DO Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield DO facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The anterior cruciate ligament arises from the ____ and runs backward, upward, and ____ to insert on to the lateral femoral condyle. → Tibia; Lateral
2. Metformin is contraindicated in patients with an eGFR below what threshold due to risk of lactic acidosis? → 30 mL/min/1.73m²
3. Which of the following is an extensor, NOT a flexor of the knee joint? → Quadriceps femoris
4. Which feature best distinguishes Bipolar I disorder from Bipolar II disorder? → At least one full manic episode lasting 7 or more days
5. In diagnosing spinal somatic dysfunction, the convention 'L3 FRSL' means the vertebra is: → Flexed, rotated left, sidebent left
6. Sacral rocking in OMM is primarily used to treat dysfunction of which anatomical region? → Sacrum and lumbosacral junction
7. Which drug used for gout acts by inhibiting xanthine oxidase to reduce uric acid production? → Allopurinol
8. Which of the following is the first step in the assessment of a particular anatomical region? → Active range of motion - Patient moves independently.
9. Which of the following statements is NOT true about ‘Clinical Guidelines’? → They are based solely on personal opinions of healthcare providers.
10. In muscle energy technique (MET), the patient is asked to perform what action against a counterforce? → Isometric contraction
11. A physician in private practice wants to dismiss a patient from their practice. To avoid patient abandonment, the physician must: → Provide adequate notice and continue emergency care during the transition period
12. Which modifiable risk factor is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States? → Tobacco use
13. In research ethics, the Belmont Report established which three core principles? → Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice
14. The Still technique in OMM is best described as which type of combined approach? → Indirect followed by direct with a dynamic thrust
15. The principle of double effect permits the use of high-dose opioids for pain relief even if they may hasten death, provided that: → The primary intent is pain relief, not to hasten death
16. Which type of error occurs when a study fails to detect a true difference between groups because of insufficient sample size? → Type II error (beta error)
17. A 95% confidence interval (CI) for a relative risk that does NOT cross 1.0 indicates: → The result is statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level
18. Sensitivity of a screening test measures its ability to correctly identify: → True positives (patients who have the disease)
19. Bayes' theorem in clinical medicine states that the post-test probability of disease depends on which two factors? → Pre-test probability and test likelihood ratio
20. A patient on lithium develops nausea, tremor, and confusion. Which medication should be reviewed as a potential cause of lithium toxicity? → Ibuprofen (NSAID)
21. In craniosacral therapy, the practitioner monitors the 'primary respiratory mechanism,' which has a normal rate of approximately how many cycles per minute? → 6–12 cycles per minute
22. A 40-year-old woman with depression is started on fluoxetine. What is the primary mechanism of action of SSRIs? → Inhibition of serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic terminal
23. Which drug class is used to treat opioid-induced constipation by acting as a peripherally restricted mu-opioid receptor antagonist? → Methylnaltrexone (PAMORA)
24. Forest plots in meta-analyses display each study's result as a square with a horizontal line. What does the horizontal line represent? → The 95% confidence interval for that study's effect estimate
25. Which OMM technique is CONTRAINDICATED in a patient with acute disc herniation causing radiculopathy? → High-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA)
26. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of DIRECT technique procedures? → Avoid any interaction with the patient's discomfort.
27. Which vaccine is recommended annually for all persons aged 6 months and older in the US? → Influenza vaccine
28. An osteopathic physician finds a rib that is stuck in inhalation. In what position will this rib appear? → Elevated and anterior
29. Which class of drugs for COPD works by blocking muscarinic receptors to cause bronchodilation? → Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs)
30. Which occupational exposure is most strongly linked to mesothelioma? → Asbestos