Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic Medicine 
Why I became a D.O. OMT Overview Respiratory-Circulatory Method of Zink
Here is some information on specific techniques I include in my bodywork.
These all come from Osteopathic Medicine.
They are mixed and matched in an intuitive and flowing style.
My comments below are headlined in blue.
They are followed by indented definitions taken from...
The Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology
Osteopathic Philosophy was espoused by the founder of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Andrew Tayor Still, Jr.
osteopathic philosophy: a concept of health care supported by expanding scientific knowledge that embraces the
concept of the unity of the living organism’s structure (anatomy) and function (physiology). Osteopathic
philosophy emphasizes the following principles: 1. The human being is a dynamic unit of function. 2. The body
possesses self-regulatory mechanisms that are self-healing in nature. 3. Structure and function are interrelated
at all levels. 4. Rational treatment is based on these principles.
OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy) has also been called OMM (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine)
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): The therapeutic application of manually guided forces by an osteopathic physician (US Usage) to improve physiologic function and/or support homeostasis that has been
altered by somatic dysfunction. OMT employs a variety of techniques.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The list below is not all inclusive.
I have included those techniques I am skilled at and commonly use in my healing bodywork.
These techniques are mixed and matched intuitively based on my 30 years experience using them.
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Soft Tissue Technique is what most people would think of as massage therapy. I use soft tissue techniques in every session. It can be a gentle way of introducing myself to you and your body and it also prepares the tissues for deeper work. This style of work helps me to energetically align with the patient to start the session.
Soft Tissue technique, a direct technique that usually involves lateral stretching, linear stretching, deep
pressure, traction and/or separation of muscle origin and insertion while monitoring tissue response and motion changes by palpation. Also called myofascial treatment.
Muscle Energy Technique uses the patients muscle power to move things, usually pushing against the practitioner, after careful positioning, to achieve a specific effect. These are gentle well tolerated methods that engage the patient consciously.
Muscle Energy, 1. A system of diagnosis and treatment in which the patient voluntarily moves the body as specifically directed by the osteopathic practitioner. This directed patient action is from a precisely controlled position against a defined resistance by the osteopathic practitioner. 2. Refers to a concept first used by Fred L. Mitchell, Sr, DO, originally called muscle energy treatment.
Functional and Indirect Methods involves finding balance points, holding them and following them as the dynamics of the tissue changes. It requires the ability to percieve and monitor very subtle tissue dynamics. It involves disengaging restrictions and barriers (rather then engaging motion and energy restrictions which would be considered a 'direct technique" such as Muscle Energy Technique).
Functional Method, an indirect treatment approach that involves finding the dynamic balance point and one of the following: applying an indirect guiding force, holding the position or adding compression to exaggerate position and allow for spontaneous readjustment. The osteopathic practitioner guides the manipulative procedure while the dysfunctional area is being palpated in order to obtain a continuous feedback of the physiologic response to induced motion. The osteopathic practitioner guides the dysfunctional part so as to create a decreasing sense of tissue resistance (increased compliance).
indirect method (I/IND), a manipulative technique where the restrictive barrier is disengaged and the dysfunctional body part is moved away from the restrictive barrier until tissue tension is equal in one or all planes and directions.
High Velocity / Low Amplitude (HVLA) or "Thrust" techniques are best known to people as having a Chiropractic Adjustment with the distinctive resulting pop or crack of the back or neck. These are direct techniques that, in the right hands, are very useful and effective. This type of treatment should always be about continually monitoring the tissues during the therapy. It is always about positioning and finesse, and it should NEVER be about force. The thrust energy is quick and short (i.e. HVLA) and when applied, after correct positioning, is more of a nudge then anything else. There is greater risk of injury with this type of technique then any other, so always make sure it is applied by an experienced practitioner of the art.
high velocity/low amplitude technique (HVLA), An osteopathic technique employing a rapid, therapeutic force of brief duration that travels a short distance within the anatomic range of motion of a joint, and that engages the restrictive barrier in one or more planes of motion to elicit release of restriction. Also known as thrust technique.
Craniosacral Therapy (Osteopathy in the Cranial Field) is esoteric Osteopathy at its best!!! Yes, it is true, ALL FORMS OF CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY STARTED IN THE OSTEOPATHIC PROFESSION!!!!
When I was a medical student in 1981 the ONLY people that really knew anything about Craniosacral Therapy were the Osteopathic Physicians who practiced it. I was very fortunate that my mentor, J.Gordon Zink, D.O., studied with the founder of this field of study, William Garner Sutherland, D.O. I was fortunate to have contact with interesting Cranial Osteopaths like Viola Frymann, D.O. and John Upledger, D.O. It was Dr. Upledger who subsequently began training people outside the profession. Initially he worked with dentists because of the huge impact this work can have on temporomandibular dysfunction and also because their work can have such dramatic impact on the Cranio-sacral mechanism of primary respiration.
