Many doctors work to treat a specific symptom or disease without focusing on how that problem affects other systems within the body. An osteopathic physician is a doctor who focuses on treating the patient as a whole in order to restore how the body works together as a unit. After all, any abnormality or dysfunction in one
part of the body can certainly influence other parts of the body, as well. An osteopathic physician will also provide you with a variety of nonsurgical and non-medicinal treatment options to alleviate your symptoms.
What is involved in osteopathic manual medicine?
Osteopathic manual medicine involves a series of hands-on, non-invasive techniques that are designed to treat and realign areas of the neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. An osteopath will use manual manipulation to treat a wide range of injuries and disorders without resorting to drugs and surgery. In fact, osteopathic manual medicine may even prevent some patients from needing surgery.
Along with treatments that a patient may receive from their physician, many people still turn to an osteopathic doctor because they can provide alternative and complementary therapies that can enhance their existing treatment plan. Other patients turn to osteopathic medicine when other traditional therapies and treatment options have failed to provide relief.
Who can benefit from osteopathic medicine?
Since this type of therapy is non-invasive it is safe for all ages, from infants to seniors. Along with the standard neuromusculoskeletal issues an osteopath treats, this manual manipulation therapy can also improve other systems within the body such as the respiratory, cardiac, and digestive systems. Patients may turn to an osteopath to treat:
- Chronic and acute conditions
- Headaches and migraines
- Joint pain
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Sciatica
- TMJ disorder
- Herniated or bulging disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Whiplash
- Sports-related injuries
- Other injuries
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sinus disorders
- Menstrual pain
- Back, knee, leg, and ankle pain
- Neck pain
Through regular osteopathic manual therapy your doctor can reduce pain and inflammation, improve blood flow and healing, boost range of motion and flexibility, and fix misalignments within the body so that everything works in harmony.
So many people can benefit from regular osteopathic manual therapy. Find out how it can help improve your body and your mind.