Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT):  Hands on Healthcare

In an era marked by medical advances, from state-of-the-art surgery to the newest prescription medication, what unique tool will osteopathic physicians use?  Their hands.

Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) provide you with all of the best that medicine has to offer. They can specialize in every recognized area of medicine, from pediatrics to Neurosurgery. However, their knowledge and use of the latest medical technology is complemented by their application of a hands-on diagnosis and treatment tool known as osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT.

Using OMT, D.O.s bring an added dimension to healthcare, in the form of a non- invasive therapy. D.O.s use OMT to diagnose, treat, and even prevent illness or injury. And when appropriate, OMT can be used in conjunction with (or in place of) medication or surgery.

D.O.s are widely recognized for their incorporation of manipulative medicine into their spectrum of care; OMT, however, is just one element of the unique philosophy of osteopathic medicine.

D.O.s take a whole person approach to care, and don't just focus on a diseased or injured part. They look for underlying causes for disease, instead of simply treating your symptoms. And they consider your physical condition, plus mental and emotional factors (home, work and family, etc.) when diagnosing you. In keeping with their holistic approach to care, you'll find many D.O.s in primary care (family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology).

 

The Big Picture

Patient, Heal Thyself

D.O.s recognize that the body is inherently capable of healing itself, though it must constantly fight physical, emotional, chemical and nutritional "stressors" to maintain a state of wellness. D.O.s believe in educating you about good health and avoidance of disease. If either occurs, however, D.O.s recognize that medication, surgery, and often OMT are necessary elements of treatment. 

The Musculoskeletal System

D.O.s believe that all of the body's systems, including the musculoskeletal system, work together, and that disturbances in one system may impact function elsewhere in the body. This understanding of body structure and organic function is at the core of the osteopathic approach to medicine.

D.O.s place particular emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, which comprises two-thirds of the body's mass; they use OMT to manually assess and treat illness or injury.

 

The ABC's of OMT and
How It Can Work for You

OMT is predicated upon your D.O.'s knowledge of medicine. Once your D.O. has ruled out non-mechanical causes for your illness or injury (through blood and urine testing, x- rays, etc.), and based upon physical/mechanical findings, he may decide to utilize manipulation. While manipulative medicine is commonly associated with physical ailments such as low back pain, this far-reaching treatment modality can also be used to relieve the discomfort or musculoskeletal abnormality associated with a number of disorders, including:

• Asthma
• Sinus Disorder
• Carpal Tunnel
• Migraines
• Menstrual Pain

The osteopathic approach to treating many diseases includes medication and/or surgical intervention, plus manipulation. OMT can relieve muscle pain associated with a disease, and can hasten your recovery from illness by promoting blood flow through tissues. 

Your Structural Exam

Diagnosis

Your structural exam will begin with an assessment of your posture, spine and balance. Your D.O. will then use his fingers to palpate your back and extremities. He will also check your joints for restriction and/or pain during motion, as well as your muscles, tendons and ligaments, where tenderness can signal a problem. Through extensive osteopathic training in manipulative medicine, D.O.s can detect changes in tissue, however small, that signal injury or impairment.

Once the structural exam is complete, your D.O. will integrate this information with your medical history and a complete physical exam, and will then establish a treatment plan. 

Treatment

Using a variety of OMT techniques, your D.O. will apply manual forces to your body's affected areas to treat structural abnormalities, and will then apply specific corrective forces to relieve joint restrictions and misalignments. Based upon the complexity or severity of your problem, you may require more than one treatment.

 

The Osteopathic Approach

Case 1:

Mary visited her D.O. complaining of a sharp pain in her side. The physician asked a series of questions about her pain, its intensity, onset and duration; they also discussed her medical history. The physician then ordered a series of tests to determine whether the pain was caused by disease (i.e.: gallbladder or appendix). Tests revealed that it was not. Since the patient indicated that she worked in an office with a "surround-style" desk, the D.O. considered that Mary might be suffering from postural/mechanical strain. Based upon his examination, interview with the patient, and the negative test results, the physician decided to employ manipulation to relieve motion restrictions and muscle strain caused by improper sifting and movement. He also recommended changes in the set-up of her workstation to alleviate further pain. 

Case 2:

Michael's symptoms included cough, congestion, fever and headache. Suspecting chronic sinusitis, his D.O. conducted an exam and ordered appropriate tests. When results confirmed the diagnosis, the physician prescribed an antibiotic to treat the infection; she also employed a variety of OMT techniques to promote sinus drainage and relieve pain related to the infection. Michael's congestion was markedly reduced after just one OMT session. Upon completion of his antibiotic therapy two weeks later, his infection was eliminated. 

Who Can Benefit From OMT?

Through OMT, people of all ages and backgrounds have found relief from pain and dysfunction. D.O.s incorporate OMT into their treatment plans for top athletes and performance artists; workers with on-the-job injuries and hundreds of thousands of people, just like you. Those who have enjoyed the benefits of OMT realize that it can successfully relieve pain and restore mobility. And by maintaining proper alignment and structural function, OMT can actually help you to avoid injury.

OMT used in place of surgery can help you save critical healthcare dollars. The use of OMT for prevention of illness or injury can result in long-term savings. 

Proof Positive:
OMT Works

A recent study of acute low back pain revealed that manipulation is an effective treatment option; similar studies on the use of OMT to treat various disorders, ranging from migraines to asthma, are currently underway. Results will quantify what D.O.s - and their patients - have known for years: OMT is effective. And it can work for you. 

A History of
Hands-On Healing

The earliest medical writings from centuries past describe the efficacy of manual medicine. In 1874, osteopathic medicine's founder, Dr. A.T. Still, recognized the power of hands-on care and incorporated it into his philosophy of medicine. Dr. Still identified the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health; he recognized the body's self-healing capacity; he emphasized prevention, exercise and keeping fit; and he identified palpation and human touch as vital and less intrusive elements of diagnosis and treatment. As the impressive growth of osteopathic medicine demonstrates, Dr. Still's founding tenets have withstood the test of time and scientific scrutiny. 

Osteopathic Medical Education

D.O.s complete four years of medical training at one of the nation's fully accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine. The osteopathic curriculum is intensive and broad-based. It includes comprehensive training in the musculoskeletal system and use of OMT. Manipulation combined with the osteopathic philosophies of holistic care, prevention and primary care makes osteopathic medicine unique.

Upon graduation from medical school, D.O.s complete a one-year internship, rotating through all areas of primary care. Then, they may complete a residency in any of more than 120 specialty and subspecialty areas of medicine. Sixty- four percent of all D.O.s remain in primary care practices, however, in keeping with the osteopathic philosophy of holistic medicine.

By incorporating OMT into their practice of complete medicine, D.O.s are providing the most comprehensive care available today.

Colleges of osteopathic medicine

For more information about OMT, or D.O.s who are board-certified in osteopathic manipulative medicine, contact:

The American Academy of Osteopathy
3500 DePauw Boulevard, Suite 1080
Indianapolis, IN 46268-1139
(317) 879-1881

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