Osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) is a treatment approach used by doctors of osteopathy, such as Dr. Spiegel here at the Osteopathic Center for Healing. It involves the doctor using his hands to manipulate your muscles and joints.
Here are seven facts about OMT that may surprise you.
Integrative medicine is an approach to healing that involves considering you as a whole person, rather than simply looking at your symptoms. For example, when Dr. Spiegel suggests a treatment plan for you, he’s taking your lifestyle, medical history, goals, and your illness or condition into account.
When a treatment is described as evidence-based, it means that there have been high-quality clinical studies that found a particular treatment or drug to be effective under controlled conditions.
OMT is both integrative and evidence-based. When Dr. Spiegel performs OMT, he’s using a treatment method of your musculoskeletal system that involves your whole body and that has been studied and found to be effective.
Dr. Spiegel, and other doctors of osteopathy, work to influence both the structures of your body and their functions to help you achieve optimal health overall. OMT is a type of integrative medicine which is based on evidence and is patient-centered.
Although OMT treats your musculoskeletal system, it can be used to address issues that are not directly related to your muscles, bones, or nerves. Some of the conditions OMT can help with include:
Certain patients are limited in their treatment options. For example, women in the third trimester of pregnancy have few safe options for pain relief. However, OMT is safe even for that population.
If you have conditions that may limit your options when it comes to pain relief, OMT may be an appropriate approach.
Just as OMT is appropriate for some people who may not be able to tolerate other forms of treatment, it’s also safe and effective regardless of age. Even newborns and the very elderly can benefit from OMT.
Low back pain, especially when it lasts for six weeks or more, is notoriously difficult to treat. In a recent study, OMT was shown to reduce pain and improve function for patients with nonspecific, chronic low back pain. The same study found that the worse the pain and disability, the greater the benefit from OMT.
One study analyzed the results of several previous studies to determine how effective OMT is in reducing low back pain. That analysis found that patients who received OMT instead of some other treatment had a 30% reduction in pain.
If you’re ready to explore your options for treatment, and you like the idea of a treatment plan that is tailored specifically for you and that takes your whole situation into consideration, come in to our office in Rockville, Maryland. Book your appointment with Dr. Spiegel online or by phone to discuss a hands-on OMT approach to healing your issue.
