Osteopathic Manipulation

History

Although many people have not heard about Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Treatment (OMT), it has been around since the late 1800's devised by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still.  Dr. Still was a colonial doctor after growing up on the frontier and serving in the Civil War.  He was dissatisfied with traditional medical treatments using opium, whiskey, mercury and blood-letting.  He had faith in the body's natural ability to heal itself and reasoned that the reason for illness, aside from poor nutrition or poisons, there must be something inhibiting the body from doing its job.  In a healthy body, the arterial blood and nerve impulses travel unimpeded to all areas of the body bringing oxygen, nutrients and information while venous blood and lymph carry away the waste products. He studied anatomy intensely and was able to feel abnormal changes in the musculoskeletal system (tight muscles, cold or hot areas, etc) that when he adjusted them, pain was often alleviated and the body was able to regain its normal function over time.  He was called a quack, but his treatments spoke for themselves.  People from all over the country flocked to Kirksville, MO once they heard about this doctor who was able to provide such miraculous cures with his hands and most were helped.  Dr. Still created the American School of Osteopathy to help teach more people to do this work and thus the profession of Osteopathic Medicine was established.

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Current Osteopathic Medicine

Today the Osteopathic Medical community consists of DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) who complete 4 years of osteopathic medical school as well as a residency, similar to MDs.  The major difference is that DOs receive training in Osteopathic Practices and Principles where they learn more functional anatomy and how to do OMT.  At this point in time, most DOs do not maintain and enhance their manipulation skills for many reasons, most notably that it is hard to find time during medical practice where they have the option of treating patients with medication, surgery/referral, recommending lifestyle changes and/or OMT.  In such a complex world, their attention is drawn in so many directions that it takes extra effort to do OMT.  If you happen to have a primary care physician who also does OMT, consider yourself an extremely lucky patients.  For those that don't, then finding those of us specializing in OMT can be helpful for a variety of issues.

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OMT with Dr. Gilman: What to Expect

Whether you're a concerned parent with a baby who is having difficulty breast feeding or has a funny-looking head (plagiocephaly), a child with chronic ear infections or an adult who is having pain and would like to trying something other than medication and physical therapy, you have found a physician who will listen and pay attention you or your child.  Dr. Gilman will take a detailed history,  asking additional questions to flesh out what the issue is, what has been do to treat it, successes, failures, etc.  Dr. Gilman will then do a physical exam that will focus on neurological, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems to get a better sense of the body's functioning.   The Osteopathic Structural Exam assesses for restrictions in the tissues that could be contributing to the issue and where OMT is indicated.  OMT is often gentle, but firm.  Dr. Gilman will talk you through what she is doing at each step to ensure your comfort and provide education about why she is doing certain techniques.  Patients will often be curious about what is happening to their bodies, why they need to treatment and what they can do to prevent it in the future.  See below to learn more about pricing and how to book your new patient appointment below!