr.Sori is a trained and licensed Internal Medicine physician. He has treated patient both in the outpatient and inpatient settings. His patients have ranged from those who were suffering from end-organ failure in the ICU to patients with complaints of musculoskeletal aches and pains. ​​​​

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​​​​What Is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)?

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​Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment goes by multiple names, two of which, OMT and OMM, were noted above. It can also be referred to as Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (NMM). Regardless what you call it, OMT is a set of techniques used by DOs to diagnose, treat and prevent illness and injury. Using OMT, a DO moves a patient's muscles and joints using techniques that include stretching, gentle pressure and resistance. Although, DOs are trained in high-velocity maneuvers in medical school, most who employ OMT use the more gentle and safer approaches in practices. 

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The fundamental goal of OMT is not to "realign" the bones, but rather to improve blood flow, lymphatic flow, and neuronal signaling by engaging the musculature and related connective tissues. 

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OMT can be used to treat a range of conditions, including but not limited to : neck pain, back pain, migraines, muscular sprains and strains, hip pain, etc. 

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Furthermore, OMT is not solely limited the musculoskeletal system. It can be used as an added treatment method to infectious and inflammatory conditions such as bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis etc. 

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Osteopathic Physicians do not view OMT as the sole method of treating their patients, but rather as an additional tool on top other therapies. For instance, if you have an active infection and are in need of antibiotics, OMT will not act as a replacement for the antibiotics. However, OMT can be used, in addition to the antibiotic therapy, to improve blood and lymphatic flow, thereby reducing duration of infection. 

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OMT can also be used on any age group, however at Loudoun Osteopathic Clinic, we only treat patients who are 18 years of age or older. 

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Additional Questions Pertaining to Our Practice

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Does Loudoun Osteopathic Clinic Prescribe Opioids?

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No, we do not. At Loudoun Osteopathic Clinic we are an alternative pain management clinic. While there is room for pain medications they do not address the root cause of the pain. 

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Do I Need a Referral from Another Physician?

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No, you can schedule a session with us directly via phone, or email. 

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What Type of Health Insurance Do You Accept?

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We are a cash based clinic which allows us to spend more time on patient care and face-to-face interactions. We can provide you a superbill that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement. 

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What Are The Differences Between DO, MD and DC(Chiropractors)?

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As mentioned at the top of this page, both DOs and MDs are licensed physicians. Both can practice in any field of medicine in the United States, write prescriptions, order imaging and labs, and do procedures ranging from small in-office injections to large surgeries. The main area of difference is that DOs have the advantage of having musculoskeletal course work. 

 

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