Who benefits from Osteopathic
Manipulative Treatment (OMT)?

The short answer is everyone. Osteopathy is not only helpful to people experiencing pain, stiffness and organ dysfunction but also prevents disease and musculoskeletal injury by optimizing health. Osteopathy is helpful for all ages, from the first weeks of life to those amazing seniors who make it to their 100th birthday.

Neck & Back Pain

The most common cause of back and neck pain is musculoskeletal strain, ligamentous injury, and misalignment of the spine and pelvis.  Fascial strains from the extremities also contribute.   Unfortunately, many patients do not receive a detailed musculoskeletal, neurologic exam to evaluate their pain.   Many times radiologic evaluation does not include MRI when indicated or the findings on MRI do not correspond to the area of pain one is experiencing.  When severe neurologic injury is not present, patients should be evaluated by a physician who specializes in osteopathic medicine. Often pain can be reduced or eliminated with osteopathic manipulation and precise musculoskeletal injections.  

Findings on osteopathic evaluation will also help you decide if you need surgical intervention or if a less invasive approach to correct the underlying problem is indicated.  If a neurosurgeon has told you that there is no indication for surgical intervention, they are usually correct.  However, that does not mean you need to live in pain or accept the diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.  

In extreme situations, there may be a vertebral fracture, a vertebral tumor, or a disc herniation impinging on the large nerves exiting the spinal cord causing pain. Surgery is indicated for acute neurologic injury and should be pursued in that situation, particularly if muscle weakness, loss of skin sensation, perineal numbness, or bladder/ bowel incontinence is associated.

Patients that undergo surgery for herniated intervertebral discs causing compression on nerves often achieve resolution of the neurologic pain. However, the previous strain pattern and surgery itself can cause ligamentous spasm, scar tissue, muscle spasm that leaves the patient with a different type of chronic back pain. Spinal fusion will stabilize the vertebral segments that have been fused, however, the vertebral segments above and below the fusion can become unstable and painful. 

Osteopathic manipulation is an excellent adjunct to those who continue to have pain and stiffness following surgery. We will collaborate with your neurosurgeon, review pre and post surgical imaging, and will safely address the remaining musculoskeletal issues with osteopathic manipulation and specific musculoskeletal injections to spastic ligaments, muscles, and scar tissue causing your pain.

Chronic Headaches & Migraines

Headaches and Migraines create significant impairment of daily activities for many people. Often they are caused by musculoskeletal strain in the cervical, occipital, and upper thoracic regions.  Other times they are due to triggers such as inflammatory agents in ones diet, stress, insomnia, menstrual cycle, etc. Many have migraines from strains and restrictions around the eyes, ears, and facial regions, particularly if there are anatomic abnormalities, recent trauma or dental surgery.  

Often osteopathic manipulation of the thoracic, cervical, and cranial regions can provide significant reduction in the frequency, intensity, and duration of headaches and migraines. Craniosacral osteopathy will  balance the bones and tissue strain of your head.  In some circumstances, occipital nerve blocks can help as well.

Post Surgical Pain

Many people suffer from post surgical pain and complications.  Unfortunately, many of the diagnostic testing and specialists are unable to help because the problem lies deep in the musculoskeletal system supporting the spine, throat, diaphragm, as well as abdominal and pelvic organs.   

Many women experience pain and incontinence of urine and stool following gynecologic surgery or vaginal birth.  This is because the pelvic ligaments, sacral plexus, pudendal nerve, and pelvic diaphragm become strained or injured

Many people with pain after abdominal surgery suffer from adhesions and scar tissues restricting the movement of the colon, small intestine, liver, etc.  

Those who have pain after Neurosurgery or Orthopedic surgery often have the initial problem fixed but the trauma of the original injury and the trauma of the surgery permits unrelenting musculoskeletal pain from strained ligaments, muscles, and newly formed scar tissue.  

