What was the craziest OMT technique you learned

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Ok guys, I'm obviously procrastinating for boards. I was thinking about all the different things we learned to treat during the last couple of years. Some things were a little "out there". I'm interested in hearing what you guys have run into.

I'll start... we learned to stretch the omentum and stomach. They told us to grab a hold of the ascending colon and descending colon... WTF? Then they told us to to grab the lesser curvature of the stomach and lift it to help with reflux. This was also supposed to help with Ulcerative Colitis. I'm no master but those things seem a little hard to reach.

DISCLAIMER*** this is not meant to ridicule or start an anti OMT thread. I just want to hear some of the more "interesting" things you've been taught.

Ischial tuberosity spread (complete with cough) and the pelvic diaphragm release

The pelvic diaphragm release was way too personal for lab, IMO

drdrtoledo--we didn't do any visceral, so that's totally out of my league

Originally Posted by Doctortobee

Ischial tuberosity spread (complete with cough)

Is that like V-spread? Care to elaborate on that? I don't think we did that one. The cough sounds interesting.

It's the only HVLA we were taught for the sacrum. We were told that it will fix any sacral problem.

Pt is prone, with knees together and ankles apart. Palpate each IT and move on the medial portion of it. Doc's elbows spread the ankles apart. As the pt coughs (the "hvla), doc pushes the IT's and ankles lateral. It's tough to describe...

I think we do a lot of viceral stuff this coming year.

We did learn the Omentum one, and christ, I had just eaten. I thought I was gonna lose it right there. But the wierdest had to be a myofascial release that was INSIDE of the mouth (yes, we wore gloves). I am a supporter of OMT, but there is no way in hell I am going to stick my finger in someone's mouth unless it involves a romantic dinner beforehand!!!

TCOM2006

oh my god, there are two techniques that just make me laugh...i mean seriously, LIVER AND SPLENIC PUMP???? WTF??? The thought of having a straight face and pumping my patients spleen and liver vigorously with my hand is just too much!!!! LOL!

Originally Posted by illuminati314

But the wierdest had to be a myofascial release that was INSIDE of the mouth (yes, we wore gloves). I am a supporter of OMT, but there is no way in hell I am going to stick my finger in someone's mouth unless it involves a romantic dinner beforehand!!!

TCOM2006

Oh man... that reminds me of one. One day our presenter began discussing "Internal OMT". She began to describe a procedure where you insert your digit into the rectum and manipulate the coccyx to ease. All the while you monitor the perineal tissues! Needless to say we didn't do this in lab. She said," sometimes you must do what is neccessary to relieve your patient's pain" Sorry, I think my patient is getting a referral!

Some sort of bioenergy or whatever the hell it's called that one of the LECOM professors came up with.

We were to find a somatic dysfunction on our partner's back, put a finger on the dysfunction, and then put our other hand in front of our partner and feel the "energy" moving between our finger and our hand.

Oh, and "sending the love" from one side of the head to the other during cranial. I don't even know what that one is called, but you find a suture that is out of line, put a finger on it, put your other finger 180 degrees from it, and "send the love" through the head to align the suture.

I think most of OMM is great, but some things are just too out there....

OK, DO's to be. Still trying to decide if I will apply to DO schools, so help me out here.

Reading this, it seems to be rather....odd.

Is there any EBM that demonstrates that any of this actually has any effect (hopefully positive)?

Originally Posted by flighterdoc

OK, DO's to be. Still trying to decide if I will apply to DO schools, so help me out here.
Reading this, it seems to be rather....odd.
Is there any EBM that demonstrates that any of this actually has any effect (hopefully positive)?

There have been several LONG threads about EBM and OMM on this forum. What we are describing here are the more "controversial" or "creative" forms of OMM. If you're going to make a judgement about OMM, DO NOT BASE IT ON THIS THREAD! Search the forum for a thread where the more reputable treatments are discussed. I love and use most of the techniques I have learned... some, however, are just not "me".

Remember, flighterdoc, that this is a thread of the WEIRDEST things we've learned in OMM. True, it's more out-there than anything you'd see at an allopathic school, but it does not in any way represent the norm of OMT that is used in daily practice.

Most of what is done in practice involves actual structural re-alignment, work with posture, muscle work to release tension and allow structural alignment, etc. Very few people use visceral techniques or even cranial in real life.

I plead with you: do not use SDN as your yardstick. Go find the data yourself--it's on the internet, at the library, etc. We have the national center for OMT research here at TCOM. You can find it through our website: www.hsc.unt.edu

Do your homework yourself, then make an educated decision about what is best for you re: allopathic or osteopathic medicine (seems like you already are leaning away from the DO route). Do not rely on a internet chat board as your main source of information about DOs and OMT. After all, it is the STUDENT doctor network, and none of us are experts.

