General Practitioners

• Sinusitis
• Pediatric Care
  The Journal of Clinical Pediatrics (2004) published a study on children with cerebral palsy treated with osteopathic manual medicine. In this study, the parents were charged with reporting changes and improvement in the children. After twenty-four weeks, "twenty-one of the 23 parents of the children in the osteopathic group reported improvement in their child during the course of the therapies."
• Primary Care
  • 52% of graduating DOs enter primary care, such as family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics, where they can focus on the whole patient.
• Ear Infections
  An article in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (2003) detailed a study concerning children with chronic recurrent serous otitis media (middle ear infections/inflammation with fluid), who received Osteopathic treatment, had significantly fewer ear infections, and myringotomy (ear) tubes. In addition, there were a greater number of normal hearing studies with less effusion (fluid) than the group who did not. Another interesting aspect of this research project was that "No adverse reactions were reported."
• Family Practice
  It is the focus within the medical training that the differences between DOs and MDs start to appear. Osteopathic medical education places more emphasis on preventive medicine, body structure, osteopathic treatment and the importance of family practice. More than 75% of the DOs in the United States are in family practice, as opposed to only 25% of the MDs.
• Constipation
• Bronchitis
• Diarrhea

Ophthalmologists

• Laser Eye Surgery
  This type of eye surgery has been successful for correcting visual acuity in many individuals, but is unfortunately not useful in eliminating visual strain. The problem is that with these techniques, only the middle of the cornea is reshaped. This does improve central vision, but then leaves more of a disparity between central and peripheral vision, increasing the strain. The procedure may be done on an eye that has a great deal of strain in or on it, which will make it much more difficult to treat later, especially since it was probably originally contributing to the problem with visual acuity. In addition, the changes are permanent.
• Eye Exam
  The physician usually inquires about a recent refraction. The patient may be referred to an eye doctor for an eye exam if this not recent. In addition, the eye doctor can uncover any unusual problems. The refraction is the starting point in determining treatment.

Gynecologists

• Obstetrics
  According to The New York Times, osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing medical professions in the United States. More than 50,000 osteopathic physicians practice in recognized specialties such as obstetrics, neurosurgery, cardiology, and internal medicine. Only about 150 are certified proficient to practice cranial osteopathy. This drugless, non-invasive medical treatment may be provided only by licensed physicians who have completed an additional five years of training in this specialty.
• Pregnancy
• Labor and Delivery
  During labor and delivery, structures of the body may become significantly compressed, resulting in a general decrease in function. The symptoms associated with these birth related structural problems vary with the degree of distortion and from individual to individual.

Internists

• Internal Medicine

Neurologists

• Autism
  Eric Dolgin, D.O., F.C.A., is recognized as one of the leaders in this field in the United States. During his 25 years in practice, Dr. Dolgin has proved that cranial osteopathy can achieve profound healing in many cases where other approaches have failed. He has had profound results in the treatment of children with mild to moderate autism, learning disabilities, and other difficult to treat conditions. In The Autism Perspective, a national magazine in which Dr. Dolgin was featured, one mother described her autistic son after six weeks of treatment with Dr. Dolgin: “There always seemed to be a wall that prevented him from easily taking in information, but now he loves to learn.” Another mother said that her son, as a result of his treatment with Dr. Dolgin, “wants to play with other children for the first time in his life, and even likes hugging them.”

Psychiatrists

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Radiologist

• MRI
  How would an osteopath treat a herniated disc? I just had an MRI, and found out I have one in the lumbar area as well as degenerative disc disease... I... don't think our major medical institutions even have any osteopaths...
• Radiation Therapy

Surgeons

• Sciatica
• Neurosurgery

Dermatologists

• Lesions
  Magoun contends that maintaining unrestricted motion of the temporal bones is good preventive medicine and correcting such in the acute condition is very beneficial.9 He believes the site of infection is determined by lowered resistance on the side with the structural disturbance. Slow and very gentle alternating external and internal rotation of the temporal bones will sometimes bring drainage and relief. Generally a specific temporal bone lesion, among other things, will exist and need to be addressed. Magoun, describes a Eustachian tube technique to accelerate drainage for a common petrobasilar restriction within a temporo-occipital lesion which has proved effective.10 This involves rotating the temporals externally while drawing them posteriorly; and applying a gentle, slow, alternate, pumping action on the patient's glabella with the operator's shoulder. This alternate stretching and sagging of the cartilaginous portions of the eustachian tube closes and opens the tubes and tends to move any fluids present. Upon completion of the technic it is necessary to restore the temporals normal relationship by lifting them anteriorly and internally rotating them for several respiratory cycles. The operator should also drain the pterygoid plexus of veins to relieve head congestion by pulling the jaw down and forward and relaxing all associated tissues in the neck and upper thoracic. Steady the frontal bone with one hand, while pulling the relaxed jaw down and forward with the other. Repeat several times. The permitted motion is limited so do not overdo it. The external ears may be pumped with the palms of the hands. Particular attention should also be paid to any acromioclavicular lesions, the anterior cervical fascia, the thoracic inlet, the upper cervical spine and any immunity enhancement or lymphatic drainage techniques.

Physical Therapists

• Physical Therapy
  A New England Journal of Medicine article detailed research comparing Osteopathic Manual Medicine with standard care for patients with low back pain. The osteopathic group "required significantly less medication (analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, and muscle relaxants) and used less physical therapy." In addition, they stated that the "differences in cost were significant."
• Back Pain

Allergists

• Allergies