OMM Question - please don't flame.

[MaximusD]

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I am worried about OMM.

What are current med students' opinions on OMM lab. Is it enjoyable/useful or is it just a right of passage? I am very interested in the methods, but I am worried that there is very little science behind methods such as cranial, etc.

Please enlighten me, because there is limited information on here about specifics. I am well-aware of what OMM is in general (musculoskeletal manipulation has to do with the correct alignment of the vertebra for optimal blood flow, lymphatic activity, and minimal nerve impingement..)...specifically what are some techniques applied and how can they be used in an actual clinical setting...with FP, Peds, ...surgery?

Thanks!

 

[MDstudent101]

You should post this in the Osteopathic forum since some of the students there prob. know more about OMM than us....... So move it..😀

 

[Depakote]

You should post this in the Osteopathic forum since some of the students there prob. know more about OMM than us....... So move it..😀

you should realize which forum you're reading...

 

[MDstudent101]

Yes I do realize what forum i am reading, I just told the OP that in the Medical Students forum they might know or prob. do know more about OMM than we do. You prob. said this 🙄 because my name states MD in front of it and thought I was confusing the MD and DO forums but that is not the case..😀

 

[Kuba]

depakote got owned! just kidding!

 

[Kuba]

OMM isnt just bone reallignment. It can be things like opening up lymphatic channels for a person with a cold to ease up congestions and speed up recovery. Or breaking up scar tissue in a shoulder of a diabetic patient (something an MD would send the patient to a PT for)

 

[Depakote]

Yes I do realize what forum i am reading, I just told the OP that in the Medical Students forum they might know or prob. do know more about OMM than we do. You prob. said this 🙄 because my name states MD in front of it and thought I was confusing the MD and DO forums but that is not the case..😀

Gotcha.

 

[MDstudent101]

That's cool, and sorry if my tone sounded to offensive....🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[Depakote]

That's cool, and sorry if my tone sounded to offensive....🙂 🙂 🙂

I probably jumped a little quickly too... here are some puppies.

 

[MaximusD]

Wow guys... I got excited when I came back to check this bc I had eight replies!! eight! I thought you guys gave much love...

Of course, being SDN, the replies consisted of puppy pictures, sarcastic quips, and butt kissing.

Bleck thanks for the tease🙄

Thanks DRKOOOBA for your relevant answer haha

BTW, finally got myself an interview invite... prob the only one i'll get haha

 

[MDstudent101]

Wow guys... I got excited when I came back to check this bc I had eight replies!! eight! I thought you guys gave much love...

Of course, being SDN, the replies consisted of puppy pictures, sarcastic quips, and butt kissing.

Bleck thanks for the tease🙄

Thanks DRKOOOBA for your relevant answer haha

BTW, finally got myself an interview invite... prob the only one i'll get haha

C'mon remember stay POSITIVE, if you got one then more are prob. to come just be patient and pray!!!!!!!😀 😀

 

[CatsandCradles]

I am worried about OMM.

What are current med students' opinions on OMM lab. Is it enjoyable/useful or is it just a right of passage? I am very interested in the methods, but I am worried that there is very little science behind methods such as cranial, etc.

Please enlighten me, because there is limited information on here about specifics. I am well-aware of what OMM is in general (musculoskeletal manipulation has to do with the correct alignment of the vertebra for optimal blood flow, lymphatic activity, and minimal nerve impingement..)...specifically what are some techniques applied and how can they be used in an actual clinical setting...with FP, Peds, ...surgery?

Thanks!

As a first year student, I can tell you right now that some OMM is very very useful - and some of it is so abstract that I think it is worthless.

Counterstrain - a lot of really bizzare streching techniques with pressure points in it. If I go into FP, I will definantly use these. Very good for arms and shoulders. It is simple, easy to understand and you can show your patients how to do it and make yourself be popular. I really like CS.

Myofascial Release - this is very very hard to do. I've only been able to do it once. Just once. This is why a lot of students hate MFR. And I don't blame them, cause it's hard as hell. Basically you put your hands on someone's arm or shoulder and leave it there. That's right you just leave it there and your trying to feel which way the fascia is moving! I keep wondering is fascia really moving or am I feeling my arms move or am I pressing slightly harder on one hand and not the other? It's hard to understand. Take note, there might not be a lot of science behind it, but it does work if you get it right - I know it does, because you can kill a patient just by doing MFR on someone who has poor vein circulation in their leg. All that blood is pooled in the pt's leg and if you do MFR on it, all that blood shoots up and you have a law suit on your hands. Call it the OMT touch of death.