That's freaky, drtoledo--we were basically writing the same post at the exact same time!!

Maybe we were feeling the OMM "love" at the same time!

Originally Posted by sophiejane

That's freaky, drtoledo--we were basically writing the same post at the exact same time!!

Maybe we were feeling the OMM "love" at the same time!

Sure sounds like it... It's like the times I've rotated with our "OMM master" here at OUCOM. People will say to him, "I saw the weirdest thing while you were treating me". Then he'll say something random like "Was it a pyramid with an eye in it before a pink background?" And the patient is like "OMG!!! Yes that's exactly what it was!." He's like, "Yes I was thinking about that image." That's just plain ridiculous! And I have told him that. He just laughs and says I'm standing in my own way. Whatever ... I'm not falling for that one! It was pretty cool though.

You never know. I'm lying on a massage table while a practitioner of Chi Nei Tsang (an ancient Taoist bodywork) works his elbow into my gut during a demo for his class. He looks up and says, "Did you slam your left testicle in a car door?" Damn, I had a bad case of epididymitis and was eating Motrin cause my left nut was killing me!

Randall, my friend, that's a cr#pload of letters after your name.

Randall, my friend, that's a cr#pload of letters after your name.

Ha, ha; it's kinda a joke. I earned them all, but I'm really just a beach bum. In fact just got back from the beach. I was a genius before I got all those degrees. LOL!

Dr. Kuchera taught us a version of upper thoracic HVLA that was a sort of low velocity low amplitude technigue. He positioned the patient to their barrier in the same exact setup for thoracic HVLA, but instead of thrusting he used the patients head to go past the barrier and get the "crack". I had him try it on me and it was just crazy. I tried it myself so many times with him watching and I just couldn't get it to go. It was cool stuff.

Originally Posted by OMMFellow06

. He positioned the patient to their barrier in the same exact setup for thoracic HVLA, but instead of thrusting he used the patients head to go past the barrier and get the "crack".

Sounds nutty.... was his caudad hand on the transverse process and his cephalad hand grabbing the head? Was it an extension or flexion that got the crack?....interesting. I've seen LVMA techniques before never saw one crack anything.

The coolest OMT technique I've ever seen was when we had a visiting OM specialist come and teach us lecture and lab one day -- he demonstrated what we affectionately refer to as the "belly in the back" technique. A high velocity high amplitude thrust to the back where he puts a pillow on his belly and gives one heck of a thrust to the patient. So funny. We were busting up. Talk about excellent localization!???

Originally Posted by drdrtoledo

I'll start... we learned to stretch the omentum and stomach. They told us to grab a hold of the ascending colon and descending colon... WTF? Then they told us to to grab the lesser curvature of the stomach and lift it to help with reflux. This was also supposed to help with Ulcerative Colitis. I'm no master but those things seem a little hard to reach.

Oh, the MESENTERIC LIFT!!! WOO HOO!!!! i love it... as a funny story that goes along with that... we learned that technique one day and the next day we were in lab our prof was talking about how he had heard there was some success from section 2 of the lab (my section). at the same time he was telling this story (which i wasn't really paying attention to) i had raised my hand for a question or something, so anyway.. prof tells this story about a "successful mesenteric lift" at the same time that my hand is in the air... everyone looked at me and started cracking up. almost embarrassing, but it was so funny that i couldn't help but laugh.

anyway... the strangest technique, i think, is probably the pedal pump. it's effective, but just so funny. (the pelvic diaphragm release and the mesenteric lift are close though)

later,
john

Originally Posted by docslytherin

anyway... the strangest technique, i think, is probably the pedal pump. it's effective, but just so funny. (the pelvic diaphragm release and the mesenteric lift are close though)

later,
john

Pedal pump??? Is that another name for splenic/liver pump or lymphatic pump?

the pedal pump is a lymphatic pump that is performed with the pt laying supine and you dorsiflex his/her feet and then let them rebound back to stimulate lymph movement in the lower extremity... it's hilarious to see done (especially in our lab where there is more than one squeaky table!!) one person here has a method for performing the technique with his thighs on the feet instead of his hands... the movement comes from hip thrusts ... it's really funny... however, that's not the way we're taught to perform it.

john

Originally Posted by docslytherin

the pedal pump is a lymphatic pump that is performed with the pt laying supine and you dorsiflex his/her feet and then let them rebound back to stimulate lymph movement in the lower extremity... it's hilarious to see done (especially in our lab where there is more than one squeaky table!!) one person here has a method for performing the technique with his thighs on the feet instead of his hands... the movement comes from hip thrusts ... it's really funny... however, that's not the way we're taught to perform it.

