What do you mean by Osteopath?

Answer 1

osteopath

An osteopath is a practitioner of osteopathy the approach to health care named, which emphasises the importance of the musculoskeletal system on general health.

An osteopath is trained to use various methods of treatment and intervention depending on the location of one's training. In the U.S.A., osteopaths are trained as fully licenced physicians, and are equivalent to Doctors of Medicine (MD's). Osteopathic physicians, earn the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Although osteopathic physicians work in every area of medical specialism, a large proportion work in primary care.

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) is a range of physical treatments, such as manual therapy, and in particular joint manipulation. OMM is taught at all osteopathic medical schools in the U.S.A.

In Europe, most osteopaths are not physicians, and therefore most use drug-free interventions. As a result of the emphasis on the importance of the musculoskeletal system on health in their training, and their lack of prescribing rights, European osteopaths provide predominantly OMM to their patients.

Above retrieved from Wikipedia

Viper1

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The Viper1 above is correct in it's description of the osteopath. The osteopath would better serve itself if it were to change it's title from DO to MD or MD,DO. Since they both do the same thing, why have 2 different degrees? Hell, most DOs rarely do OMM anymore, as it's minimally taught at the osteopathic schools, and then after passing the OMM tests and the OMM on the medical boards, the DO will then forget what it learned with the manipulation of bones and stuff. Especially with the rising doctor titles of the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) the DO should change itself to MD,DO degree.