What OMM to know for COMLEX II?

[Dr Fleischman]

So I'm reading First Aid 2CK and Kaplan with some reviewing of the Case Files and Blueprints I read along the way this year...that's for the USMLE Step 2 and COMLEX II. I'm also doing USMLE World, of course.

Unfortunately, nowhere in any of those series is there any OMM. For COMLEX I I read this seafoam green OMM Review book with the cover lettering in white slash-mark font, I forget the exact title, but it was fantastic for COMLEX I, and after that test my dumb ass sold it to a first year.

I remember for COMLEX I everyone said, "Just know the viscerosomatic reflexes," and sure enough, I'd say 85% to 90% of my OMM questions had to do with testing my knowledge of those. Unfortunately, this year for COMLEX II I have yet to hear of any one, two or three things to study. In fact, I have NO IDEA what to study in terms of OMM for the COMLEX II.

Can someone out there who's taken the COMLEX II or has heard from others about it tell me what to study for OMM? Do I need to know any specific treatments, or just concepts of modalities? What should I be studying for the OMM portion? I'd appreciate any knowledge anyone can impart on me, and also tips on what books are good for the OMM portion would be welcome and greatly appreciated, as well.

Thanks, guys. One more year and we're docs! What a long, strange trip it's been.

Jake

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[ShyRem]

My level 2 had a lot of basic diagnosis questions and specifics of treatment. Not many conceptual questions and a couple visceralsomatic reflex questions. But a lot lot lot of what I really considered first year diagnosing questions.

Other folks may have had a different set of questions. I recall on my level 1 I had almost all cranial questions. No kidding. I was kinda pissed.

 

[Jonathan13180]

So I'm reading First Aid 2CK and Kaplan with some reviewing of the Case Files and Blueprints I read along the way this year...that's for the USMLE Step 2 and COMLEX II. I'm also doing USMLE World, of course.

Unfortunately, nowhere in any of those series is there any OMM. For COMLEX I I read this seafoam green OMM Review book with the cover lettering in white slash-mark font, I forget the exact title, but it was fantastic for COMLEX I, and after that test my dumb ass sold it to a first year.

I remember for COMLEX I everyone said, "Just know the viscerosomatic reflexes," and sure enough, I'd say 85% to 90% of my OMM questions had to do with testing my knowledge of those. Unfortunately, this year for COMLEX II I have yet to hear of any one, two or three things to study. In fact, I have NO IDEA what to study in terms of OMM for the COMLEX II.

Can someone out there who's taken the COMLEX II or has heard from others about it tell me what to study for OMM? Do I need to know any specific treatments, or just concepts of modalities? What should I be studying for the OMM portion? I'd appreciate any knowledge anyone can impart on me, and also tips on what books are good for the OMM portion would be welcome and greatly appreciated, as well.

Thanks, guys. One more year and we're docs! What a long, strange trip it's been.

Jake

I would read Savarese front to back and do the questions in the back of the book. Also, if you can get a copy of "The handbook of OMT", which is Boards boot camps version of savarese, I highly recommend it. The chapters on Viscerosomatics and innervations alone are worth it. Using those two resources should suffice.
In terms of what to focus on, the highly tested topics are always sacral, cranial, cervical, lumbar, etc. Having struggled with step 2, I can say that while it is IMPERATIVE to know ALL innervations and vsms, it is JUST as important to be able to apply them to clinical cases. So, while you MUST memorize all the sympathetic and parasympathetic innervations, also know how/what might happen if there is pathology at a certain level.
-Also know the more common names of tests (applys, lachman, McMurrays) I was surprised at the number of questions I could answer by knowing these.
-Know which maneuvers are direct or indirect and how you would set the patient up given a certain treatment technique. I feel Muscle Energy to various muscle groups (biceps, quads, psoas, pirformis) is important as well.

In general, the OMM questions are fair and some are 'easy' points. There are, of course, the random, vague questions that leave you clueless and for those just use common sense and move on.

Goodluck,