I don't know much about OMT and I'm curious about it. So I was wondering, in what instances have you found OMT particularly helpful in treating a patient?
Thanks
Thanks
Question about OMT
- Thread starter leagall
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Musculoskeletal pain and a good deal of diagnosis (not limited to musculoskeletal, it does aid in some visceral diagnostics). And lymph drainage techniques to limit edema.
I think cranial is a bunch of crock, but, im still learning and havent totally closed my mind so there may be hope there.
The other claims of OMT (curing various non m/s pathologies caused by hyper sympathetic states or other "indirect" methods of imbalance) do seem to have logic and science behind them but I havent seen enough reason to chose OMT in those occasions over classic therapies. Though i'm sure if an asthma patient came in with terrible TART findings in T1-4 I'd so something for it and call the OMT an adjunct to the inhaler id be prescribing.
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Rib raising. And if you go lower it will make you poop.
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This was the entire 1st semester of 2nd year for me. Thats all i learned. It was somewhat low yield.
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Sub-occipital release & OA manipulation (counterstrain, ME, HVLA) is very useful for the early stages of tension headaches & preventing them from progressing to migraines. In addition, psoas & piriformis ME is extremely useful for treating low back pain.
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well, myofascial release feels pretty damn good. ill consider that useful
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I have found cranial to be helpful when I've had sinus/allergy/cold issues. It's also very relaxing if done well. I generally don't find counterstrain very useful except for piriformis spasm.
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A good osteobation goes a long way
... Do they really use that word at LECOM? Because if they do, I'm regretting turning down their offer.
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I just wanted to give my take on this (and I'm going to go somewhat off-topic). I've shadowed a doc who had a patient with somewhat uncontrolled asthma. I'm also an asthmatic, so this case was of particular interest to me. Nothing feels as terrifying as waking up unable to breathe at 4am and wondering if you can get medication into your lungs before you pass out.
In my opinion and in the eyes of the DO I shadowed, there's no substitute for meds in this situation. You absolutely need to get the patient's asthma under control. Using OMT as some kind of miracle cure for the actual respiratory issues would be incredibly negligent. The good thing is that OMT isn't actually indicated for such things. If a DO treated that patient with OMT and then sent them out the door without a script, they'd be having a long talk with their licensing board (you know... if the board found out).
That said, there's still a use for OMT here. An asthmatic (or really, anybody with respiratory issues) is likely to have muscle pain and hypertonicity due to increased breathing effort. If I can examine a patient, prescribe whatever meds they need, and then relieve a bit of their pain or free up some rib cage motion with a of couple quick OMT techniques, isn't that good? I'm not just kicking my patient out with a script and a bill.
One of the common complaints about OMT is that it hasn't been studied enough (and I agree, although there has been some research). That's not even really relevant to this situation. One thing that's indisputable about OMT is that it feels really good (ask any DO student). Seeing as asthma can be stress-induced, it could actually be beneficial to have my patient leave feeling a bit more relaxed. They go home happy, something that should make even the most jaded physician happy. After all, you just snagged some patient loyalty. Also, happy patients tend to sue less even when malpractice actually happens. If you actually give a damn about your patient (I know, altruism barely exists within our generation but just go along with it), then you get the bonus of feeling good about improving your patient's mood.
To me, it's a win/win. If my OMT techniques actually do result in physical changes, then it's just like icing on top of the cake. For a non-invasive, relatively fast, and cost-free technique, I wasn't expecting massive therapeutic gains anyway. If the OMT has no effect whatsoever, well, their meds should take care of the main problem anyway. Hopefully, the non-physical effects will stick.
OMT is a tool like anything else. You don't prescribe gentamycin for B. fragilis induced peritonitis and you don't use OMT to cure cancer. I know I'm going beyond the OP's topic, but, to me it's important to give a perspective on OMT and the DO profession that doesn't have something to with "OMM IS QUACKERY" arguments.
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This man made a well spoken and extremely logical argument for a proper place for OMT in a diverse repetoire of treatment options.... QUACKERY I DO DECLARE!!! (hahah)
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The times I've used OMT have been for strictly MSK issues and I've generally seen good results. Certainly not a cure all, and usually doesn't negate the use of medical therapy....BUT if I can spend a couple minutes of "hands on time" that brings some immediate relief from a muscle spasm AND can bill for it then I don't see a downside.
Really have not used much HVLA on rotations, mostly been less "traumatic" methods like ME or FPR.
Did have a a patient at a FP office come in with elbow pain which turned out to be localized radial head pain. After less than a minute of ME he was pain free. It certainly surprised me and he sure appreciated the help!
Really have not used much HVLA on rotations, mostly been less "traumatic" methods like ME or FPR.
Did have a a patient at a FP office come in with elbow pain which turned out to be localized radial head pain. After less than a minute of ME he was pain free. It certainly surprised me and he sure appreciated the help!
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I'll second this one...minus that last part perhaps? lolI find cervical HVLA the most useful, infact any HVLA. hours of sitting and leaning forward looking down at books strains my entire body. A good osteobation goes a long way
I really enjoyed my first semester of OMM, but I REALLY enjoyed it at the end when I went from being in great amounts of pain with little to not ROM in my neck to being absolutely back to normal thanks to my OPP prof. I had a rib 1 issue and never could have dreamed a little move like cervical HVLA could solve it all.
My favorite techniques that I find the most useful (being only in my second semester of course) would be rib raising, OA releases, soft tissue stuff, the fantastic million dollar knee technique and the carpal compression techniques (also one that has helped me a lot!)
