Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (Main)
Contents
Other Names
- OMT
- Osteopathic Musculoskeletal Manipulation
- Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM)
- Neuromuscular Manipulation (NMM)
History of OMT
General Principles of Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy
- Somatic Dysfunction
- Impairment or altered function of any part of the soma (e.g. skeleton and myofascia as well as their associated neural, lymphatic, and vascular components)
- Diagnosed by palpation via T.A.R.T. (Tenderness, Asymmetry, Restricted range of motion, Tissue texture changes) changes. Diagnosis requires:
- Presence of 2 of the 4 T.A.R.T. changes, or
- Presence of 3 of the 4 T.A.R.T. changes if one if tenderness
- Viscerosomatic Reflexes
- Chapman Points
Barrier concepts: A joint with somatic dysfunction will have restricted motion. A joint has two barriers, Physiologic and Anatomic: Physiologic barrier: a point at which the PATIENT can actively move their joint. Anatomic barrier: a point at which the PHYSICIAN can passively move the joint. Any movement beyond the anatomic barrier will cause injury.
In somatic dysfunction, a joint will have a restrictive (or pathologic) barrier. It lies before the physiologic barrier and prevents full range of motion.
Osteopathic Treatment:
Direct vs. Indirect Direct: The practitioner engages the restrictive barrier Indirect: The practitioner move tissues and/or joints away from the restrictive barrier towards the direction of freedom or position of ease.
Passive vs. Active Passive: the patient will relax and allow the practitioner to move the body tissues. Active: the patient will assist in the treatment usually in isometric or isotonic contraction.
Treatment Modalities
- High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA)
- Muscle Energy
- Soft Tissue
- Myofascial Release
- Strain Counterstrain
- Approach to Full Body Assessment
Textbooks and Other Resources
See Also
References