john

Now that's funny!!! I got the best visual out of that one. You gotta love this stuff sometimes... Can you imagine doing that (hand or pelvic version) at a major hospital and having some doctors walk in and ask you what you're doing? Too funny... I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face

Originally Posted by docslytherin

the pedal pump is a lymphatic pump that is performed with the pt laying supine and you dorsiflex his/her feet and then let them rebound back to stimulate lymph movement in the lower extremity... it's hilarious to see done (especially in our lab where there is more than one squeaky table!!) one person here has a method for performing the technique with his thighs on the feet instead of his hands... the movement comes from hip thrusts ... it's really funny... however, that's not the way we're taught to perform it.

john

Oh...my...gosh!! Haha! This totally reminds me of the time when the prof was demonstrating this on one of the fellows (the normal, standing up while the pt is supine method; not the crazy hip thrust thingamajig), and let me just say that she is very well endowed in a feminine sort of way, and she had on a close-fitting shirt...it was just,

Pretty much all the stuff you guys have listed is amongst the winners in my book....

Here's a question--How come in most of the osteopathic texts they show the absolute NERDIEST guys wearing SHORT SLEEVED button down shirts and ties with big ugly glasses doing the OMT?

As one of my classmates suggested, there should be a "Ladies of OMT" calendar...doing the maneuvers in their sports bras...boobs in the face etc.

Oh yeah, what about "Spray and Stretch"! Sounds like something a male cat does.

2 things....

I had the self pedal pump and teach a pt exercise therapy for one of my practicals...now that was a low stress one!

It seems like all our OMM docs (males) carry plastic combs in their back pockets....shocking pink, lime green....how funny

Originally Posted by drdrtoledo

There have been several LONG threads about EBM and OMM on this forum. What we are describing here are the more "controversial" or "creative" forms of OMM. If you're going to make a judgement about OMM, DO NOT BASE IT ON THIS THREAD! Search the forum for a thread where the more reputable treatments are discussed. I love and use most of the techniques I have learned... some, however, are just not "me".

OK, I've searched for EBM AND OMT OR OMM and didn't find much that was compelling.

Now, thats not necessarily turning me off of osteopathy, but if there are some good references people can point me to, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by DrMaryC

Here's a question--How come in most of the osteopathic texts they show the absolute NERDIEST guys wearing SHORT SLEEVED button down shirts and ties with big ugly glasses doing the OMT?

and it's not just in the manuals where they're wearing short-sleeves with ties!! i am amazed at how many guys i see trying to pull this off...

Guys... you're going to need to start describing these maneuvers because they sound funny as hell! Spray and Scratch??? WTF? As for the manuals, the guys in speedos always make me laugh. They always have a look on their face like "What kind of modeling gig is this?".

Originally Posted by flighterdoc

OK, I've searched for EBM AND OMT OR OMM and didn't find much that was compelling.

Now, thats not necessarily turning me off of osteopathy, but if there are some good references people can point me to, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Did you search just this site or did you try several different search engines? Did you go to a medical library in your city if there is one? Have you looked at the AOA website? Did you go to the UNT link I gave you? You can search the TCOM medical library (or that of any osteopathic college, I assume) from the internet and get plenty of references for OMT research.

As I said, you cannot rely on SDN for factual information about anything.

There was a NEJM article about osteopathy not long ago. THe JAOA has new articles every month about OMM research. Some of these journals are not available to non-members online--you may actually have to go into a library. But if you want the answers you will find them.

Originally Posted by DrMaryC

Here's a question--How come in most of the osteopathic texts they show the absolute NERDIEST guys wearing SHORT SLEEVED button down shirts and ties with big ugly glasses doing the OMT?

I know, and what's with the '70s hair?!

And the manipulee always looks a little emaciated and scared. But I guess if some dude in a bad tie was about to pump my pedal I'd look scared too...

Originally Posted by docslytherin

and it's not just in the manuals where they're wearing short-sleeves with ties!! i am amazed at how many guys i see trying to pull this off...

It's one of my biggest male clothing pet peeves. Who in their right mind would wear a short sleeve dress shirt with a tie as if they are all business? Bad bad bad. Almost as bad as a dress shirt w/ no t-shirt underneath so as to show the man boobs and/or chest hair.

Sticking to the OP: a term that makes me cringe is the word....oh god, here we go..... boggy. I hate the word boggy. I think of the 70's dude in the short sleeved dress shirt and ugly tie saying "we have some tissue texture changes and it feels 'boggy'

I feel sick. Something about the word "boggy" and "man boobs" in the same post is just about more than I can take...ugh...

