OSTEOPATHIC MANUAL TECHNIQUES

OSTEOPATHIC MANUAL TECHNIQUES

Osteopathic Manual Techniques

What Are Osteopathic Manual Techniques?

Osteopathic Manual Techniques (also known as neuromusculoskeletal medicine) is a hands-on technique that seeks to align the body’s functions by improving joint range of motion, balancing tissue and muscle mechanics, and improving circulation. With proper alignment, pain is reduced or eliminated. It is a way that allows clinicians to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury using their hands.

The focus of Osteopathic Medicine is to treat the problem instead of focusing only on symptom relief; in other words, to focus on your health rather than your disease. The osteopathic approach is to focus on the body’s ability to heal itself through restoring normal function.

Does this require special training?

Yes, and our Coastal Virginia Spine & Pain Center providers osteopathic-manualtrained in Osteopathic Manual Techniques.

Who is a good candidate for OMT?

Osteopathic Manual Techniques are used to treat patients to ease pain, promote healing, and increase mobility for such conditions as:

  • Muscular pain
  • Asthma
  • Sinus disorders
  • Migraines
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

What can I expect during the examination?

During this hands-on session, your physician will perform a thorough evaluation that will include checking your posture, spine, and balance, as well as assessing your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments using expert palpation skills. As a result of the evaluation, a course of action for your care will be determined from a variety of techniques to include, but not be limited to:

  • Manipulation
  • Casts/Orthotics
  • Medications

What can I expect during treatment?

Your physician will move your muscles and joints to provide a gentle stretch and provide gentle pressure or resistance to relieve your pain.  Medication may also be recommended to help to decrease your pain.

Osteopathic Manual Techniques is one of the most common treatments used by Osteopathic physicians.  It is a gentle technique that involves releasing restrictions utilizing a variety of techniques that may include:

  • Myofascial release
  • Muscle energy techniques
  • Thrust techniques – high velocity – low amplitude
  • Strain-Counterstrain
  • Cranio-sacral techniques

What are the reported benefits?

The benefits are not limited to back pain and back injuries, since osteopaths concentrate on the healthful functioning of the entire body. In fact, the benefits of OMT probably equal the number of dysfunctions that the body can manifest.

How soon will I experience relief?

That will depend upon the nature of the problem being treated. Relief can be subjectively reported from immediately to several days later. The goal is for long-term elimination or reduction in the root cause of the pain.

What are my chances for complete recovery?

Success with OMT is very good, but it also depends upon the primary source of your pain. There are many variables involved in pain, and understanding the etiology or history of the onset is important to provide the best treatment.

Does OMT involve any risks?

As with any treatment, there are risks. With the level of expertise and training of our physicians, the risks are minimal.