PT and OMT: differences and expectations

Targeted Manual Therapy Sessions incorporate all systems of the body to correct pain patterns and loss of function.

Physical Therapy can be an important tool for recovery and healing. I learned from a peer from Australia that PTs there are called Exercise Prescriptionists: I loved this quasi translation as it nods to the current necessity in the United States for a Doctor of Physical Therapy certification and licensure that allows prescriptions for exercise. Exercise Prescriptionist also emphasizes personalization of exercise assignments and practice for strengthening an area or capacity for movement and increased Range of Motion across joints.

I've had experience with such exercise prescriptions during my study to earn my Massage Therapy License. I really valued understanding specifically the exact muscles responsible for my pain patterns, and I happily practiced the exercise both in-office and at home.

Currently the flow-chart of services supported by medical insurance payments draws a box around an area of pain to concentrate the focus of treatment. My own report of foot and knee pain was thoroughly addressed in person by my PT across several sessions with at-home assignments. But it was my classwork and training practice that reset my pubic symphysis, restoring my capacity for balance and stopped the pain patterns reported by my knee and foot. Without alignment at the joint at the center of the body, the pubic symphysis, the legs are challenged to maintain forward movement. My misalignment at the center joint caused the pain patterns that were found in my knee and foot. This experience illustrates the differences between sessions of PT and OMT, Osteopathic Manual Therapy.

Osteopathic Manual Therapy is defined as manual or hands-on tissue work targeting the "path of the bones." Embryology, or the study of the development of the body in the womb reveals that the multiplication of cells in weeks 1-4 after conception catapults in week 5 to the neural tube development of the ectoderm including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The ectoderm is also responsible for the development of skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, as well as tooth enamel. Similarly at this time, the mesoderm or middle layer manufactures the muscle, cartilage, bone and connective tissues under the skin. The endoderm or third, inner, layer is first developed outside the fetus and will shift interiorly by week nine with the organs of the lungs, intestines, urinary system, thyroid, liver and pancreas. The timing and relationships of these developing structures are still active during adulthood.

The Baby Center does a great job with simple summary, above, size comparisons, and explanations of body development. These developmental steps and relationships between structures that are built together become handles for my osteopathic-trained Targeted Manual Therapy.

What is the Target for a Manual Therapy Session? First, it is Range of Motion tests that identify the source of restriction, adhesion, and pain. Andrew T. Stills is the American-born Father of Osteopathy. Western University of Health Sciences does a great job introducing him.

The two osteopathic principles that Stills introduced govern my work as a Licensed Massage Therapist. First, everything in the body is intended to move; when something stops moving, then something else suffers and can complain with pain messaging. The second principle is that all things need to be fed. If food and/or fluid flow is restricted in or out of an area, the region or involved organs can suffer. Muscles can get and send the wrong messaging of contraction creating trigger-point spasms. Joints can reduce their range of motion by tissue inflammation. Organs can message discomfort with one-directional signals via the spine.

My study based in osteopathic manual therapy practices, gives me the maps to the tissues: bone, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and fascia; as well as the maps for the nervous system, digestive organs, and circulation. While I limit my response to that which is appropriate for the licensure of a massage therapist, these different maps allow me to telescope in and out when there is an area of complaint and find answers to the question of What else can be involved?

Many times, during a session, the client will be asked to work with me to release tightness in an area. I like the hope that when the clients are helping to create the change that they get to walk away with the results. One of my trainers, a Physical Therapist, explained that PT helps the client practice "The swing of the door" with exercise. With Targeted Manual Therapy, we focus on "Getting the rock out of the door frame" so that the door can swing both fully open and shut,

quickly correcting and resetting capacity for increased range of motion as well as affecting reduced pain patterns.

At Copper Mountain Manual Therapy's private, professional office, clients can expect to stand, sit for quick observation, and then rest on the massage table. While research-based at-home suggestions will be offered at CMMT, these OMT sessions pair well with Physical Therapy work to restore function. Your work at CMMT will ensure and support capacity for necessary micromovements and communication between body systems; PT will offer targeted practice that can strengthen the body for movement.

Scheduling regularly for a manual therapy session supports micromovements and coordination of body systems in our favor through the growth and development of childhood, maturation of teen years, and the decades of adulthood. Healthy investments during the 40s-60s opens the doors to independence and maintained mobility during the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. Serving clients in their first days and months through the decades of play, sport, and activity, as well as shoring up capacity during aging, and after injury or surgery is the purpose of osteopathic-based manual therapy. Join us and schedule now:

Click Here to Schedule