Osteopathic Manipulation

Osteopathic manipulation is a hands-on method of diagnosing and treating your musculoskeletal system: bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues. At Elite Medical Professionals, the talented team of osteopathic medicine physicians, including Ryan Bhagwandin, DO, and Manit Roy, DO, have extensive specialized training in this type of noninvasive medical care. If you’re seeking a powerful yet safe way to maintain, restore, or maximize your musculoskeletal health, call the Piscataway, New Jersey, office or click online scheduling now. 

What is osteopathic manipulation?

Osteopathic manipulation is a medical approach that involves hands-on treatment of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and connective tissues). The system includes many unique techniques that focus on: 

• Locating the source of injury or pain
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Prevention of pain and injuries

Only highly trained doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) perform osteopathic manipulation. Like medical doctors (MD), DOs have extensive medical training in a broad range of areas, but DOs have additional training in osteopathic manipulation. 

I have chronic pain. Can osteopathic manipulation help?

Absolutely. In fact, osteopathic manipulation is a particularly effective way to manage many kinds of chronic pain, including:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Headaches and migraines
• Frozen shoulder
• Golfer’s elbow
• Foot pain
• Pelvic pain
• Plantar fasciitis

Additionally, osteopathic manipulation can help with illnesses like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep problems, chronic constipation, and many other conditions by improving musculoskeletal system function. 

How does osteopathic manipulation work?

Every system in your body is connected, and osteopathic manipulation recognizes that fact by covering several areas of your body, including the problem area and others. This is because sometimes the true source of pain is somewhere other than where you feel it. 

During this therapy, doctors use a variety of techniques according to your situation. You’re an active participant in some types of osteopathic manipulation. 

Some common types of osteopathic manipulation are:

• Craniosacral therapy: light pressure to ease head, neck, and back tension
• Massage: varied from light strokes to kneading
• Myofascial release: eases pain in the connective tissue covering muscles
• Lymphatic pump: rhythmic pumping movements
• Soft tissue release: pressure, then stretching
• Muscle energy: pushing against mild resistance, then stretching
• Strain-counterstrain: holding painful muscles in a new position to ease strain
• Spinal mobilization: gentle spinal pressure to improve spine flexibility and motion

There are many other techniques as well, each with specific benefits in terms of diagnosis and treatment of pain, stiffness, soreness, illness, and injury. Osteopathic manipulation can also help prevent injury. 

The team explains every treatment step as it happens. Sessions usually last 30-60 minutes, with a month or two between treatments. You can return to regular activity the next day and may have both immediate and gradual improvement in your symptoms. 

Schedule your treatment online or call Elite Medical Professionals today.