Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is a unique hands-on treatment method that is performed only by Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (aka D.O.). It was discovered by Dr. A. T. Still, who himself was an M.D. in the 1800’s, who did not like the Medicine of his time and often found the remedies to be destructive to his patients. He saw the negative side effects of alcohol and pain medications of his day and set out to help people heal by treating the body as a unit and not a collection of individual parts.
What Is OMT?
What Do We Treat?
Somatic Dysfunction:
Somatic Dysfunction is a restriction that can occur in bones, joints, muscles, and fascia that leads to pain and a restriction in mobility. Blood supply, lymph flow and nerve function may be altered in somatic dysfunction.
Treatment is based off the 4 Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine:
1. The body is a unit; A person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
3. Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
4. Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the first 3 tenets.
What Techniques Do We Use?
Hight-Velocity Low-Amplitude (HVLA):
HVLA is a “thrusting” technique that most people are familiar with when they say they need to “go get my neck/back cracked”. The Doctor applies a quick thrust over a short distance to place bones and joints back into place.
Counterstrain:
Counterstrain is a technique where a painful/tender point is rated a 10/10. The tender point is then treated by placing the patient in a position of EASE until the pain is a 3/10. The position is held for 90 seconds and then the patient is SLOWLY brought back to their original position. The Pain level is then reassessed.
Muscle Energy:
Muscle Energy is a technique where the patient actively flexes a group of muscles, when instructed, against a force applied by the Physician. This is best thought of as an “Active Stretch” where you and the Doctor work together to rebalance a dysfunction. Think of trying to lift up your knee while someone pushes down against it.
Lymphatic Treatment:
Lymphatic Treatment is a group of techniques to help increase lymphatic fluid flow. Lymphatic fluid cleanses the body of immune complexes, bacteria, viruses, salts, and 50% of plasma protein. A restriction in the flow of lymphatic fluid can cause fluid overload (ex: Leg swelling) and impair a person’s immune system from fighting infection. Lymphatic Techniques help remove restriction in lymphatic flow and improve lymphatic movement through the body.
(These are just 4 techniques out of many that may be appropriate to treat you.)