Who Uses OMT?
All osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) from surgeons to family physicians are trained to use OMT to diagnose, treat and even prevent illness or injury. D.O.s are fully trained and licensed physicians able to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Sixty-four percent of D.O.s currently practice in the primary care areas of medicine although they can also be found practicing in other medical speciality areas such as cardiology and neurosurgery.

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, ligaments and muscles for pain and restriction during motion that could signal an injury or impaired function.

What types of injuries or illnesses can OMT be used for?
OMT can be helpful in treating low back pain, as well as in relieving discomfort 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 relief from pain and dysfunction, as well as improved mobility, through OMT. Many D.O.s incorporate OMT into their treatment plans for athletes, injured workers, and people with illnesses and other musculoskeletal injuries.

What is the difference between OMT and other forms of manipulation?
When used to diagnose and treat illnesses, OMT utilizes passive thrusting techniques, but also incorporates a variety of non-thrusting methods designed to affect muscles and soft tissues. While other forms of manipulation tend to focus more on spinal misalignment interfering with nerve transmission, OMT optimizes blood circulation to maintain and restore health.

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 or her fingers to palpate your back and extremities. Your D.O. will then check your 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 then will apply specific corrective forces to relieve joint restrictions 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 insurance companies.