Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (OMT) is a non-invasive therapy used to diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of pain and health conditions. Instead of focusing on just your symptoms, this whole-person treatment approach helps you identify and address the root causes of your problems so you can experience long-term relief and better overall health.
Continue reading to learn more about OMT and how to contact Lompoc Valley Medical Center if you or your loved one is interested in this safe and effective holistic medical treatment.
Osteopathic doctors practice OMT. Osteopathy is a medical specialty that focuses on improving your overall health physically, physiologically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Osteopathic doctors can recognize and understand how your nerves, muscles, bones, and organs work together and how one particular health problem can trigger a slew of other problems.
Osteopathy is a natural, non-invasive form of medicine that restores balance in your body and promotes healing without drugs and medications. However, sometimes osteopathy may be used as a complement to conventional medical treatments to help you recover from certain health conditions.
OMT is a manual, hands-on treatment that manipulates your soft tissues, muscles, and joints to encourage and stimulate your body’s natural healing process. This treatment has the ability to reduce your pain, improve bodily functions, and restore structural balance to your entire body. It also helps ensure your muscles and bones are properly aligned and balanced.
OMT uses various manual techniques, including massage, stretching, resistance, and pressure application. There are at least 40 techniques used in OMT. Common OMT techniques include:
Your doctor will customize your OMT treatment as needed to improve your body’s overall functioning and determine how often you need treatment based on your condition and how you respond to treatment. In some instances, your doctor may recommend combining other treatments with OMT.
Many health conditions can be effectively treated with OMT, though back pain is one of the most commonly treated conditions.
OMT can be used to treat:
If your health condition is not listed above, ask your doctor whether it can be treated with OMT. OMT may not cure or resolve all medical conditions, especially irreversible conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and scoliosis. However, OMT may be able to improve symptoms related to these conditions.
Many of the manipulation techniques used in OMT are similar to those used by chiropractors. However, there are key differences between OMT and chiropractic care.
Like osteopathic doctors, chiropractors focus on joints and bones. However, OMT focuses on preventing and treating health problems that affect the entire body instead of only the joints and bones.
Doctors who practice OMT are medical doctors who have completed medical school and medical residency. At the same time, chiropractors require fewer hours of education at a chiropractic college and are not considered medical doctors. Additionally, osteopathic doctors who perform OMT use far more manipulation techniques than chiropractors.
OMT offers a countless number of benefits due to how it can improve your overall health as opposed to just a few symptoms or one single medical condition. OMT helps your entire body function better as a whole. Below are some of the most significant benefits associated with OMT.
OMT is a non-invasive treatment that produces no side effects. Mild soreness for a day or two is common and normal after OMT, though pain is not. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any pain following your OMT session.
OMT appointments typically last longer than appointments with your primary care doctor because they focus on every single aspect of your health versus just your symptoms. Your doctor will usually begin by asking you about your medical history and the health conditions you want to be treated with OMT. Then, your doctor will perform a physical examination to evaluate your nerves, bones, and muscles.
During manipulation therapy, you may stand, sit, or lie down on an exam table, depending on the areas of your body being treated. Your doctor will then use one or more OMT techniques to work and treat your muscles and soft tissues.
You may be asked to hold your breath at specific times during OMT, and some techniques may feel strange or slightly awkward. However, OMT should not produce any pain. Inform your doctor immediately if any of the techniques they’re using are causing you to experience any level of pain or discomfort.
OMT requires very little preparation. However, it may help make a list of your health concerns, including your symptoms, as your doctor will review your medical history and ask you a series of questions about your problems.
Your doctor may also ask you about your lifestyle behaviors related to nutrition, exercise, and sleep and about the state of your mood and mental health. OMT focuses on whole-person health. Therefore, your answers to these questions can help your doctor identify the root causes of your ailments. For example, a diet high in sugar and fats could be contributing to headaches and fatigue. Be prepared to discuss topics such as these when you arrive for your appointment.
Additionally, some doctors may ask that you undergo other tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray before your OMT appointment. Confirm whether you need certain tests before starting OMT.
Everyone responds to OMT differently. Some people experience relief right away, while others gradually feel relief over several days or weeks. In addition, some people may feel exhausted after their appointments, while others may feel highly energetic and refreshed. These effects occur as a result of your body adjusting to the changes made during OMT.
Your doctor will explain what to expect following your OMT appointment. You may be instructed to drink plenty of water to help flush toxins released from your muscles into your bloodstream during manipulation therapy. Your doctor may also instruct you to go for a brief walk to help your body properly adjust and balance itself.
Most patients can resume their usual activities after 24 hours or after their soreness has resolved within a few days. Your doctor may recommend using a heat pack or cold pack to relieve soreness or to perform gentle stretching and other forms of mild exercise. Ask your doctor when it’s appropriate for you to resume activities based on your health and recovery status.
OMT can benefit anyone of any age who wants to improve their overall health and stimulate their body’s natural healing ability. In addition, OMT can benefit people with chronic conditions, including pain, heart disease, kidney disease, and people who sleep poorly or suffer from sleep disorders. OMT can also benefit women experiencing pregnancy-related side effects and infants suffering from colic.
OMT is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid using medications and surgery to address their health problems and avoid long hospital stays, downtime, and recovery associated with more invasive medical procedures.
OMT may not be ideal for people who have acute injuries or are at an increased risk of bleeding. Ask your doctor whether OMT is safe for you based on your current health and medical conditions.
We offer OMT and many other noninvasive healthcare services and treatments. Check our one of our providers below to make an appointment and learn more about our many available healthcare services for you and your family.
