Do you also have frequent back and neck pain? Maybe it's because you work in an office and sit for hours. Or some people have periods of life when they get tired of things like migraines. Even if you take medicine for such pain, sometimes you only get temporary relief. But, did you know that there is a special manual treatment method for such muscle and bone pain? That's what we call OMT, or Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment. Let's talk about this simply today.
Simply put, what is OMT?
OMT is a treatment method in which a doctor uses his or her hands to manipulate the muscles, joints, and other tissues of your body. Strictly speaking, it is not just a massage. It is performed by specially trained doctors. The main goal of this treatment is to identify imbalances in your body's musculoskeletal system, realign them, and help the body heal itself.
Think of our body as a car. When the wheel alignment of the car is out of alignment, problems such as the car pulling to one side and the tires wearing out occur. Similarly, if there is a slight change in the alignment of the bones, joints, and muscles of our body, it can cause various pains and other health problems. OMT treatment works to correct that alignment.
Who performs this treatment? The difference between DO and MD doctors
This treatment is usually performed by doctors known as DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine). However, MDs (Medical Doctors) who have received special training for this can also perform it.
Although we in Sri Lanka are not very familiar with the term DO, both of these men are fully licensed doctors. However, there is a slight difference in the way they approach medicine.
- MD (Medical Doctors): Doctors are the ones we usually know. They use traditional methods like medicine and surgery to treat a disease or symptom.
- DO (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine): Rather than treating just one disease, these doctors focus on the patient's entire body, mind, and lifestyle . That is, they look at the person's entire life to find the cause of the disease. OMT is just one specific treatment method they use.
Who can benefit from OMT treatment?
Many people turn to OMT for back pain, neck pain, and migraines. However, this treatment can be used for many other conditions. Anyone from young children to the elderly can benefit from it.
For example, OMT can help pregnant mothers with back pain and insomnia. OMT may also be helpful for some infants with colic, difficulty breastfeeding, and frequent ear infections.
Below are some other situations where OMT treatment can provide relief.
| Problematic system | Examples |
|---|---|
| Respiratory system problems | Asthma, Sinus infections |
| Digestive system problems | IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Constipation |
| Long-lasting pain | Fibromyalgia, Arthritis |
| Bone and muscle problems | Joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome |
| Problems during pregnancy | Leg swelling (Edema), sciatica pain (Sciatica) |
| Sports injuries | Repetitive stress injuries |
Most importantly, when OMT restores the body's structural balance, blood supply and nerve function to the associated organs improve. This in turn improves the health of those organs.
How does OMT treatment work?
This treatment consists of several steps.
1. Before treatment
First, your doctor will talk to you thoroughly. He will ask about your symptoms, lifestyle, diet, sleep, and mental health. This will give the doctor a complete picture of how your lifestyle is affecting your health. Then, he will touch and examine various parts of your body. If necessary, he may also order an X-ray or MRI scan before starting treatment.
2. During treatment
During the treatment, you may be asked to sit in a chair, lie on a table, or stand. The doctor will touch your muscles and tissues and move your limbs into different positions. Sometimes they will tell you to bring your knees to your chest or turn to your side. During this time, the doctor will apply pressure, stretching the muscles and realigning the joints.
Some of these movements may feel a little strange to you, but you should never feel any severe pain. If you feel any pain or discomfort, you should tell your doctor right away.
3. After treatment
Everyone responds differently to OMT treatment. You may experience some soreness for a day or two after the treatment. Some people may feel tired, while others may feel incredibly energized.
It is very important to do the following things after treatment:
- Drink plenty of water: This helps flush out toxins released from the muscles during treatment.
- Take a short walk: Walking a short distance helps the body get used to the new balance.
- Don't overexert yourself: Avoid strenuous exercise or strenuous work for 24 hours after treatment.
What is the difference between OMT, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy?
Many people confuse these three treatments. They are different from each other. Let's see what the differences are.
| Treatment method | Main purpose and method | Who does? |
|---|---|---|
| OMT | Considering the whole body (mind, body, spirit), gentle manual manipulations restore balance to the body and help the body heal itself. | DO or specially trained MD doctors. |
| Chiropractic | It focuses primarily on the spine and musculoskeletal system. It often uses sudden, forceful (thrust-based) manipulations to reduce pain and improve movement. | Chiropractors. |
| Physical Therapy | Exercise and other activities are used to improve the body's function and movement after an injury or surgery. | Physical Therapist. |
The most important thing is that only DO and MD doctors are licensed to prescribe these three medications and provide other specialized medical treatments.
Take-Home Message
- OMT is a safe treatment method performed by a specially trained doctor.
- This works by rebalancing the muscles, joints, and bones in your body.
- This can provide relief from back pain, neck pain, migraines, and many other health problems.
- It is normal to feel a little soreness after treatment, but you should not feel any severe pain.
- It's best to talk to your doctor to find out if this treatment is right for you.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න