Osteopathic Manipulation

What is osteopathic manipulation?

Osteopathic manipulation is a type of treatment that uses the hands to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease or injury. This approach uses stretching as well as gentle pressure and resistance to improve tissue balance, muscle mechanics, and joint motion in order to relieve pain or dysfunction in your body.

The techniques used to perform osteopathic manipulation range from gentle palpations to rapid, high-pressure adjustments.

Common osteopathic manipulation techniques include:

• Cranial-sacral
• Counterstrain
• Myofascial release
• Lymphatic pump

Dr. Spiegel offers a wide range of osteopathic manipulation techniques, including soft-tissue osteopathic manipulation.

What conditions can osteopathic manipulation treat?

While osteopathic manipulation is typically used to treat pain, it can also promote healing and increase mobility in your body.

Specific treatments that respond to osteopathic manipulation include:

• Asthma
• Low back pain
• Ear and sinus issues
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Migraines or headaches
• Pain associated with menstruation

Osteopathic manipulation can also ease symptoms associated with chronic diseases and reduce hospital recovery times.

What are the benefits of osteopathic manipulation?

The gentle nature of osteopathic manipulation makes it a beneficial treatment for men, women, and children of all ages — including newborns and seniors — and it comes without negative side effects that you might experience with medication or surgery.

Osteopathic manipulation also:

• Restores balance in tissue and muscles
• Eliminates joint restriction and improves alignment
• Encourages movement of body fluids to increase joint lubrication
• Addresses tissue and structural abnormalities in a noninvasive way

In addition, osteopathic manipulation can reduce your need for medication or surgery.

What can I expect during osteopathic manipulation?

Your specific osteopathic manipulation treatment depends on your unique condition. To evaluate your condition, Dr. Spiegel reviews your symptoms and examines the physical health of your ligaments, joints, and tissues using his hands. He might also ask you to make specific movements so he can evaluate your posture and mobility.

During your treatment, Dr. Spiegel has you sit or lay down on a table. Using his hands, he applies a specific amount of pressure targeted in a particular direction. During osteopathic manipulation, he applies pressure to the affected area or nearby. This method of using pressure either engages your tissue or relaxes it.

Dr. Spiegel explains his manipulations while he works to keep you comfortable and relaxed during your appointment.

To see how osteopathic manipulation can improve your health, call Osteopathic Center for Healing or schedule an appointment online.