“Anatomy is taught in our school more thoroughly than in any other school, because we want the student to carry a living picture of all or any part of the body in his mind, as an artist carries the mental picture of the face, scenery, beast, or any thing that he wishes to represent by his brush. I constantly urge my students to keep their minds full of pictures of the normal body." Still, A.T., The Philosophy and Mechanical Principles of Osteopathy, Introduction. (p. 9).
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
What To Expect During a Treatment
Initial visits can last up to one hour and follow-up visits up to 40 minutes. After a thorough history is obtained, the patient receives an Osteopathic structural and functional examination. The patient is then treated and at times the patient may be asked to change positions or to participate in some way in the treatment process. Accommodations are made to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
On occasion, different techniques or modalities may be used, based on what the osteopathic physician feels is most appropriate for the patient at that time. These may include indirect techniques and direct techniques. Regardless of the specific techniques used, the principles upon which the treatment is based do not change. The osteopathic physician is using structure to address function, looking for the health within the patient, and working to support the innate capacity for healing within. There are rare contraindications to the use of Osteopathic treatment, and the physician is knowledgable about choosing particular techniques and developing a treatment plan that is appropriate for the individual patient based upon his/her condition or preferences.
The physician may make contact with areas of the body that the patient does not associate with injury or pain, including the feet, tailbone, and head. The osteopathic physician recognizes that the body needs to be assessed and treated as a whole because of fluid and tissue continuity. During the treatments, the patient may sense a deep state of relaxation (sometimes resulting in sleep), a wide range of other feelings and sensations, or may feel nothing at all. The patient’s perceptions during treatment do not necessarily equate with the body’s capacity for a beneficial treatment response.
What To Wear to a Treatment
Patients are treated fully clothed, except for shoes. Comfortable, loose fitting clothing is recommended. For modesty, pants are preferred over skirts and dresses. Refrain from perfumes and strong fragrances, as some of the other patients are chemically sensitive. It helps to be as relaxed as possible before a treatment, so please refrain from consuming stimulants such as coffee and nicotine 3 hours before the treatment.
What To Do After a Treatment
Because Osteopathic treatment alters the dynamics of tensions held by the tissues and fluids, it is recommended that patients “take it easy” for the first two to three days after each treatment. In other words, get adequate rest, limit high impact or intense work-outs (no bungee jumping or tabata), avoid excessive alcohol or caffeine, and keep well hydrated with water. The osteopathic physician may give other recommendations that are specific for the individual patient.
What To Expect After a Treatment
Typically, patients feel very relaxed and peaceful after a treatment. Occasionally patients experience one or two days of feeling tired or mildly sore. This is normal and can indicate that the treatment process is continuing and that the injury pattern or dysfunction is starting to heal. The time it takes one to heal is dependent on many factors, but in general, the more chronic the issue, the longer it may take. Expect to see some signs of improvement within the first 3 treatments.
Osteopathic Care As Part Of A Complete Treatment Program
Osteopathic physicians collaborate with other members of the health care team (other physician specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, counselors, etc.) as needed. As part of the overall treatment plan, the osteopathic physician may also recommend any of a variety of other healthcare modalities such as: dietary changes, nutritional supplements, medications, and therapeutic exercises.
It is also preferable, although not absolutely necessary, to schedule other types of constitutional treatments, such as massage, acupuncture, PT, OT, and homeopathy, more than 72 hours after Osteopathic treatments. The reason for this recommendation is that the normal healing process takes about 72 hours to fully mature, so this timing allows the system adequate time to fully respond to each treatment before the next is introduced.
What To Expect During a Treatment
Initial visits can last up to one hour and follow-up visits up to 40 minutes. After a thorough history is obtained, the patient receives an Osteopathic structural and functional examination. The patient is then treated and at times the patient may be asked to change positions or to participate in some way in the treatment process. Accommodations are made to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
On occasion, different techniques or modalities may be used, based on what the osteopathic physician feels is most appropriate for the patient at that time. These may include indirect techniques and direct techniques. Regardless of the specific techniques used, the principles upon which the treatment is based do not change. The osteopathic physician is using structure to address function, looking for the health within the patient, and working to support the innate capacity for healing within. There are rare contraindications to the use of Osteopathic treatment, and the physician is knowledgable about choosing particular techniques and developing a treatment plan that is appropriate for the individual patient based upon his/her condition or preferences.
The physician may make contact with areas of the body that the patient does not associate with injury or pain, including the feet, tailbone, and head. The osteopathic physician recognizes that the body needs to be assessed and treated as a whole because of fluid and tissue continuity. During the treatments, the patient may sense a deep state of relaxation (sometimes resulting in sleep), a wide range of other feelings and sensations, or may feel nothing at all. The patient’s perceptions during treatment do not necessarily equate with the body’s capacity for a beneficial treatment response.
What To Wear to a Treatment
Patients are treated fully clothed, except for shoes. Comfortable, loose fitting clothing is recommended. For modesty, pants are preferred over skirts and dresses. Refrain from perfumes and strong fragrances, as some of the other patients are chemically sensitive. It helps to be as relaxed as possible before a treatment, so please refrain from consuming stimulants such as coffee and nicotine 3 hours before the treatment.
What To Do After a Treatment
Because Osteopathic treatment alters the dynamics of tensions held by the tissues and fluids, it is recommended that patients “take it easy” for the first two to three days after each treatment. In other words, get adequate rest, limit high impact or intense work-outs (no bungee jumping or tabata), avoid excessive alcohol or caffeine, and keep well hydrated with water. The osteopathic physician may give other recommendations that are specific for the individual patient.
What To Expect After a Treatment
Typically, patients feel very relaxed and peaceful after a treatment. Occasionally patients experience one or two days of feeling tired or mildly sore. This is normal and can indicate that the treatment process is continuing and that the injury pattern or dysfunction is starting to heal. The time it takes one to heal is dependent on many factors, but in general, the more chronic the issue, the longer it may take. Expect to see some signs of improvement within the first 3 treatments.
Osteopathic Care As Part Of A Complete Treatment Program
Osteopathic physicians collaborate with other members of the health care team (other physician specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, counselors, etc.) as needed. As part of the overall treatment plan, the osteopathic physician may also recommend any of a variety of other healthcare modalities such as: dietary changes, nutritional supplements, medications, and therapeutic exercises.
It is also preferable, although not absolutely necessary, to schedule other types of constitutional treatments, such as massage, acupuncture, PT, OT, and homeopathy, more than 72 hours after Osteopathic treatments. The reason for this recommendation is that the normal healing process takes about 72 hours to fully mature, so this timing allows the system adequate time to fully respond to each treatment before the next is introduced.