I endeavor, in the osteopathic medical care that I provide patients, to engage with, support, and enhance the body's natural and inherent tendency to strive toward a state of health and homeostasis.
With a solid, valued background as a residency-trained MD family practice osteopathic Physician, I feel fortunate to be able to orient my medical practice beyond a disease model approach. Utilizing the vital resources found in osteopathic manipulative medicine and classical homeopathy, my practice focuses on stimulating the patient's intrinsic impetus towards health and healing.
For example, with Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, I am trained to palpate (feel) the body's "living anatomy," i.e. the flow of fluids, motion and texture of tissues, and the status of the structural makeup. With this non-invasive system of osteopathic medicine, "Osteopathic Manual Treatment" is performed to restore normal function in areas impaired by trauma, acute health problems, and/or chronic illness.
Osteopathic medicine can address successfully a myriad of health problems through the osteopathic Physician's thoughtful evaluation, diagnostic assessment, and application of individualized osteopathic manipulative treatments.
- The body is a functional unit, consisting of body, mind, and spirit.
- The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
- Structure and function are dynamically interrelated.
- The Physician is a facilitator whose rational treatment is based on an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
The osteopathic medical treatment for each patient will vary depending on what the individual patient requires. The techniques that I utilize share a common intention to clear restrictions and restore fluid continuity, balance, and freedom. Furthermore, as William G. Sutherland DO states beautifully, the treatments "allow physiologic function within to manifest its own unerring potency, rather than applying a blind force from without." The palate of specific osteopathic treatment modalities is broad.
The treatment modalities I frequently apply are listed below.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial osteopathy is a specific approach within the osteopathic concept. It influences the structure and fluid surrounding the central nervous system, creating an impact on the total body and initiating the body's inherent capacity to heal itself. Fascial connections throughout the body are contiguous with the linings around the central nervous system, including the dura and other structures. Practitioners of cranial osteopathy utilize a manual approach to accomplish these goals within the practice of Osteopathic Medicine.
Visceral Osteopathy
Visceral manipulation relates to the interrelationship of the structure and function of the internal organs being just as important as among the constituents of the musculoskeletal system. Manipulation of the viscera can be beneficially used in the treatment of internal organ dysfunction and other disease states.
Myofascial Release
This procedure is designed to treat primarily the myofascial structures. In the use of direct myofascial release treatment (MRT) a restrictive barrier is engaged in the myofascial tissues. The tissue is loaded with a constant force until release occurs. In treating with indirect MRT the dysfunctional tissues are guided along the path of least resistance until free movement is achieved.
Lymphatic Technique
This manual procedure is designed to promote circulation of lymphatic fluids and can be used to treat various difficulties. One technique is pressure applied with the physician's hands to the supine patient's upper anterior chest wall. When the force is applied to the chest during its maximum expiration, the physician's hands are removed suddenly. This increases negative pressure within the chest to assist the body's respiratory system in moving lymphatic fluids.
Muscle Energy Technique
In this manual technique, the patient is directed to use his or her muscles from a precise position and in a specific direction against counterforce applied by the physician. The purpose is to restore motion, decrease muscle tissue changes, and modify asymmetry of somatic dysfunction.
Counterstrain
The counterstrain technique is a manual procedure in which the patient is moved passively away from the restricted motion barrier, towards the position of greatest comfort. At this point appropriate gamma gain distortion within the affected muscle fibers is restored.
Somatoemotional Release
Somatoemotional Release is based on the fact that the tissues of the body are extremely sophisticated. So sophisticated that they are capable of recording significant traumatic events of one's life, burning these patterns into your muscle memory. Trauma includes emotional as well as physical.
