• Find a Health Professional
• Health Center

About Osteopathy What Is Osteopathy? Is Osteopathy Right for Me? How Do I Choose?

Glossary Treatment Applications Types of Osteopathy Credentials

How to Choose an Osteopath

Find an osteopath you feel comfortable working with, and agree on a treatment plan that works for both of you. Also make sure that he has experience treating your specific ailments and understands your specific needs.

A doctor of osteopathy, like an MD, must complete four years of medical school. Osteopaths complete many additional hours studying the body's musculoskeletal system. They are licensed by the state in which they practice, and those who wish to specialize may become board-certified by completing a two- to six-year residency within their area of specialty and passing state exams.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, practicing D.O.’s number more than 50,000 in the United States, about 6 percent of all physicians, though the percentage is growing. Osteopathic education trains far more generalist physicians than traditional medicine, with 64 percent of D.O.’s going into primary care compared to 10 percent of M.D.’s.