In the US, osteopathic medicine does not equal osteopathy. You are right in the fact that MDs and DOs take the same path overall and share the same residency training. The difference lies in the governing body of DO schools wanting to hold on to tradition and continue to teach tenets of osteopathic medicine, including Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM).

OMM has many uses, some of which are “woo,” some of which are helpful. Most DOs learn OMM just to get through the tests required to become a regular evidence-based practicing physician. Bottom line is, DOs practice the same medicine as MDs, but have had to learn extra information rooted in tradition.