Specialities that utilize OMM/OMT

[EvolveAwareness]

Which medical specialties utilize OMM/OMT the most? Which medical specialties have the potential to utilize more OMM/OMT?

It seems practical that doctors in family practice, internal medicine, ob/gyn, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and orthopedics can utilize OMM the most.

However, it seems likely that doctors in surgery and certain sub-specialties, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, and neurology can also utilize OMM. Right?

I can see why certain doctors do not incorporate OMM into their practice, whether it is due to time constraints, reimbursement issues, lack of adeptness with OMM, lack of sufficient and strong scientific support (other than lower back pain), or simply because some DOs want to appear no different from your average MD.

Also, what do DO students learn in OPP class? Simply the history of osteopathic medicine and OMM? Is there more to it? I have heard from rumor that OPP class mentions Chinese medicine and acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, and other CAM practices. So in OPP class, do they simply talk about certain CAM techniques or are there demonstrations? Out of mere curiosity, I would love to see the syllabus of a typical OPP class, if that's even possible. I know there are differences from school to school in terms of OPP/OMM class. Also, is there a vast disconnect between your school's OMM department and other departments? Which OMM techniques do you find the most beneficial and therapeutic? I apologize any of these questions sound silly to you.

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[Styria]

Even though you're banned, this post has a number of questions worth answering.

Which medical specialties utilize OMM/OMT the most? Which medical specialties have the potential to utilize more OMM/OMT?

It seems practical that doctors in family practice, internal medicine, ob/gyn, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and orthopedics can utilize OMM the most.

Get the book Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine. While it is too expensive (and the AOA should make an abridged edition for the general public and premeds), it goes through every specialty describing how osteopathic principles and also OMT are used there. It also explains the different categories of techniques, different body regions, the integration of different control systems (such as autonomic innervations of the viscera - a problem with the hands might come from the thoracic spinal levels which supply its sympathetics), history, etc.

However, it seems likely that doctors in surgery and certain sub-specialties, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, and neurology can also utilize OMM. Right?

In spite of the whining on SDN, DOs can and have.

Also, what do DO students learn in OPP class? Simply the history of osteopathic medicine and OMM? Is there more to it? I have heard from rumor that OPP class mentions Chinese medicine and acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, and other CAM practices. So in OPP class, do they simply talk about certain CAM techniques or are there demonstrations? Out of mere curiosity, I would love to see the syllabus of a typical OPP class, if that's even possible. I know there are differences from school to school in terms of OPP/OMM class. Also, is there a vast disconnect between your school's OMM department and other departments? Which OMM techniques do you find the most beneficial and therapeutic? I apologize any of these questions sound silly to you.

The history of osteopathic medicine must be taught in osteopathic schools, but one or two lectures is sufficient. You also need some principles to start - the 4 osteopathic principles, palpation, TART, what somatic dysfunction is, what barriers are, etc. Later on you need to learn about fascia, tensegrity, Chapman's points, and so on to integrate everything.

CAM is unnecessary and not every school has lectures on them as part of the OMM courses. That's better subject material for extracurricular lectures to interested student clubs.

LMU-DCOM academics page: http://www.lmunet.edu/DCOM/academics/. Click on OMS I and II schedules and book lists on the side. You can scroll through the pdf schedules and see how the OPP courses are organized there. There's no great disconnect between DCOM's OPP department and the rest of the school. There's good overlap with the systems and the OPP department chair does a few systems lectures to tie things together.

OMT techniques give you multiple ways of treating the same problem - if one doesn't work, try another. Once you've learned a type of manipulation (muscle energy, counterstrain), you can "make it up as you go" with some exceptions where the mechanics aren't as obvious. (Which doesn't mean OMT is imaginary, but that you're applying the principles you've learned to a novel situation.) I've gotten good results with counterstrain, even on someone's finger (and they don't teach that...), and am looking forward to BLT.