How does chiropractic differ from osteopathic medicine?
Doctors of osteopathy (DOs) were actually the first to make use of manipulation to treat disease. Today, the practice of osteopathic medicine is very similar to that of medical doctors (MDs). However, the techniques started by osteopaths have been adopted by physical and massage therapists, as well as chiropractors. For those osteopaths who continue to make use of manipulation, their focus is on soft tissues and joints outside the spine, while chiropractors focus most of their efforts on the spine. In addition, the manipulation technique is different. Osteopaths concentrate on gentle, large movements (low velocity, high amplitude technique), while chiropractors make use of rapid short movements (high velocity, low amplitude technique; Bratman, 1999).
