Overview of osteopathic manipulative medicine

A relatively new field of medicine called osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is gaining popularity and research support. Physical adjustments are made to various body regions as part of osteopathic manipulative therapies (OMT) in order to enhance systemic homeostasis and patient wellness. Many new Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) students are actually learning the osteopathic concepts of a mind-body-spirit-based treatment at osteopathic institutions across the country that are teaching this new area of the holistic patient-based approach. Many people, both inside and outside of the medical field, are still unaware of (or misinformed about) the therapeutic applications and potential benefits of OMT mechanisms, despite their shown therapeutic efficacy: 1) Assistance with neurogenesis and CNS cell development. (2) Controlling cerebral blood flow in the affected area, (3) Preventing apoptosis, (4) Controlling neurochemicals, and (5) Improving memory and long-term potentiation (LTP) after a stroke. Here, we provide a brief summary of this osteopathic procedure that focuses on the hands-on techniques that are regularly implemented in the clinical setting. Different OMTs can be employed to improve patient recovery, either on their own or in combination with the targeted therapies used in allopathic regimens, it is becoming increasingly clear. The benefits of adopting OMT as a therapeutic modality should therefore be made known to the broader medical community, as well as to the general public and those involved in the healthcare industry.