Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment: What You Should Know

Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment: What You Should Know

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Palm Beach Pain Institute in Osteopathic Medicine

Is back or neck pain affecting your quality of life? If you have tried other sources of pain relief like over-the-counter medications, prescription meds, acupuncture, or chiropractic treatments, osteopathic manipulation may finally provide some relief. Keep reading to find out more.

Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment (OMT)

Osteopathy is a science that incorporates an in-depth understanding of applied anatomy and physiology – structure and function of the human body and uses techniques to achieve health in the functioning of the tissues and organ systems. Osteopathic treatment addresses the whole person in the individualized approach that Dr. Merson develops for each patient.  Dr. Merson attended the University of Miami School of Medicine, an allopathic (M.D.) school, and developed an interest in and trained in Osteopathic Medicine early in her career. She uses Osteopathic principles in her diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Osteopathic manipulative therapy is a type of treatment performed by a physician. It works for acute and chronic pain, and can treat many conditions. Dr. Merson at Palm Beach Pain Institute uses effective hands-on techniques to help a patient’s pain.  Osteopathic techniques do much more than simply manipulating a patient’s muscles and joints.

The techniques help many of the body’s tissue layers, including the fascia, ligamentous structures and fluids including the vasculature (veins and arteries) to function as well as possible.  Dr. Merson evaluates each patient from a medical and an Osteopathic perspective and develops a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan.

Traditional Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treats conditions including neck and low back pain with comprehensive solutions for issues that affect up to approximately 80% of people at some point during their lifetime.

Dr. Merson is specially trained in healing the musculoskeletal system and its disorders, and treats the structural imbalances in your body to improve the circulation, connective tissues including the ligaments, bones and fascia to relieve pain. Dr. Merson at Palm Beach Pain Institute uses a variety of Traditional Osteopathic techniques.  During treatment Dr. Merson gently moves, stretches, and manipulates a patient’s body and may perform techniques that move the muscles and joints, sometimes stretching the limbs into different positions helping to align joints.

Some of the movements can be slow utilizing pressure, or they can be quick sudden movements.

None of these manipulations should be painful, but you may feel some mild changes in your body and possibly some soreness  for a day or so after treatment.

What Can OMT Treat?

Besides back pain, there are many other conditions and disorders that OMT can relieve.

They include the following:

• Asthma and sinus infections
• Bowel issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation
• Sports injuries and repetitive stress injuries
• Chronic pain like migraines, fibromyalgia, and arthritis
• Musculoskeletal problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, back and neck pain, and joint pain
• Problems during pregnancy like insomnia, edema, and sciatica
• COPD along with conventional medications

Goals of Osteopathic Manipulation

The key goals of osteopathic manipulation are to reduce pain, improve range of movement, and encourage blood flow.

Contact board-certified physician Dr. Merson at (561) 499-7020 if you have been having chronic pain and want an evaluation for an osteopathic manipulation treatment in Delray Beach, FL.