Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., having been unable to save his wife and children from Meningitis using the medical methods available to him in the late 1800’s, started a life long journey to understand how to alleviate dis­ease. He became a keen observer of the structure and function (anatomy and physiology) of the human body and how it heals itself. His personal loss galvanized his efforts to dig deep into the secrets of human function with years of precise anatomical dissection and he developed a living science called Osteopathic Medicine from the intensive study of every element of the human body. The fascinating part of his Osteopathic perspective is that he considered the inherent motion of human life. Osteopathic treatment was developed to continue to adapt to the ever changing needs of his patients. Dr. Still spent 1000’s of hours studying the relationships between the body and its many parts. He concluded that the body functions as a whole organism, which reacts to anything done to any part, by re­adjusting communication, organization, and living processes back and forth in order to achieve the greatest health possible.

He recognized that there was an Inherent Potency (or living vital energy) which assisted people in achieving that drive toward Health. The Osteopathic philosophy and treatment which he developed encompasses an in-depth understanding of the connection between structure and function, never separating the triune balance between body, mind and spirit. Even in the 21st Century, we do not have a single medication or therapy that can affect such a wide array of changes in the human body and stimulate our inherent capacity to resolve illness. The Osteopathically trained physician has unique tools to discover and release the body’s inherent Healing capacities by carefully analyzing every aspect of restrictions impairing normal physiologic processes. In allopathic medicine, we are not used to thinking about the possibility that position of an organ or part or slightly impeded blood flow or decreased communication between the neuroendocrine immune system could affect our overall well-being. In Osteopathic medicine, these are the scaffolding on which Health is rebuilt.

Anyone from newborns to seniors may benefit from the comprehensive approach to healthcare fostered by Traditional Osteopathic Medicine.

Pediatric:

  • newborn evaluation
  • birth trauma
  • blocked tear ducts
  • plagiocephally (or abnormally shaped skull)
  • torticollis (or wry neck), scoliosis
  • sleep irregularities, colic, reflux
  • difficulty feeding, failure to thrive
  • arching and agitation
  • acute chronic infections, asthma
  • tantrums, poor temper
  • bed wetting, encopresis
  • pain, falls, sports injuries, migraines
  • neurologic problems, cerebral palsy
  • developmental delays, coordination or speech issues
  • to improve results with orthodonture

 

Also symptoms and issues associated with a variety of genetic disorders such as Jacobsen’s syndrome, Angelman’s syndrome, Megalencephaly Megacapillary Malformation Syndrome, Down’s syndrome.

Adult:

  • dizziness, neurological problems, migraines
  • head injuries
  • pain, sports injuries, falls, limb sprain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • recovery from radiation or chemotherapy
  • post-surgical recovery, difficulty recuperating
  • bronchitis, pneumonia
  • sinus infections, otitis media
  • gastrointestinal issues: constipation, IBS, etc.
  • fatigue, stress-­related illnesses
  • discomfort during pregnancy, post-partum issues

 

Some people come to the Osteopathically trained physician after they have tried a number of other approaches. Other’s choose to have Osteopathic Medicine as the mainstay of outpatient care for all of their family members. We are interested in the processes and experiences leading to your present condition.

The physician examines a variety of aspects of your body, carefully analyzing the relationships between compensatory patterns, old injuries, scar tissue and habits, then constructs a specific treatment to interact with those findings to support the potential for change and resolution. For example, when someone sprains an ankle, the bones making up the ankle may have a distorted relationship due to the actual impact of the sprain (twist, bending to the inside or bending to the outside, slipping forward off of a stair etc.). Furthermore, the ligaments holding those bones together may be stretched or shortened reflecting the pattern of the injury and the force which caused it. Lastly, the muscles and fascia of the leg and foot, as well as membranes between the bones of the lower leg and the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels may also have a distorted position and resulting aberrant function because of the impact of the injury. (Advil and ice may relieve some pain but will not change any of the structural dysfunction).

Osteopathic evaluation and treatment allows the physician to analyze the complex pattern of compensation for the ankle sprain and to gently intervene with small changes in tension, pressure and position to allow the foot and lower leg to unwind the pattern of the strain and resume a more normal position. Over time, the return to a more physiologic position improves function, decreases swelling and decreases pain.

Obviously, not all problems brought for Osteopathic care are this simple, but hopefully it allows the reader to begin to have a concept of how their physician might think about/treat their problems in a new way. Because Osteopathic treatment is driven by the unique set of circumstances in your body, there are no protocols applied to your treatment. It is just as important to understand your stress level, your diet, your family situation, whether or not you exercise and how you exercise, as it is to examine your physical features, blood tests or imaging reports. All of the findings are compiled so that the Physician can be guided by the compensatory processes and the designs of the healing systems taking place as a result of all these different factors.

Initial visits are generally 50-90 minutes, during which a detailed history is taken, followed by a physical exam, much like most physician visits. In addition, a complete Osteopathic, as well as treatment, are performed. Follow up visits usually last about 30-­45 minutes. There are numerous different types of palpation and manipulation making up the overall array of possible treatments used. Your treatment may feel simply like light touch or pressure in specific places. The treatment for most patients takes place lying down. However, if the individual is more comfortable seated or physical findings lead the physician to want to work while observing the effects of gravity on the axial system, you may be asked to sit up or lie on your stomach or side. Wear loose and comfortable clothing for your visit.