Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

 

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) in my opinion, is this well kept secret, for unknown reasons.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with osteopathic medicine, in the United States, we have two schools of Medicine, allopathic and osteopathic medical schools; MDs (Medical Doctor) and DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) respectively. To be brief, Doctor Andrew Taylor Still was a physician, who after the Civil War, had lost his wife and several children. He decided then that conventional medicine should be re-evaluated. Dr. A.T. Still founded the first osteopathic medical school in 1892. He devoted over 30 years to studying anatomy and found alternative ways to treat disease. 

Currently, as scientific inquiry advances research to focus more and more on reduced views of the body. Focus is being placed on specific genetic markers and unique proteins. This focus can easily allow us to lose sight of the whole body and its capacity to function as a whole. Thus, shifting ones perception to view the body as solely a sum of its seperate parts. This investigatory advancement has lead the medical community to specialize and focus on different organs or complaints.

But what if we have forgotten our foundation, as I call it. The basics of our human biological process. The miraculousness of our physiology and its capacity to function and heal itself. 

Osteopathy returns the focus to the whole body. 

The tenets of osteopathy state that firstly, the body is a unit; mind, body and spirit. Secondly, the body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance. Thirdly, structure and function are reciprocally interrelated. Lastly, Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of these three basic principles. 


Osteopathic Medical Education teaches physicians to palpate different tissues in the body, and thus allows touch to be a vital part of the physical exam. Our palpatory skills are used to diagnose and treat using a wide range of techniques. Osteopathic physicians, on average, have over 200 hours of hands-on training just within the first two years of medical school. Those physicians who choose to focus on the hands on manipulation take more advanced hands on courses to improve their palpatory skills and treatment techniques. 

Osteopathic physicians’ palpate different tissues of the body to determine where it’s restricted, where it’s not flowing. Our bodies have a lot of history that can affect anatomy- birth trauma, breastfeeding history, sports injuries, concussions, abuse, car accidents, and so forth.

The osteopathic inquiry focuses on “Why NOW, do individuals have complaints?”,  “Why do THEY have this specific complaint?” and “Why can’t the body resolve the issue on its own?”

Osteopathic physicians who practice OMT are applied anatomists. Meaning working within and through the anatomy! The structure! Structure and Function are interrelated! If the structure is “off”, the function is “off” as well. Bringing motion back to the structure, improves the functioning of physiological expression. If the structure is restricted, then the functioning of that region is affected. Function is the physiology— the lymph drainage, the blood flow, the toxin removal, and balance of the nervous system. 


For example, if one of our back vertebra was restricted, could we assume that its affecting the nerves and blood flow to and from it? Absolutely!! Osteopathic physicians have an immense background in anatomy, and understanding of how the immune system works through the anatomy and how the autonomic nervous system works through the anatomy. Manipulating tissue at restricted areas manipulates the functioning of the nervous system and immune system and helps the patient get to their optimal functioning. 

Only a handful of DOs who graduate each year continue to study, practice and use OMT. 

As a medical community, the scientific advancement of medical technology should not allow us to lose sight of the basics, our anatomical foundation- the WHOLE body. Maintaining our awareness on the whole body, while analyzing blood work and imaging is the goal. 

Osteopathy allows for HOLISTIC and individual evaluation of every patient. 


“First step in osteopathy is a belief in our own bodies”. Dr. A.T. Still

What is Cranial Osteopathy?

“Just as the lungs breathe and the heart beats, the central nervous system also has its own involuntary rhythmic motion. There is also movement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain, within the meninges. Because of the “blood brain barrier”, brain cells require circulation of the CSF so that all cells can receive nourishment and oxygen.

Osteopaths with specialty training in this area (the “cranial field”) work with the bones of the cranium, the fascial coverings (meninges), the fluids, and especially the central nervous system (the brain) to access the whole person, for both treatment of dysfunction and improvement of health. Sometimes called cranial osteopathy, it is an additional set of skills gained by osteopaths to better address the whole body.”

-Osteopathic Cranial Academy

Osteopathic Principles

  • Body is a unit

    The body is a unit composed of mind, body and spirit. Osteopathic physicians consider the whole person toward understanding the complex interrelationships of physiologic function.

  • Body is self-healing

    The body has an innate capacity to heal. It is capable of self-regulation, self-healing and maintenance. Osteopathic treatment is geared towards restoring and supporting the body’s self-healing.

  • Structure and Function

    Structure and function are interrelated, if the structure (anatomy) has restrictions, then the function (physiology) is compromised. Osteopathic physicians use OMM to observe and support the body’s restoration of structural integrity and return of healthy functioning. 

Osteopathic physicians understand that the relationship between structure and function applies to the whole body at a molecular and cellular level, within the tissue and gross anatomy.