The Step-by-Step Process of Osteopathic Manipulation

More and more people dealing with all sorts of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain are turning to osteopathic manipulation to find relief, but many patients who could benefit from it have little to no idea about how it actually works. Thankfully, the experience is somewhat similar to getting a massage or chiropractic adjustment, but the differences between OM and these methods matter. If you’re ready to put your pain behind you and want to know more about what it’s like to get osteopathic manipulation, keep reading to be walked through the 3 basic steps.

Step 1: Conversation & Exam

Unlike massage or chiropractic care, you can’t just schedule an osteopathic manipulation session with a doctor. It is a medical treatment, and as such, the doctor will need to evaluate you beforehand to see if you’re a good candidate for it.

This will involve asking you about your symptoms, performing a physical exam, and taking some X-rays. This way, they can make sure that osteopathic manipulation will benefit you, and if not, they can recommend another, more effective treatment.

Step 2: Hands-On Treatment

Osteopathic manipulation utilizes a wide variety of techniques to help rebalance the body and remove the source of someone’s pain. During the actual procedure, the doctor will gently move your joints and muscles. This may involve slow movements, fast ones, some that are designed to help the tissues stretch, and many others.

It will all be customized to your situation, and of course, you’ll be able to give feedback in the moment. The doctor may have you lay down, sit, stand, or assume a variety of positions so they can easily gain access to the tissues they are trying to treat.

Step 3: Afterglow

The body’s immediate response to osteopathic manipulation can vary widely from individual to individual. Some feel very loose like they’ve just received a 5-star massage, but better. Others are slightly sore and stiff. This is all perfectly normal and just shows that the treatment has affected the body, which is the whole point!

Within the next few days and weeks, the patient should begin to experience a notable reduction in the pain that brought them to the doctor, plus they should have an easier time moving and doing their favorite activities.

Two of the best aspects of osteopathic manipulation are that it is designed to help someone get out of pain, so the patient won’t have to undergo endless sessions like with massage and chiropractic care, and the doctor can combine it with other treatments to magnify its effects. Now that you have a better idea about how it works, hopefully you have the confidence you need to seek out the care you deserve.

About the Author

Dr. Joel Stein is a DO that has been taking care of patients and getting people out of pain for almost 40 years. Among the many treatments he offers, osteopathic manipulation is one of the most popular and successful. His decades of experience have helped him achieve some truly amazing results for patients who believed they were out of options, and if this sounds like you, then he’s eager to offer you hope. To learn more and schedule a consultation at the Institute for Non-Surgical Orthopedics in Hollywood, click here.