231 lines
10 KiB
XML
231 lines
10 KiB
XML
import Article from "@/components/Article";
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const ArticleOsteopathicManipulativeTreatment = () => {
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return (
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<Article
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title="Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment"
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author="Richard A. Feely, D.O., FAAO, FCA, FAAMA"
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>
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<p>
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In an era marked by medical advances, from state-of-the-art surgery to
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the newest prescription medication, what unique tool will osteopathic
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physicians use? Their hands.
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</p>
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<p>
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Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) provide you with all the best that
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medicine has to offer. They can specialize in any recognized area of
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medicine, from pediatrics to neurosurgery. However, their knowledge and
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use of the latest medical technology is complemented by their
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application of a hands-on treatment tool known as osteopathic
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manipulative treatment, or OMT.
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</p>
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<p>
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Using OMT, D.O.s bring an added dimension to healthcare, in the form of
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a non-invasive treatment. D.O.s use OMT to diagnose, treat and even
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prevent illness or injury. When appropriate it can be used in
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conjunction with, or in place of, medication or surgery.
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</p>
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<h2>Unique Philosophy</h2>
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<p>
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D.O.s are widely recognized for their incorporation of manipulative
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medicine into their spectrum of care. OMT is just one element of the
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unique philosophy of osteopathic medicine.
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</p>
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<h2>The Big Picture</h2>
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<p>
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By taking the whole person approach to care, D.O.s don’t just focus on
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the disease or injury. They look for the underlying causes of disease
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instead of simply treating the symptoms. Not only do they consider your
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physical condition, but also they take other factors into account like
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home, work and family life when making a diagnosis.
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</p>
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<p>Patient, Heal Thyself</p>
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<p>
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D.O.s recognize that the body is inherently capable of healing itself,
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though it must constantly fight physical, emotional and nutritional
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“stressors” to maintain a state of wellness. D.O.s believe in educating
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you about good health and prevention of disease.
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</p>
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<h2>The Musculoskeletal System</h2>
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<p>
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D.O.s place particular emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, which
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comprises two-thirds of the body’s mass. D.O.s believe that all of the
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body’s systems, including the musculoskeletal system, work together and
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that disturbances in one system may impact function elsewhere in the
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body. This understanding of body structure and function provides the
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foundation for the osteopathic approach to medicine.
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</p>
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<h2>The ABC’s of OMT and How It Can Work for You</h2>
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<p>
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OMT is predicated upon your D.O.’s knowledge of medicine. Once your D.O.
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has ruled out mechanical causes for your illness or injury (through
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blood and urine testing, X-rays, etc.), and based upon physical and
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mechanical findings, your D.O. may decide to utilize OMT. While it is
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commonly associated with physical ailments such as low back pain, this
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modality can also be used to relieve the discomfort or musculoskeletal
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abnormality associated with a number of disorders, including: asthma,
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sinus disorder, carpal tunnel, migraines and menstrual pain.
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</p>
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<p>
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The osteopathic approach to treating many diseases includes medication
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and/or surgical intervention, plus OMT. OMT can relieve muscle pain
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associated with a disease and can hasten your recovery from illness by
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promoting blood flow through tissues.
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</p>
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<h2>Diagnosis</h2>
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<p>
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Your structural exam will begin with an assessment of your posture,
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spine and balance. Your D.O. will then use his fingers to palpate your
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back and extremities. Your D.O. will then use his fingers to palpate
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your back and extremities. He will also check your joints for
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restriction and/or pain during motion as well as check your muscles,
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tendons and ligaments where tenderness can signal a problem. Through
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extensive osteopathic training in manipulative medicine, D.O.s can
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detect changes in tissue, however small, that signal injury or
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impairment.
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</p>
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<p>
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Once the structural exam is complete, your D.O. will integrate this
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information with your medical history and a complete physical exam.
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After that point, a treatment plan can be established.
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</p>
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<h2>Treatment</h2>
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<p>
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Using a variety of OMT techniques, your D.O. will apply manual forces to
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your body’s affected areas to treat structural abnormalities and will
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then apply specific corrective forces to relieve joint restrictions and
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misalignments. Based upon the severity of your problem, you may require
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more than one treatment.
