Osteopathic Manipulative therapy is a method used to treat different kinds of orthopedic related problems like for instance lower back pain. It is considered to be an effective method of treatment for chronic back pain patients. There are different types of Osteopathic treatment you might consider that will provide back pain relief.
Osteopathic medicine believes in treating the total body when providing treatment to a patient for medical problems. This form of medicine has an appreciation for the interrelationships between the systems of the body to maintain proper health, prevent illness, and disease. Osteopathic medicine was founded in 1874 and the first school for this type of medicine opened in 1892 in Kirksville, Missouri. This is the fastest growing type of medical treatment field in the United States. This type of treatment is already officially recognized by many states.
A DO is a doctor of osteopathic medicine. The schooling required to become a DO requires a four year undergraduate degree, four years of medical school, and three additional years or residency training. There are over 64% of DO´s that are primary care physicians. They are trained to work in this medical field and they believe that the techniques work. The difference between an actual MD and a DO is that a DO practices conventional medicine and ‘hands on’ treatment. A DO has received the training in the ‘hands on’ diagnosis and treatment to be able to practice manipulation with their patients. A DO has extra knowledge in treating patient ailments.
Osteopathic manipulation believes by restoring the body to the normal functions through systems of evaluation and treatment designed for treatment. Manipulation is defined as the application of therapeutic manual pressures and force. Some people get an OMT confused with a chiropractor but the two are very different. Chiropractors focus on realigning the joints. A DO believes structure problems in the spine can affect nerves that radiate to organs in the body causing disease. Many of the disorders a DO will treat are issues like lower back pain, neck pain, stress injuries, and certain headaches.
There are many different types of OMT used by doctors. Many of the techniques include soft tissue, muscle energy, thrust, and counter strain techniques. The soft tissue technique is the use of applying pressure to the muscles around the spine consisting of rhythmic stretching back pain exercises, deep pressure, and traction. The muscle energy technique directs the patient to use their muscles from a certain position and direction against a counterforce the doctor applies. The thrust technique uses high velocity forces designed to restore the motion to a specific joint. This will reduce or eliminate signs of changes in the tissues, asymmetry, and restricted movement and tenderness. Some people call this the ‘cracking’ technique of OMT. When a patient has an acute injury then a DO will use the counter strain technique moving the patient away from a position that motion is restricted to increased comfort.
When you seek treatment from a DO you should expect a different type of treatment then what you are expecting from your normal physician. If you are seeking back pain relief because you have problems with chronic back pain then you should be prepared for a ‘hands on’ approach by your doctor. The DO will perform a complete physical and medical history, order X-rays and possibly other diagnostic tests that might help them take a look at your spine. The doctor will then develop a treatment plan based on what they see. The first exam will take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour and the treatment plan appointments will take only around 15 minutes for each visit. The short visits are because they will use the ‘hands on’ treatment methods to treat your condition rather than prescribe drugs.
Certain people should see or seek osteopathic therapy techniques. If you have been diagnosed with things like bone cancer, bone or joint infection, spinal fusion, or osteoporosis then you should not seek medical attention from a DO. They are designed to help patients with chronic back pain and you should ask your primary care physician what is right for you.
One of the benefits to seeking back pain relief from osteopathic manipulation is that there are no side effects associated with the treatment. You might be a little sore for a few days after you seek treatment but that will be it. The soreness will vary from patient to patient and depending on the technique the physician decides to use on you for your problem.
When you seek the treatment of a DO they might perform certain back pain exercises and techniques on you that will help. Doctors of osteopathic medicine are qualified physicians with even more medical expertise and education than some other doctors. You should feel perfectly comfortable and know your back pain will soon be a thing of the past.
Tags: ower back pain, lower back pain exercises, lower back pain relief, chronic back pai | ower back pain, lower back pain exercises, lower back pain relief, chronic back pai
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 10:55 am and is filed under Health and wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.