If you are experiencing unrelenting pain or issues with incontinence more than 6 weeks after surgery.  Please call us for a consultation.  We will discuss your case with your surgeon and make sure we treat your symptoms safely and collaboratively.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Mothers

During pregnancy there are many changes that occur in the body due to hormonal changes and the growing womb.  Often women develop nausea, low back pain, upper back pain, abdominal/pelvic pain, difficulty breathing, emotional stress, and insomnia.  Treat yourself and your baby kindly.  Let us releive your pain and stress and get your mind and pelvis ready for your big day.   

Following childbirth ( as well as hysterectomy surgery) there is often trauma that causes strain throughout the pelvic ligaments, pelvic floor muscles and low back. Symptoms after child birth range from pain and discomfort to incontinence of urine or stool. Osteopathic manipulation can help all of these issues above and is safe for you and your baby.  
 

Newborns & Infants

Newborns and Infants often have issues with skull deformity, torticollis, shoulder dystocia, constipation, gastric reflux and problems suckling due to neck strain and occipital compression during their departure from the birth canal. All babies are born having been compressed in the same position for several months then experience the trauma of childbirth.    

Osteopathy can help correct the body strains experienced during this time before they become chronic and predispose your child to developmental delays, scoliosis, GI disturbances, and musculoskeletal injuries.

Autoimmune/ Rheumatologic Disease

Many patients with inflammatory autoimmune disorders suffer from joint pain, fascial strain and depression from their illness.  Patients benefit from increased lymphatic drainage of these inflammatory agents and also from improved blood flow and oxygenation to tissues.

Many who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis and mixed connective tissue disorders develop musculoskeletal strain, just as the rest of us do.  Unfortunately, this pain is often attributed to their underlying rheumatologic disorder and the patient is treated with increased doses of prednisone and other disease modifying agents.    

An osteopathic examination can identify whether the inflammation and pain you are experiencing is due to a musculoskeletal strain or from your underlying inflammatory disease.  We can optimize your body’s condition and promote lymphatic drainage to release inflammatory agents.  Often we can reduce the amount of medications required to treat your illness.

Chronic Respiratory Issues

Osteopathic medicine is exceptional in its treatment of respiratory infections, asthma, and COPD. We are able to balance the autonomic nervous system to promote dilation of the bronchi and bronchioles (air tubes) and thinning of secretions. Mobilization of restricted ribs and freeing the diaphragm improves the volume of air taken with each breath, reduces the work of breathing and promotes lymphatic drainage of inflammatory agents.

Additional areas we can help with​

  • Shoulder, elbow, wrist pain
  • Hip, knee, and ankle pain
  • Post Stroke pain, weakness, facial droop
  • Chronic sinus and ear problems
  • Facial Nerve Paralysis

Techniques we use at our facility

Biodynamic Osteopathy & Cranial Osteopathy

 Biodynamic Osteopathy promotes the vitality and energy of the body to reach areas in need of healing. It also rebalances the autonomic nervous system.

Cranial Osteopathy is helpful for correcting intra-cranial strains and misalignment that may arise from birth, physical trauma, dental surgery, etc.   It is very helpful for stress, headaches, restoration, sinus and ear congestion, TMJ, skull deformities.

HVLA Articulatory
Technique

This technique is used to mobilize joints that are held in an incorrect position due to injury or repetitive strain.

This technique is very specific and often liberates ligamentous tension and nerve compression arising from the spine, pelvis, or extremities. Often the mobilization of potential energy within the restricted area is released providing a “pop” or “crack.”

Musculoskeletal
Injection

Injections of nerve blocking agents, homeopathic agents, or corticosteroids may provide appreciable pain relief

and stop the vicious cycle of pain, spasm, inflammation. 

Often injections are used as an adjunct for stubborn areas of severe strain, joint pain, or serious acute ligamentous injuries.

Counterstrain

An indirect technique of relaxing spastic muscles and ligaments by reseting the neurologic connection with the brain and the spindle fiber of the tissue

Muscle Energy

Tissues are moved toward the restrictive barrier and then a specific isometric contraction against resistance is utilized to increase range of motion and stretch congested tense muscles

Myofascial Release

Gentle massage used with compression or traction to encourage relaxation of muscles and fascia

Balanced Ligamentous Tension & Facilitated Positional Release

Balances the tension of ligaments and fascia surrounding each joint for optimal motion and support.

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