OMT is an abbreviation for Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy.  What exactly is OMT?

The idea that your body can heal itself is nothing new. However, the trend of incorporating natural pain relief into traditional medical care seems to be on the rise as medical studies prove the benefits of using alternative therapies to treat health conditions.

If you’ve researched “natural pain relief”, you may have come across a description of osteopathic manipulation, a treatment used in osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy, or OMT, is a type of manual therapy that uses physical contact to heal the body and correct faulty function of the musculoskeletal system.

And you don’t want your musculoskeletal system to be out of whack.

Your musculoskeletal system is what allows your body to move. It provides stability, form, and movement of the human body. OMT incorporates various techniques applied to this very important system, including the joints, their surrounding soft tissues, muscles and fascia (tissue that provides support and protection).

OMT is performed right in your doctor’s office where conventional medicine is practiced. While OMT is traditionally ascribed to DO’s (or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine), there are MD practitioners who are certified in this practice as well. Many osteopathic medical schools have created training programs for their MD counterparts.

Osteopathic manipulation is intended to be used in conjunction with conventional medical treatments where it is deemed appropriate. It is rarely used as a primary treatment regimen unless your problems are a result of musculoskeletal somatic dysfunction, meaning you have reversible altered functioning of the musculoskeletal system.

Can you benefit from OMT?

Osteopathic manipulation can help people of all ages and backgrounds. It has a number of different uses, including easing pain, promoting healing, and increasing mobility.

The following results regarding the effectiveness of OMT were reported by the NYU Lagone Center:

Neck Pain

In a study of 183 people with neck pain , use of osteopathic methods provided greater benefits than standard physical therapy or general medical care. 12 Participants receiving OMT showed faster recovery and experienced fewer days off work. OMT appeared to be less expensive overall than the other two approaches.

Shoulder Pain

In a 14-week, single-blind study of 29 elderly people with shoulder pain , real OMT proved more effective than placebo OMT.  Although participants in both groups improved, those in the treated group showed relatively greater increase in range of motion in the shoulder. And, in a larger study of 150 adults with shoulder complaints, researchers found that adding manipulative therapy to usual care improved shoulder and neck pain at 12 weeks.

Tendonitis

In a small randomized, placebo-controlled trial researchers used oscillating-energy manual therapy, an osteopathic technique based on the principle of craniosacral therapy, to treat 23 subjects with chronic tendonitis of the elbow (tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis). Subjects in the treatment group showed significant improvement in grip strength, pain intensity, function, and activity limitation due to pain.

Back Pain

OMT has shown some promise for the treatment of back pain, 4,5 including a randomized trial of 455 patients. The trial assessed the effects of 6 OMT sessions over 8 weeks compared to sham treatments. At 12 weeks, OMT was associated with moderate or substantial pain reduction compared to sham OMT. OMT also reduced the use of prescription pain medications.

This information is compliments of:

WASHINGTON MEDICAL

DR. ROBERT LABACZEWSKI AND DR. DOMINIC LAGANELLA

DR. JOHN ASHBY, PMR

EBENEZER OGUNTUASE, PT

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