Which specialty uses hands-on manipulative techniques commonly taught to DOs?

• A. Surgery
• B. Hospitalists
• C. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• D. Psychiatry

Answer: (C)

Hands-on manual therapies are a defining feature of osteopathic training. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine encompasses the set of manipulative techniques DOs learn to diagnose and treat somatic dysfunction and support overall function. This approach includes various hands-on methods—such as soft tissue techniques, muscle energy, and other manual therapies—reflecting the emphasis on how structure and function influence each other. While other medical fields may involve physical contact, they are not built around these manual manipulative techniques as a core practice. Therefore, the specialty that uses hands-on manipulative techniques commonly taught to DOs is Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.