Hawkins Mecham, OMM, Osteopathic Medicine, Noorda

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

At the core of our clinic’s mission is osteopathic medicine, a patient-centered approach with understanding how all the body’s systems are interconnected and how each one affects the others.

Osteopathic physicians receive special training in the musculoskeletal system so that they better understand how that system influences the condition of all other body systems. Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is hands-on care which involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Using OMT, your osteopathic physician will move your muscles and joints using techniques including stretching, gentle pressure, and resistance. These hands-on techniques are designed to enhance the body’s natural healing processes and support optimal health for patients at every stage of life.

OMT can help people of all ages and backgrounds. While OMT is often used to treat muscle pain, it can also help patients with a number of other health problems such as:

  • Pain during pregnancy

  • Postpartum support care

  • Asthma

  • Nerve Compression syndromes

  • TMJ Pain

  • Migraines

 FAQs

  • Both DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and MDs (Doctor of Medicine) are fully licensed physicians who diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications for patients. The main difference is that DOs receive additional training in osteopathic principles and techniques, particularly Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), which involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions. While MDs focus on allopathic medicine, which typically uses medication and surgery to treat symptoms and diseases, DOs take a more holistic approach, emphasizing the body’s ability to heal itself.

  • Osteopathic medicine is based on the belief that the body’s systems are interconnected and that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself. DOs focus on treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just addressing specific symptoms or diseases. Osteopathic physicians use a holistic approach to health, considering factors like lifestyle, environment, and emotional health in their treatment plans.

  • Osteopathic medicine is a distinct branch of medical care that emphasizes the interrelationship between the body's structure and function. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are trained to recognize how an imbalance or dysfunction in one part of the body can affect the entire system. They utilize both traditional medical treatments and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) to promote healing, alleviate pain, and improve function.

  • While osteopathic medicine is well known for its focus on musculoskeletal health, it is not limited to treating these issues. DOs are fully trained in all aspects of general medicine, including preventive care, internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics. They incorporate osteopathic principles in the treatment of a variety of health conditions, taking a whole-body approach to diagnosis and care.