High velocity techniques- I don't know cause I'm not a 2nd year.

Cranial - I don't know cause I haven't seen it, but I hear its totally controversial and there's no hard core science behind it. Personally I think it's a lot of non-sense.

 

[DoctorMom78]

I probably jumped a little quickly too... here are some puppies.

 

[Depakote]

As a first year student, I can tell you right now that some OMM is very very useful - and some of it is so abstract that I think it is worthless.

Counterstrain - a lot of really bizzare streching techniques with pressure points in it. If I go into FP, I will definantly use these. Very good for arms and shoulders. It is simple, easy to understand and you can show your patients how to do it and make yourself be popular. I really like CS.

Myofascial Release - this is very very hard to do. I've only been able to do it once. Just once. This is why a lot of students hate MFR. And I don't blame them, cause it's hard as hell. Basically you put your hands on someone's arm or shoulder and leave it there. That's right you just leave it there and your trying to feel which way the fascia is moving! I keep wondering is fascia really moving or am I feeling my arms move or am I pressing slightly harder on one hand and not the other? It's hard to understand. Take note, there might not be a lot of science behind it, but it does work if you get it right - I know it does, because you can kill a patient just by doing MFR on someone who has poor vein circulation in their leg. All that blood is pooled in the pt's leg and if you do MFR on it, all that blood shoots up and you have a law suit on your hands. Call it the OMT touch of death.

High velocity techniques- I don't know cause I'm not a 2nd year.

Cranial - I don't know cause I haven't seen it, but I hear its totally controversial and there's no hard core science behind it. Personally I think it's a lot of non-sense.

That was really informative... it inspired me to check wiki.

if you look below the initial article, some of the techniques have definitions that elaborate on what CatsandCradles went into:

 

[IgE]

As a first year student, I can tell you right now that some OMM is very very useful - and some of it is so abstract that I think it is worthless.

Counterstrain - a lot of really bizzare streching techniques with pressure points in it. If I go into FP, I will definantly use these. Very good for arms and shoulders. It is simple, easy to understand and you can show your patients how to do it and make yourself be popular. I really like CS.

Myofascial Release - this is very very hard to do. I've only been able to do it once. Just once. This is why a lot of students hate MFR. And I don't blame them, cause it's hard as hell. Basically you put your hands on someone's arm or shoulder and leave it there. That's right you just leave it there and your trying to feel which way the fascia is moving! I keep wondering is fascia really moving or am I feeling my arms move or am I pressing slightly harder on one hand and not the other? It's hard to understand. Take note, there might not be a lot of science behind it, but it does work if you get it right - I know it does, because you can kill a patient just by doing MFR on someone who has poor vein circulation in their leg. All that blood is pooled in the pt's leg and if you do MFR on it, all that blood shoots up and you have a law suit on your hands. Call it the OMT touch of death.

High velocity techniques- I don't know cause I'm not a 2nd year.

Cranial - I don't know cause I haven't seen it, but I hear its totally controversial and there's no hard core science behind it. Personally I think it's a lot of non-sense.

You don't get to learn HVLA until 2nd year? Sad, that's my favorite.

Anyway, to answer the original question, I came into this expecting OTM to be my class to just do because I had to. There are no DO's where I'm from, and I had never even heard of osteopathy before applying to med school. I was naturally very skeptical of the whole thing. I didn't see how it was any different from what a chiropractor does, and I never liked chiropractors. My mind has been completely changed in the 3 months I've been here. Let me tell you, the first time you hear that Kirksville crunch and check to find that you have fixed your partners somatic dysfunction, you will love it. I was definitely frustrated at first though, so it all takes some getting used to. Oh, and the first time someone successfully fixes you is a beautiful moment indeed. Anyway, about the class: We learn several techniques to treat each diagnosis. You will figure out which you like best. I like anything direct especially HVLA. Counterstrain is extremely effective for muscle stuff. You will even learn how to treat yourself with this technique which is definitely nice when you sit in a weird position studying for hours. There are indirect methods that use activating forces like respiratory-air hunger. I like this one, but it's difficult to feel the muscles relax sometimes and takes quite a bit more time than the direct methods (HVLA, LVMA, ME, etc.). I can't believe how caught up I've gotten in OTM. I really expected to hate it. Of course, I'm not to cranial yet. I'll have to get back to you on that one. 😉