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Did you know there are two different types of doctors: a MD (Doctors of Medicine) and DO (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine)? None of which are “better” or “more skilled” than the other, but rather practice differently. Dr. John Manire at Our Family Direct Primary Care is a DO – so let’s discuss what a DO is!

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine use a unique whole-person approach to help prevent illness and injury. DOs are fully licensed physicians who practice in all areas of medicine.

One of the main differences between a MD and DO is that a DO receives special training in the musculoskeletal system, your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones while in medical school. A few treatments focused on the musculoskeletal system include: acupuncture, dry needling, prolotherapy, trigger point injections and much more.

By learning and practicing the musculoskeletal system, this allows for a more comprehensive care to patients. DOs are also trained to listen and partner with their patients to help get them healthy and stay well – DOs have a much more personal relationship with their patients.

There are currently more than 120,000 DOs in the United States – the doctor who treated President Trump while receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. is also reportedly the first physician to a sitting president to hold a doctorate of osteopathy rather than being an MD.

Osteopathic physicians and medicine focus on wellness and the body’s ability to kind of self-regulate, self-heal and achieve that equilibrium. It does that through osteopathic manipulation techniques (OMT) to identify any sort of dysfunction and restore function, alignment, balance and so forth. DOs strive to help you be truly healthy in mind, body and spirit—not just free of symptoms.

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