Osteopathic Manual Medicine/Cranial Osteopathy
What is Osteopathic Manual Medicine?
Osteopathic manual medicine (OMM), or osteopathy, is a comprehensive hands-on medical treatment approach for restoring normal body function. By using their hands, physicians specializing in OMM gently and precisely palpate (feel) the “living anatomy” of the body, identify areas of strain or dysfunction, and allow the body to make a self-correction. By harnessing and cooperating with the unerring intelligence of the normal healing forces of the body, osteopathy treats the whole patient, and allows the physician to diagnose and treat core dysfunctions that are the root cause of pain and disease, instead of just treating symptoms.
Within our current system of modern medicine, OMM is truly holistic, preventive medicine because it views the body as one beautiful interconnected unit of mind, body, and spirit, not simply a bunch of unrelated parts. Osteopathy allows the entire body to function at its fullest potential.
Osteopathy is not chiropractic, physical therapy, or massage. It is a gentle, effective, non-invasive medical treatment performed by a physician that seeks long term resolution to pain and disease by working with and respecting the intelligent, involuntary, self-regulating mechanism within.
OMM is helpful for everyone from elite athletes and other highly functioning performers to the most inactive couch potato. Infants, children, and adults all benefit.
While many patients seek consultation with an OMM physician for musculoskeletal problems such as neck, back, or other joint pain, OMM can also be beneficial for many other health problems, including sinus problems, pain in pregnancy, fibromyalgia, neurological problems such as migraines and sciatica/lumbar radiculopathy, digestive problems, and ear infections and colic in children. In short, osteopathy offers a unique treatment approach to healing for many issues.
A few patients describe their experiences with osteopathy:
“My primary care physician recommended Dr. Lytle-Vieira for treatment of hip pain. My condition improved greatly after three treatments. A few months later, I had a fractured sternum from a car crash. Once again, Dr. Saskia’s treatment helped with my body’s ability to heal itself. I don’t understand exactly how her treatments work, but I can testify that they are effective. And, I am grateful.”
“Dr. Saskia was able to help my baby at only a few weeks old. He was crying throughout the day and seemed inconsolable. After the very first visit, he immediately stopped crying and was back to being happy most of the time. I couldn’t believe the change I saw and how quickly it happened”.
“I had been in pain so long I didn’t think I’d ever feel good again. After just a few appointments, Dr. Lytle-Vieira helped me more than I ever dreamed possible. Before, I could barely walk around the block, now I’m up to a mile a day”.
What is cranial osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy (also known as osteopathy in the cranial field--OCF) is the clinical application of the osteopathic approach (anatomy, physiology, and osteopathic philosophy) as it relates to the cranium (head) and sacrum (tailbone). Taught by William Garner Sutherland, DO, the cranial concept involves the diagnosis and treatment of the living mechanism between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the sacrum, as they relate to the body as one interconnected unit. Dr. Sutherland taught that normal function of this mechanism is essential for health.
Who may diagnose and treat using cranial osteopathy?
Only fully licensed physicians (DO’s or MD’s with osteopathic training) can treat using cranial osteopathy, due to the fact that it requires a formal medical education, residency training, and continued post-graduate training in osteopathy. A complete osteopathic education is the only way to get the necessary clinical knowledge, training, and skills needed to provide an accurate diagnosis and safe, effective treatment.
For a referral to a physician specializing in osteopathy near you, go to www. cranialacademy.org or www.academyofosteopathy.org