What is osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)?
OMT is a hands-on treatment where osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) use their hands to examine your back and other parts of your body such as joints, tendons, and muscles, for pain and restriction during motion that could signal an injury or impaired function.
What typed of injuries or illnesses can OMT be used for?OMT can be helpful in treating low back pain as well as relieving discomforts and/or musculoskeletal abnormalities associated with a number of disorders including asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, sinus disorders and migraines.
Who can benefit from OMT?
People of all ages have found relieve from pain and dysfunction as well as improved mobility through OMT. Many D.O.s incorporate OMT into their treatment plans for top athletes, workers with on-the-job injuries and people with illnesses and injuries such as asthma and low back pain.
What is the difference between OMT and other forms of manipulation?
OMT, used to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses, utilizes passive thrusting techniques but also includes a variety of non-thrusting methods designed to affect muscles and soft tissues. OMT also optimizes blood circulation to maintain and restore health while other forms of manipulation tend to focus more on spinal misalignments interfering with nerve transmission.
How is OMT prescribed?
A D.O.s decision to use OMT is made on a visit-by-visit basis depending on the condition of the patient at the time of each visit. This leads to a significantly lower number of visits than other health care providers who use manipulation.
How is OMT performed?
Your structural exam will begin with an assessment of your posture, spine and balance. Your D.O. will then use his fingers to palpate your back and extremities. He will then check tour joints for restriction and/or pain during motion and your muscles, tendons and ligaments where tenderness can signal a problem. Using a variety of OMT techniques, your D.O. will apply manual forces to your body’s affected areas to treat structural abnormalities and will then apply specific corrective forces to relived joint restriction and misalignments. Based upon the complexity or severity of your problem, you may require more than one treatment.
Does insurance cover OMT?
OMT is an added treatment tool that is covered by many managed care organizations. Typically, the physicians and the managed care plan negotiate the level of reimbursement.
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