WTF is OMT?

[gizmoduck]

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Okay before I decide to sign my name on the dotted line to apply for any D.O. school I want to better understand just what this osteopathic manipulative treatment stuff is all about. I've tried searching google and all I'm getting are bullsh*t corporate websites that say OMT involves hands, cures all ails, and gives you the strength to wrestle grizzly bears. If anyone could provide me with some real, in-depth information you'd be my hero for the evening.

 

[Freakingzooming]

Okay before I decide to sign my name on the dotted line to apply for any D.O. school I want to better understand just what this osteopathic manipulative treatment stuff is all about. I've tried searching google and all I'm getting are bullsh*t corporate websites that say OMT involves hands, cures all ails, and gives you the strength to wrestle grizzly bears. If anyone could provide me with some real, in-depth information you'd be my hero for the evening.

wtf is up with your thread title? jk. I was thinking this thread was going to be one of those bashing DO philosophy ones.

look on the sticky's on this thread. They link to websites about OMT and what it's about.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Oh
Mother
Theresa

 

[jhug]

what really helped me is thinking of it as functional anatomy...
once you get how the body works and why (ie:how muscles do what the do) you use the way it works to your advantage. Like most things in life, there is a lot of stuff out there that i would NEVER buy into...but for the most part it is pretty straight forward (and, i may be sacrificing myself here but...not in sole posession of DO's) sometimes i'll hear people present an idea like it's a secret when pt's and np's have already taught me that before...

 

[Amy B]

It has to deal with the fact that your musclularskeletal system is tied into the lymphatic system and circulation, etc. When things get out of line or there is pressure on parts that shouldn't have pressure, the circulation and fluids in that area do not work properly. OMM/OMT is used to help get things back in line so the circulation and fluids can flow properly.

It is something like that. We just had a very brief lecture about this so this is kinda the jist I took from the lecture.

 

[theOC]

Okay before I decide to sign my name on the dotted line to apply for any D.O. school I want to better understand just what this osteopathic manipulative treatment stuff is all about. I've tried searching google and all I'm getting are bullsh*t corporate websites that say OMT involves hands, cures all ails, and gives you the strength to wrestle grizzly bears. If anyone could provide me with some real, in-depth information you'd be my hero for the evening.

I have been fortunate to directly observe OMT and from what I've gathered it is another tool for effective treatment. In order to fully appreciate OMT/OMM you have to understand the interdependency between structure and function. For example, if a patient has pneumonia and is confined in a bed that restricts his/her ability to breathe properly then the bacteria will continue to survive because the individual cannot get a deep breath to reach the base of his/her lungs, the area where the bacteria inhabitats. The inability to breathe is structurely related the ribs. Thus, in this example a lack of proper function is dependent to structure. The D.O. might proceed to treat the muscles that are responsible for inhalation and exhalation. Not all D.O.s might use the same treatment and the oseopathic physician may also prescribe antibiotics. But osteopathic physicians are trained with the approach that structure and function are interrelated while allopathic physicians are not. Not all D.O.s use OMT. The D.O. I shadow uses it like 10% of the time. However, they have the ability to do so that separates them from the traditional medicine. I hope that gives you some insight into OMT. Like everyone, I have read OMT on pages but being able to listen to D.O.s explain and demonstrate manipulative treatment furthers your understanding of the osteopathic approach. Good luck.

 

[sia_simba]

The DOs - Norman Gevitz

Go read that book. It gives you history to osteopathy and an explanation as to why and how does it work.

 

[jhug]

theoc,
i LOVE your little screen name thing!...and i agree with your point about how omm really focuses in on function and structure but i would (courteously) suggest you to avoid comments like this...

But osteopathic physicians are trained with the approach that structure and function are interrelated while allopathic physicians are not

MD's are also taught that structure = function...to not do so would be to not be teaching anatomy...they aren't taught how to use omm techniques to enhance the function of structures (obviously)...but to say they aren't taught that x is interrelated with y is inaccurate.

 

[theOC]

theoc,
i LOVE your little screen name thing!...and i agree with your point about how omm really focuses in on function and structure but i would (courteously) suggest you to avoid comments like this...

MD's are also taught that structure = function...to not do so would be to not be teaching anatomy...they aren't taught how to use omm techniques to enhance the function of structures (obviously)...but to say they aren't taught that x is interrelated with y is inaccurate.

Thanks for pointing that out jhug. I should have realized that was an inaccurate statement. In no way was I trying to put down M.D.s.

 

[skypilot]

I just thing of OMT as another form of physical therapy. If you are interested in learning this unique art along with the rest of your medical school curriculum then go to Osteopathic medical school. 🙂

 

[gizmoduck]

OMM/OMT is used to help get things back in line so the circulation and fluids can flow properly.

Yeah, statements like that smack of quackery to me. I love the D.O. philosophy of understanding the healthy individual before understanding the disease/symptoms as well as taking the most natural approach to healing, but little details like that slip through that make me hesitate. From what I can tell OMT is just a fancy title for a mix of physical diagnosis and massage. Those things are both helpful but if I go to some school that starts trying to tell me those things are some sort of panacea I'll be ticked.

PS. Real literature is on the way and I'll try to talk to a D.O. or two soon. Thanks for the input!

 

[DrDad]

Most of the things said are CRAP!

OMT is simply a tool in the Physicians tool belt... for instance, by manipulating (akin to massage) the suboccipital triangle using OMT techniques, you assist in freeing the Vertebral Artery from compression thus reducing a possible tension headache that the patient first complained of ( I am trying to keep this really brief)

Further, OMT is a fantastic tool to be used in areas of the world where medication is hard to come by, for instance OMT has been used on the mission field frequently by a couple of doctors I have met, and have likely assisted in the healing of the patient, whether actual or just placebo.

I hope you ask so real practicioners of OMT before you think it is just some minor aspect.

AT Still found that many of the maladies that people died from in his time could have been assisted if they had better circulation. Originally, AT Still used techniques to improve circulation, thus assisting people...

later...

Ian

 

[hyphencracy]

Okay before I decide to sign my name on the dotted line to apply for any D.O. school I want to better understand just what this osteopathic manipulative treatment stuff is all about. I've tried searching google and all I'm getting are bullsh*t corporate websites that say OMT involves hands, cures all ails, and gives you the strength to wrestle grizzly bears. If anyone could provide me with some real, in-depth information you'd be my hero for the evening.

Videos of OMM/OMT in action:

http://www.acofp.org/saylak/omtforent/index.html
http://www.acofp.org/saylak/omtforent2/index.html

Like you, I like the philosophy of osteopathic medicine, but I can't see myself using OMM/OMT.