Did you know that the absence of disease does not necessarily imply the presence of health? This idea is one of the core concepts that osteopathic physicians abide by. Additionally, they also realize that the expression of both health and disease can vary from person to person. As a result, osteopathic physicians examine an individual’s body structure to determine if there are any changes that could signal dis-ease.
When certain structural changes are noticed in the body, osteopathic physicians will then need to treat the cause behind the structural changes. Like traditional physicians, osteopaths can prescribe medications or perform surgery to treat various medical conditions. However, osteopaths also have an alternative treatment method that they often use to heal their patients.
It is known as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT uses a variety of manual techniques ranging from light touch to high pressure manipulation in order to move the patient’s joints and muscles to improve the body’s physiological function. These movements can take the form of stretches, gentle pressure, and resistance and are used to relieve pain, decrease tension, and promote healing.
There are around 40 different OMT techniques that your doctor may use, however the most commonly used techniques include:
- Osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine: gentle pressure is applied to skull to promote healing
- Muscle energy: you are asked to move your muscles in one direction while your doctor pushes them in another direction, producing a counter force
- Myofascial release: firm pressure is applied to the connective tissue that surrounds the bones, muscles, and organs known as the fascia
- Soft tissue: the muscles are stretched and pulled into different directions
As mentioned before, doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) attribute pain and other problems to nerve restriction and tightness. Therefore, OMT works by manipulating the joints and muscles in such a way that it corrects nerve restrictions and eases muscle tension. This allows your body to function properly and can help alleviate a number of different symptoms.
DOs use OMT to treat many conditions that cause pain. It has been especially effective in treating pain in the lower back, shoulder, neck, head, and knee. Although OMT is a common treatment osteopaths use for muscle pain, it can also be used to treat other medical conditions such as: asthma, carpal tunnel, menstrual pain, migraines, and sinus problems.
In addition to being used to treat multiple medical conditions, OMT is also a safe treatment that can be used on just about anyone from newborns to seniors. It has even been said that OMT can be used on women in their third trimester of pregnancy to ease pain and discomfort. To ensure that OMT is safe for all ages, it can be adjusted to fit the patient’s individual needs. Therefore, some patients may require soft pressure, while others may require more aggressive techniques.
Overall, OMT is a specialized technique used by doctors of osteopathic medicine in order to treat nerve restrictions in their patients. In relieving nerve restrictions and tension, the body can begin to heal itself and return to a state of health. For this reason, OMT is commonly used to treat a variety of medical conditions in people of all ages by customizing the approach to the individual.
Dr. Paulvin is an innovative physician in the study of Functional Medicine, Integrative Sports Medicine, Regenerative medicine, Osteopathic Manipulation and Craniosacral Therapy. He works with patients to not only treat but find the root cause of autoimmune issues, thyroid and hormone imbalances, digestive and gut disorders and a number of inflammatory based conditions. Uniquely combining Osteopathic Manipulation and Functional Medicine to fast track healing, recovery and biomechanics to progress athleticism. Synergistically utilizing eastern and western medicine, lab testing and reviews, lifestyle wellness, and manual therapy to treat injuries, inflammation patients and optimizers are set on their path quicker.