The Osteopathic Profession has had a hard time grasping Osteopathy in the Cranial Field. In general it was considered to an endeaver of those on the edge of science AND on the edge of mysticism. Some of the Osteopathic Cranial specialists seemed downright evangelical about their work. This was not always easy to stomach by a profession trying to prove they were scientifically and professionally equal to the big brother of allopathic M.D. medicine.
Dr. Upledger subsequently began training bodyworkers, wrote books and started his institute thus opening the doors of this field to anyone who wanted to come and study. This created great turf wars within the profession making him personnae-non-grata. Osteopathic Medicine argued that without the full training of a physician, that there is no way someone could understand and properly utilize this therapy. The counterpoint to this argument is that it is also an incredibly intuitive style of therapy that is easily grasped and utilized by those resonant with the teaching, regardless of formal scientific training. Since that time HUGE success of craniosacral therapy practiced by non-Osteopathic practitioners speaks for itself.
While not a specialist in the field of Cranial Osteopathy, I have studied and used it in my healing work for 30 years. It is integrated into my sessions along with everything else.
Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (OCF), 1. A system of diagnosis and treatment by an osteopathic practitioner using the primary respiratory mechanism and balanced membranous tension. See also primary respiratory mechanism. 2. Refers to the system of diagnosis and treatment first described by William G. Sutherland, DO. 3. Title of reference work by Harold Magoun, Sr, DO.
Myofascial Release and Fascial Unwinding deals with working on the bodies fascia, the strength layer that connects, encapsulates and unifies every aspect of the body. I recommend you do some reading about the fascia. In practice this is about winding and unwinding fascial patterns to encourage movement, flow and vitality. WONDERFUL, WONDER - FULL!!!
myofascial release (MFR), a system of diagnosis and treatment first described by Andrew Taylor Still and his early students, which engages continual palpatory feedback to achieve release of myofascial tissues. direct MFR, a myofascial tissue restrictive barrier is engaged for the myofascial tissues and the tissue is loaded with a constant force until tissue release occurs. indirect MFR, the dysfunctional tissues are guided along the path of least resistance until free movement is achieved.
fascial unwinding, a manual technique involving constant feedback to the osteopathic practitioner who is passively moving a portion of the patient’s body in response to the sensation of movement. Its forces are localized using the sensations of ease and bind over wider regions.
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lymphatic pump, 1. A term used to describe the impact of intrathoracic pressure changes on lymphatic flow.
This was the name originally given to the thoracic pump technique before the more extensive physiologic effects of
the technique were recognized. 2. A term coined by C. Earl Miller, DO.visceral manipulation (VIS), a system of diagnosis and treatment directed to the viscera to improve physiologic
function. Typically, the viscera are moved toward their fascial attachments to a point of fascial balance. Also
called ventral techniques. osteopathic musculoskeletalinhibitory pressure technique, the application of steady pressure to soft tissues to reduce reflex activity and
produce relaxation. integrated neuromusculoskeletal release (INR), a treatment system in which combined procedures are designed to stretch and reflexly release patterned soft tissue and joint-related restrictions. Both direct and indirect methods are used interactively.
traction technique, a procedure of high or low amplitude in which the parts are stretched or separated along a longitudinal axis with continuous or intermittent force
(Jone's Counterstrain Technique)counterstrain (CS), 1. A system of diagnosis and treatment that considers the dysfunction to be a continuing, inappropriate strain reflex, which is inhibited by applying a position of mild strain in the direction exactly opposite to that of the reflex; this is accomplished by specific directed positioning about the point of tenderness to achieve the desired therapeutic response. 2. Australian and French use: Jones technique,
(correction spontaneous by position), spontaneous release by position. 3. Developed by Lawrence Jones, DO.
facilitated positional release (FPR), a system of indirect myofascial release treatment. The component region of the body is placed into a neutral position, diminishing tissue and joint tension in all planes, and an activating force
(compression or torsion) is added. 2. A technique developed by Stanley Schiowitz, DO.
facilitated oscillatory release technique (FOR), 1. A technique intended to normalize neuromuscular function by applying a manual oscillatory force, which may be combined with any other ligamentousor myofascial technique. 2. A
refinement of a long-standing use of oscillatory force in osteopathic diagnosis and treatment as published in early osteopathic literature. 3. A technique developed by Zachary Comeaux, DO.
Respiratory-Circulatory Method
fascial patterns: 1. Systems for
classifying and recording the preferred
directions of fascial motion throughout
the body. 2. Based on the observations of J. Gordon Zink, DO, and W.
Neidner, DO.
common compensatory pattern
(CCP), the specific finding of
alternating fascial motion preference at
transitional regions of the body
described by Zink and Neidner. (Fig.
11)
uncommon compensatory pattern,
the finding of alternating fascial
motion preference in the direction
opposite that of the common
compensatory pattern described by
Zink and Neidner. (Fig. 12)
uncompensated fascial pattern, the
finding of fascial preferences that do
not demonstrate alternating patterns of
findings at transitional regions.
Because they occur following stress or
trauma, they tend to be symptomatic.
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