Osteopathic Manual Medicine

Santa Cruz Osteopathic

Richard Bernstein, D.O.

Osteopathic Physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation located in Capitola, CA

Cookie-cutter medical care that only treats your immediate symptoms discounts the essential connections among all the parts and systems within your body. Osteopathic physician, Richard Bernstein, D.O., at Santa Cruz Osteopathic in Capitola, California -- looks at the whole person to diagnose, prevent, and treat illness and injury. He uses nonsurgical hands-on manipulative treatment to encourage the body’s natural healing process. To learn more about the benefits of Osteopathic Manual Medicine, schedule an appointment online or by phone today.

Osteopathic Manual Medicine Q & A

What is Osteopathic Manual Medicine?

Osteopathic Manual Medicine is a branch of health care that treats the body as a system of interconnected parts, always working together to heal itself from illness. An osteopathic physician looks beyond your immediate aggravating symptoms to consider your larger, overall health picture to arrive at a diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan.

Osteopathic Medicine is rooted in science and technology, but also incorporates complementary treatment methods as alternatives to drugs and surgery. This gives men, women, and children more options at their disposal for greater health and well being.

What makes an osteopathic physician different than other types of doctors?

Osteopathic physicians, or D.O.'s, are different than other types of doctors because they:

  • Consider environmental and lifestyle factors impacting your health
  • Constitute one of the fastest-growing segments in healthcare
  • Encourage the body’s ability to heal itself
  • Focus on prevention
  • Listen to patients needs and concerns above all
  • Practice nearly every medical specialty
  • Complement medication and surgery with alternative treatment options
  • Use hands-on Osteopathic Manual Treatment to promote healing

What is osteopathic manipulation?

D.O.'s have additional specialized training in Osteopathic Manual Treatment (OMT). OMT is a form of hands-on manual therapy used to treat local muscle pain and many other conditions. D.O.'s know that structure influences function, and by normalizing the structure of some regions of the body, conditions and symptoms can improve.

Dr. Bernstein performs an extensive health assessment and osteopathic examination to determine the best treatment approach. Osteopathic Manual Treatment employs a wide variety of techniques involving the entire body, not just the site of pain and illness. Your exam and treatment take an hour or more. OMT is painless and noninvasive.

Osteopathic Manual Treatment helps musculoskeletal conditions, like low back pain. But it also treats conditions impacting a variety of bodily systems including:

  • Respiratory
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Hormonal
  • Neurological
  • Immunological

To work with a doctor who truly listens and treats illness and injury holistically, call or click to schedule an appointment at Santa Cruz Osteopathic today.