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5 Benefits of Osteopathic Manipulation
Osteopathic manipulation, also known as osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) or osteopathic manual manipulation (OMM), is a form of hands-on therapy often used to treat musculoskeletal conditions but can also handle problems related to other bodily systems. OMM restores balance to bones and muscles and allows your entire body to work better as a whole.
At Santa Cruz Osteopathic in Capitola, California, osteopathic physician Dr. Richard Bernstein takes a holistic approach to the body, its diseases, and its injuries. He focuses on the “whole person” to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness and injury, using nonsurgical, hands-on OMM to encourage the body’s natural healing process. Here’s what he wants you to know about the benefits of osteopathic manipulation.
What is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO)?
Osteopathic medicine was established in the late 1800s in Kirksville, Missouri, by a physician who became aware that the medical practices of that time often caused patients more harm than good. He developed a system of hands-on medical care that promoted the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine believe that all bodily systems work together and affect each other. Also known as osteopaths, these doctors view the body, mind, and spirit as integral parts of one larger, interconnected system. While DOs have special training in healing the musculoskeletal system, they’re licensed to treat the full complement of health conditions in all 50 states.
DOs don’t just treat symptoms; they dig to find the root cause of your symptoms and treat that to promote better overall health. To accomplish this, they evaluate your:
- Activity level and exercise habits
- Diet
- Lifestyle and environment
- Physical and mental health
- Stress levels
- Sleep habits
Each can give clues about what ails you and help with an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
A DO uses OMM to move a patient’s muscles and joints using stretching, gentle pressure, and resistance, among other techniques, restoring structural balance and creating a healing environment.
What conditions can OMM treat?
Osteopathic manual manipulation is often used for back pain relief, but it can treat many other conditions, including:
- Breathing issues, such as asthma and sinus infections
- Bowel issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation
- Chronic pain, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps, and migraine
- Joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Pregnancy problems, such as edema, insomnia, and sciatica
5 benefits of osteopathic manipulation
OMM has a number of benefits, and here are the top five:
- Can help people regardless of age or background
- Eases pain, promotes healing, and increases overall mobility
- Restores muscle and tissue balance
- Improves nerve signaling and promotes increased blood flow throughout the body
- Can complement, and sometimes even replace, pharmaceuticals or surgery
If you’re looking for a way to restore whole-body health, osteopathic manual manipulation may be just the thing to bring your physical and mental processes back into balance. Give Santa Cruz Osteopathic a call at 831-464-1605 to set up a consultation with Dr. Bernstein, or book online with us today.
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