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</p>
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<h2>Case 1</h2>
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<p>
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Mary visited her D.O. complaining of a sharp pain in her side. The
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physician asked a series of questions about her pain: its intensity,
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onset and duration. They also discussed her medical history. The
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physician then ordered a series of tests to determine whether the pain
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was caused by disease (i.e. gallbladder or appendix). Tests revealed
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that it was not. Since the patient indicated that she worked in an
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office with a “surround style” desk, the D.O. considered that Mary might
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be suffering from postural/mechanical strain. Based upon his
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examination, interview with the patient and negative test results, the
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physician decided to employ OMT to relieve motion restrictions and
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muscle strain caused by improper sitting and movement. He also
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recommended changes in the set-up of her workstation to alleviate
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further pain.
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</p>
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<h2>Case 2</h2>
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<p>
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Michael’s symptoms included cough, congestion, fever and headache.
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Suspecting chronic sinusitis, his D.O. conducted an exam and ordered
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appropriate tests. When results confirmed the diagnosis, the physician
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prescribed an antibiotic to treat the infection. She also employed a
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variety of OMT techniques to promote sinus drainage and relieve pain
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related to the infection. Michael’s congestion was markedly reduced
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after just one OMT session. Upon completion of his antibiotic therapy
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two weeks later, his infection was eliminated.
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</p>
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<h2>Who Can Benefit</h2>
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<p>
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People of all ages and backgrounds have found relief from pain and
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dysfunction as well as improved mobility through OMT. D.O.s incorporate
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this modality into their treatment plans for top athletes and
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performance artists, workers with on-the-job injuries and thousands of
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people, just like you.
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</p>
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<h2>Proof Positive</h2>
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<p>
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A study published in the November 4, 1999 issue of the New England
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Journal of Medicine confirms what D.O.s have known for years’ that OMT
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works. In this case, researchers examined the effectiveness of OMT for
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treating low back pain.
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</p>
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<p>
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Patients were divided into two groups’ one treated with standard options
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like hot/cold packs, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication
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while the other group received OMT and standard care. After a
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twelve-week period, patients in both groups showed improvement. However,
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researchers learned that the patients receiving OMT required less
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medication and physical therapy, resulting in less side effects and
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lower health care costs.
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</p>
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<p>
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Another study released on OMT revealed its effectiveness in reducing
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pain after a hysterectomy. Researchers measured the amount of morphine
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to treat patients’ pain as well as their perception of their pain
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levels. Upon the study’s completion, it was determined that
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administering OMT significantly reduced patients’ needs for pain
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medication.
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</p>
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<p>
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By incorporating OMT into their practice of complete medicine, D.O.s are
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providing the most comprehensive care available today.
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</p>
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<h2>History</h2>
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<p>
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The earliest medical writings from centuries past describe the efficacy
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of manual medicine. In 1874, osteopathic medicine’s founder, Dr. A.T.
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Still, recognized the power of hands-on care and incorporated it into
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his philosophy of medicine. Dr. Still identified the musculoskeletal
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system as a key element of health; he recognized the body’s self-healing
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capacity; he emphasized prevention, exercise and keeping fit; and he
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identified palpation and human touch as vital and less intrusive
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elements of diagnosis and treatment. As the impressive growth of
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osteopathic medicine demonstrates, Dr. Still’s founding tenets have
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withstood the test of time and scientific scrutiny.
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</p>
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<h2>Education</h2>
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<p>
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D.O.s complete four years of medical training at one of the nation’s
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fully accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine. The osteopathic
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curriculum is intensive and broad-based. It includes comprehensive
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training in the musculoskeletal system and the use of OMT. Manipulation
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combined with the osteopathic principles of holistic care, prevention
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and primary care makes osteopathic medicine unique.
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</p>
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<p>
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Upon graduation from medical school, D.O.s complete a one-year rotating
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internship through all the areas of primary care. Afterwards, they may
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complete a residency in any of more than 120 specialty and subspecialty
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areas of medicine. However, sixty-four percent of all D.O.s remain in
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primary care practices.
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</p>
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</Article>
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);
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};
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export default ArticleOsteopathicManipulativeTreatment;
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