Osteopathic Manipulation

What is osteopathic manipulation?

Osteopathic manipulation is a hands-on technique in which your Health Solutions doctor gently maneuvers your muscles and joints with varying levels of pressure and resistance. Physicians with a background in osteopathic medicine receive special training to better understand the connection among the muscles, nerves, and joints throughout the body. 

What sets osteopathic manipulation apart from alternative medical interventions is its focus on the whole body. When providing treatment, your doctor takes a holistic approach, addressing your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. In many instances, non-surgical osteopathic manipulation can help you avoid surgery and even medication.

What can osteopathic manipulation treat?

Osteopathic manipulation is a versatile treatment that aims to relieve pain, improve mobility, and promote healing throughout the body. Some of the most common conditions that osteopathic manipulation can treat include:

Sinusitis

Sinusitis occurs when the cavities surrounding your nasal passages become inflamed and clogged with fluid and bacteria. To treat sinusitis, your doctor combines varying osteopathic pressure techniques with sinus drainage treatments. This helps drain the nasal passages to reduce pain and pressure in the sinuses.

Back pain

With osteopathic manipulation, your doctor can maneuver the vertebrae in the spine to relieve pressure on nerves, particularly if you have a herniated disc in your back. When combined with physical therapy and steroid injections, you may avoid surgery.

Menstrual pain

When over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers aren’t enough to reduce your menstrual cramps, osteopathic manipulation techniques can reduce menstrual pain.

Migraines

Manipulation in the upper spine is an effective treatment for migraines, cervicogenic headaches —  often caused by neck tension — and tension headaches.

What are the benefits of osteopathic manipulation?

Chronic pain can prevent you from carrying out your normal activities, such as work or exercise. To mask the pain, many people turn to OTC pain relievers and even opioids, which can be addictive. Unfortunately, these medications can’t target the root cause of your pain.

Osteopathic manipulation treats pain and discomfort at the source to repair muscle damage, improve joint mobility, promote healthy blood flow, and treat structural abnormalities in your body. This noninvasive treatment can help improve your overall health without relying on medication or surgery.

Osteopathic manipulation is a safe, effective therapy for a variety of different health concerns. To learn more, call Health Solutions, or book an appointment online now.