Osteopathic manipulation (OMT) is a hands-on method of evaluation and treatment effective in alleviating pain and correcting structural impingements in the body that inhibit healthy function. It is a form of treatment taught to students studying osteopathic medicine that becomes part of their therapeutic “toolkit” when they graduate as Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs).
DOs use a holistic approach focusing on the body's interconnected systems to treat the whole person that includes OMT, along with conventional medical practices, to diagnose and treat medical conditions, especially those affecting the musculoskeletal system.
In medicine, “manipulation” is the therapeutic application of manual pressure or force. Doctors usually use osteopathic manipulative treatment for back, neck and head pain relief. OMT also can effectively treat other conditions, including breathing issues like asthma and sinus infections, and bowel issues like irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.
OMT techniques range from subtle touch to gentle pressure and stretching to precision thrust style maneuvers. People of all ages can benefit from OMT for a wide variety of conditions such as headaches, low back pain, musculoskeletal pain, sinus and ear problems, menstrual cramps and infant colic. OMT also can be used to ease pain, promote healing, and increase overall mobility in patients of all ages, including infants.