Would OMM be considered an "Alternative/Complementary" therapy?

[Skeeks]

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Just asking what people's thoughts are on this. I guess I always consider alternative medicine to be things like essential oils or acupunture and never considered OMM to be in that category since it is practiced by licensed physicians.

I am reading Bausell's Snake Oil Science and noticed he includes OMM in with these other alternative modalities. I am unsure if I would consider OMM as being part of this group (with the exception of cranial maybe).

 

[pattr]

I would consider it an alternative medicine for the sole reason that it's mainly used as an adjuct to help offset use of pain medications and other costs (length of hospital stay) and not usually a stand-alone therapy.

 

[babdoc]

I'd call it complementary. At least that's how it was taught at my med school. Some hardcore OMT practitioners might call it alternative, but idk. It often does fit under the CAM umbrella with other forms of manipulation as there is only soft evidence for most of it.

 

[Mehd School]

I'm not quite sure, yet. But keep in mind, the author that grouped OMM into a snake oil category doesn't have a medical education, so he's probably not the best individual to compare and contrast treatment modalities.

 

[Bacchus]

Does the US government or NIH or something put it under CAM therapy?

 

[NeuroLAX]

Does the US government or NIH or something put it under CAM therapy?

They call it a complementary health approach.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam

 

[Skeeks]

I'm not quite sure, yet. But keep in mind, the author that grouped OMM into a snake oil category doesn't have a medical education, so he's probably not the best individual to compare and contrast treatment modalities.

Yeah, thats what I was thinking that's why I thought I'd ask others. I personally have never had more than a simple demonstration of OMM performed on myself so I was curious of those with more expereince in it.

Thanks NeuroLAX, that was a good citation and thanks pattr and babdoc, both of those responses make a lot of sense.

 

[SurgeDO]

i would never bill a patient for OMM.

 

[05silvergt]

The professors at my school do not like the term alternative medicine for omm. I know I wouldn't use the phrasing around them.

i would never bill a patient for OMM.

Me either. Probably because I never plan on practicing it.

 

[SurgeDO]

The professors at my school do not like the term alternative medicine for omm. I know I wouldn't use the phrasing around them.



Me either. Probably because I never plan on practicing it.

i would perform it on a patient if they specifically asked for it. i would inform the patient that it may not be of any health benefit...but it "feels good". as much as i hate to think about it, medicine has a lot of business in it. hopefully that patient recommends me to his family member needing a lap chole because i was the doctor who went the extra mile.