If you're going to wear a short sleeve shirt and tie... at least wear your labcoat so no one knows. These guys do it on purpose. In fact one of my professors just cut his damn pony tail off. Pony tail... c'mon man. And does every guy in OMM have a beard? I haven't seen a clean shaven OMM guy yet.

Granted, we didn't actually PRACTICE this technique in lab, but we had an OMM lecture by an OB/GYN who thought that an effective method for pain control in labor was clitoral stimulation.

I think I'll pass on trying to incorporate that technique into my practice.

Originally Posted by UnderGrad

Granted, we didn't actually PRACTICE this technique in lab, but we had an OMM lecture by an OB/GYN who thought that an effective method for pain control in labor was clitoral stimulation.

I think I'll pass on trying to incorporate that technique into my practice.

undergrad,
please tell me you are kidding... if not you have officially walked away with the title for craziest technique. Was a direct or indirect technique ?
ATnS

I'm afraid I'm not kidding! Any student in my class can verify it because, as you can imagine, it was a topic of conversation for awhile.

I was totally zoning out in class, when all of sudden the phrase "clitoral stimulation" broke through my mental fog. Of course, I thought, "WTF? Did I hear that right? Nah, surely I misunderstood." Then, I looked down at the powerpoint handout we received and there the words were in black and white right in front of my face.

Crazy!

Originally Posted by UnderGrad

I'm afraid I'm not kidding! Any student in my class can verify it because, as you can imagine, it was a topic of conversation for awhile.

I was totally zoning out in class, when all of sudden the phrase "clitoral stimulation" broke through my mental fog. Of course, I thought, "WTF? Did I hear that right? Nah, surely I misunderstood." Then, I looked down at the powerpoint handout we received and there it was in black and white right in front of my face.

Crazy!

Did he describe the technique at all? Was it just mentioned and let go? I cannot even begin to imagine what the hell would happen if someone tried that! Was this OB/GYN male or female? Thanks for sharing... you have given me a new perspective on OMT. You have officially blown my mind !
ATnS

This OB/GYN was female. And no, she didn't describe the technique at all. It was just casually tossed in a laundry list of some other techniques like lumbosacral decompression and I don't remember what else (obviously I didn't hear much of the list after she said that one!)

I've never had kids, so maybe I'm not qualified to say this, but if I were the patient, I can't imagine thinking that was a good idea. And besides, how in the hell is the doc gonna explain THAT to the patient! I mean, seriously . . . can you imagine getting gloved up and saying, "Now, Mrs. Jones, what we're going to do now is . . . "?

I'm curious to know if anyone else has even HEARD of this . . . because I'm thinking this is one topic that Foundations doesn't cover.

I actually heard of this years ago. Sadly, we DOs can't claim it as our own. I read about it in a book on natural birthing--midwives have been advocating this for years. It relaxes the vaginal muscles and cervix and provides lubrication, and it feels way better than contractions!

Now THAT'S "alternative" medicine!

Originally Posted by sophiejane

I actually heard of this years ago. Sadly, we DOs can't claim it as our own. I read about it in a book on natural birthing--midwives have been advocating this for years. It relaxes the vaginal muscles and cervix and provides lubrication, and it feels way better than contractions!

Now THAT'S "alternative" medicine!

Someone should propose a study of the the efficacy for this technique. It would be worth the effort of putting the proposal together in order to see the reaction of the human studies review board.

Also, wouldn't this afore mentioned technique be more efficient when performed with some sort of mechanical device? If we're talking physiological input/output with presumably no psychological stimulation, you'd probably need some sort of official medical vibrator. Can you imagine taking a "silver bullet" out of it's autoclave wrapper during a delivery?

Not sure if this one had been mentioned, but one of my faves was the pubic shotgun!!!!!!

Makes a great conversational ice breaker, meeting fellow DO students for the first time....."Hi, my name is ______, and my specialty is the pubic shotgun!"

Also another winner was the V spread for unlocking cranial sutures.

-C

This one was only mentioned briefly at a review session, but the fellow suggested massaging the supraorbital nerve to reduce excess tearing from the sphenopalantine ganglion. Um...OK...aren't we confusing afferents and efferents?

And of course, there's the sacral toggle. Our instructors always talk about this one from the British Osteopathic school. It's hard to describe, but I'll use the analogy of a toy airplane with a rubber band-driven propeller. Turn the propeller in one direction, and it bounces back in the opposite direction.

And speaking of weird-looking people in OPP manuals and the British school. Have you ever seen the pictures of the OPP lab from Britain? Think of Hugh Grant's roomate in "Notting Hill" and you'll get the picture.