What is OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment)?
The scope of Osteopathic Manipulative techniques focuses on the principle that body structure and function are dependent on one another. Osteopathic Manipulation Medicine takes many forms including myofacial release, counter-strain, muscle energy, cranial-osteopathy and high velocity thrust, just to mention a few. 

With the aid of manipulation techniques, the Osteopathic physician is able to influence all the tissues in the body including muscle joints, fascia, nerves, and blood supply.  Manipulation improves structural balance, including your circulation and nerve supply, helping your body to heal itself.  

Appointments - What you can Expect

Initial Visit
Your initial visit will last approximately 1.5 hours and will consist of a thorough history and physical examination.  Your completion of a history and pain diagram prior to your visit will hasten this process.  Appropriate lab work and x-rays may be ordered.  After evaluating our findings and determining your expectations, we will consider the treatment alternatives and determine the appropriate course of action.      

Subsequent Visits
Subsequent visits will be shorter and problem specific.  An interim history will be performed and appropriate treatment will be rendered.  We will discuss your treatment, including changes in your symptoms, new problems, restrictions and modifications, your level of participation in your care, diagnosis, prognosis and goals.

Patient Participation:
Patient participation is necessary and expected for your recovery.  Osteopathic Medicine only opens doors for the healing to take place.  You will need to be actively involved in your recovery.  You will be asked to stretch, exercise and make modifications appropriate for your condition.  Our working together provides for the optimal outcome.

Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was developed in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D. Dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th-century medicine, Dr. Still believed that many of the medications of his day were ineffective or even harmful. In response, he was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of good health in order to achieve a better understanding of the process of disease. 

 Dr. Still founded a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine. Dr. Still recognized the body's ability to heal itself and stressed preventive medicine, eating properly, and keeping fit. Based on this idea, he created a new medical science, which he ultimately named osteopathy, from the Greek words osteo, meaning bone, and pathos, which means suffering or disease. In 1892, Still founded the American School of Osteopathy, now the Kirksville (Missouri) College of Osteopathic Medicine.