Explanation of Osteopathy

Based on a health-oriented medical philosophy, osteopathic medicine uses a number of concepts to implement its principles. The neuromusculoskeletal system is used as a common point of reference because it directly relates the individual to the physical environment on a day-to-day basis. The practitioner’s primary roles are to:
  • Address primary cause(s) of disease using available evidence- based practices
  • Enhance the patient’s healing capacity
  • Individualize patient management plans with an emphasis on health restoration and disease prevention
  • Use palpatory diagnosis and manipulative treatment to focus on and affect somatic signs of altered structural, mechanical, and physiologic states

Osteopathic philosophy is meant to guide osteopathic physi- cians in the best use of scientific knowledge to optimize health and diminish disease processes. Upon founding his profession and school, Still expressed the hope that “the osteopath will take up the subject and travel a few miles farther toward the fountain of this great source of knowledge and apply the results to the relief and comfort of the afflicted who come for counsel and advice” (14). It is the intention of the authors to organize current medical knowledge and place it on a foundation of osteopathic philosophy. We do this in order to provide the osteopathic medical student with a road map that will lead to the further study of the science of osteopathy and the practice of the highest quality patient-centered health care possible.

Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is a core set of techniques of osteopathy and osteopathic medicine distinguishing these fields from mainstream medicine

Click here to view 40 different OMM Techniques

40 different OMM techniques

  1. Active Method
  2. Articulatory Technique
  3. Balanced Ligamentous Tension
  4. Chapman Reflex
  5. Combined Method
  6. Compression of the Fourth Ventricle
  7. Counterstrain
  8. Direct Method
  9. Exaggeration Method
  10. Exaggeration Technique
  11. Facilitated Oscillatory Release Technique
  12. Facilitated Positional Release
  13. Fascial Unwinding
  14. Functional Method
  15. Hepatic Pump
  16. High Velocity/Low Amplitude Technique
  17. Indirect Method
  18. Inhibitory Pressure Technique
  19. Integrated Neuromusculoskeletal Release
  20. Ligamentous Articular Strain
  21. Lymphatic Pump
  22. Mandibular Drainage Technique
  23. Mesenteric Release Technique
  24. Muscle Energy
  25. Myofascial Release
  26. Myotension
  27. Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine
  28. Passive Method
  29. Pedal Pump
  30. Percussion Vibrator Technique
  31. Positional Technique
  32. Progressive Inhibition of Neuromuscular Structures
  33. Range of Motion Technique
  34. Soft Tissue Technique
  35. Still Technique
  36. Thoracic Pump
  37. Toggle Technique
  38. Traction Technique
  39. V-Spread Technique
  40. Visceral Manipulation

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