Is OMT a dying practice?

Unless you are an osteopathic physician, or a patient of an osteopathic physician, you might not know what OMT is.The American Osteopathic Association defines OMT as follows:  “Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment or OMT is hands-on care.  It involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Using OMT, your osteopathic physician can move your muscles and joints using techniques including stretching, gentle pressure and resistance.” OMT is one of the key principles of osteopathic medicine and one that Dr. Jeffrey Jones utilizes regularly in his practice, a career that has spanned decades.  His instructional role in Enid’s former family medicine residency program made him a mentor to many young physicians just starting their careers in medicine. He continues to influence medical students today.Used primarily to treat pain, Dr. Jones said there are a myriad of other uses for OMT.  Some of those include: asthma, respiratory issues, sinus disorders, pneumonia, digestive complaints, problems with motor coordination, and insomnia just to name a few. Last month’s annual Oklahoma Osteopathic Association convention even included an OMT session on using OMT to treat infant breastfeeding dysfunction.Dr. Jones passion for osteopathic medicine was inspired by a book titled “A Difference a DO Makes.”  The book belonged to his college roommate but Dr. Jones opened the cover and began to read. The book resonated with him and put him on a path that would change his life and lead him to become an osteopathic physician.Osteopathic medicine is based on the concept that systems in the body are interrelated and dependent upon one another for good health. This philosophy was developed in the mid 1800s by Dr. A.T. Still.  Dr. Still recognized the importance of treating illness within the context of the whole body. After years of study, Dr. Still began putting this philosophy into practice and began utilizing OMT. So successful were Dr. Still’s treatments, that he became known throughout the United States and people began flocking to him seeking help for various afflictions. “The purist in me would say that an osteopathic physician is utilizing OMT on a daily basis.” Dr. Jones said.Some, however, might argue that OMT is a dying practice in today’s world of modern medicine.  When posed with this question, several Enid physicians agreed. Others however, like Dr. Jones, are indeed using OMT regularly.Dr. Chuck Jantzen uses OMT daily, sometimes 4-5 times in the course of a day and has a couple of patients that he has seen for OMT for almost six years.  “Everyday is different.”  Dr. Jantzen said, “I have certain patients who schedule just for specific treatments so I try to space them out so I have plenty of time.”Dr. Jantzen has many patient stories regarding the use of OMT.  He shared a couple of examples.“I have had several younger patients with neck and back pain ( posture and cell phone time!) that respond very well with either a single or just a few treatments. I also try to show patients stretches or exercises they can do at home to help with the issues they are dealing with,” Dr. Jantzen said. “I have also treated patients with cervicogenic headaches that with treatments and stretches have significantly Improved headache frequency.”Dr. Jantzen believes that the number of DOs using OMT is a small percentage of graduates.   This is due, in part, to physicians going into specialty practice and office visit time constraints. “Depending on what specialty they pursue definitely impacts this percentage. When those learned skills are not used on a routine basis, many people don’t feel confident in doing treatments leading to fewer people using the techniques.  Time definitely plays a factor for many people. We have so much charting and other things that play into our entire day. Depending on the clinical setting, private practice or employed, providers have different requirements as far as patient numbers and how much time can be spent with each patient. That not only affects OMT but medicine as a whole.” “I personally enjoy doing OMT and it helps remind me why I went into osteopathic medicine.” Dr. Jantzen said.  A statement that Dr. Jones agrees with wholeheartedly.