Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment is a hands-on approach used by osteopathic physicians (DOs) to help diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury and improve function. Techniques range from a subtle touch to gentle pressures and stretching to precision thrust-style maneuvers. The area of treatment is evaluated, and a history is taken to determine the ideal treatment. Areas can include the back, neck, hips, and shoulders. This differs from chiropractic adjustments in that chiropractors push on the area or vertebrae with their hands, whereas osteopaths use the limbs to make levered thrusts. However, some techniques are shared between the two specialties.