Osteopathic Manual Therapy
What it is:
Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) is a safe, effective
therapeutic bodywork that is used to treat chronic pain, rehab injuries, and
balance the muscle and skeletal systems.
It can easily be understood as being halfway between massage therapy and
chiropractic. Whereas massage mainly
focuses on working on soft tissue, OMT focuses on the whole muscle and skeletal
system (soft tissue, muscles, joints, connective tissue and bones). Chiropractic is known for its high velocity, low amplitude techniques (commonly referred to as “cracking”), OMT uses more gentle
mobilization techniques to achieve the same goals.
A typical OMT session will involve joint mobilization
techniques, muscle release techniques (like stretching, Muscle Energy Techniques,
massage, pressure points) and facial techniques (myofascial release,
craniosacral therapy). Most people find
OMT to be very relaxing and rejuvenating.
The knots and kinks get worked out and the bones and muscles get
realigned. A session usually runs
between 30 to 60 minutes. It is done
with clothing on, unlike a massage, so wear loose fitting clothing when you come for your appointment.
Osteopathy was founded by A. T. Stills in the latter half of the 1800’s. At that time, there was no organized system
of body work. What A. T. Stills did was
systematize and develope manual
therapy, and called it Osteopathy. He
founded the first Osteopathic school in Missouri in 1892. Different modalities were either offshoots
of Osteopathy (for example, Chiropractic
medicine) or use some osteopathic techniques (Physical Therapy)
What is it good for:
Osteopathic Manual therapy good for:
Chronic
pain conditions
Muscle
and skeletal pain
Structural
imbalances
Headaches
Sports
enhancement
Overall
wellness
Why I became an Osteopathic Manual Therapist:
As an
acupuncturist, I have witnessed the power of working on the energetic level of
the body. Acupuncture has an amazing
ability to address a multitude of health issues by regulating the flow of Qi
(energy) and blood throughout the body. It
is a subtle, yet powerful form of healing.
Yet, despite its efficacy, I realize that some clients just
needs more. At times, joints need to be mobilized,
muscle and tendons stretched, and the body physically worked on. This is why I studied Osteopathic Manual
Therapy (OMT). OMT aims to open the
channels of the body and optimize the smooth flow of blood, fluid and nutrients
through the whole system. Its goal is
very similar to acupuncture’s, which makes me see it as a logical extension of
my work as an acupuncturist.
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