Reasons to Treat with Osteopathic Manipulation

There are many conditions that may benefit from osteopathic consultation and treatment. Musculoskeletal pain and injury are commonly referred for treatment but other less well known conditions may also benefit.

Examples include:

For infants and young children: Infant colic, plagiocephaly (an unusually shaped head), recurrent ear infections, recurrent sinusitis, maloclussion/TMJ dysfunction

For older children and adults the above list plus these may benefit: vertigo headache, sports injuries, sprains, mild to moderate scoliosis.

OMT can play a role in the comprehensive care of asthma, COPD, CHF and digestive ailments. 

Patients with osteopenia (thinning of the bone) or osteoporosis can be safely treated with gentle techniques most often used by Dr. Katsaros.  Be sure to call or ask about these or any other concerns.

Treatment for any of the above conditions is first evaluated for the cause of the condition.   The effectiveness and role of manipulation treatment can then be addressed.  Call the Hands On Health office with your specific questions if they are not addressed here.

Treatment Types

There exists a variety of Osteopathic manipulation treatment techniques used in treatment.

Infants and children can be treated primarily with Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (OCF) this is also known as “cranio-sacral” treatment. 

OCF is incorporated for patients of all ages with other treatment techniques like myofascial release, strain-counterstrain, articulatory, indirect, direct, balanced ligamentous tension, and Still technique.  The effect is to adjust and balance the body’s tissue to relieve spasm and strain.

What to Expect during Treatment

Up to one hour for new patients and one-half hour for follow-up patients is scheduled to be sure you have adequate time with the physician and feel confident with your plan for treatment.

Wear comfortable clothes for your appointment and remember to bring any previous studies such as X-rays or CT scans or reports. 
Osteopathic manipulation is a form of treatment that can employ many different techniques.  For treatment by Dr. Katsaros you can expect to be evaluated and treated gently throughout the body.   This includes the hip, trunk, neck and head areas as well as extremities.  Your comfort guides treatment and you can request modification of treatment to improve your comfort.

Follow-up

For a new patient with no previous treatment experience a follow-up visit in 7-10 days may be recommended.  This depends on the individual’s diagnosis and the treatment received.  Some conditions benefit from weekly or bi-weekly treatment for several weeks then as needed follow-up visits. 

Home Exercises and Maintenance

An office visit and osteopathic manipulation treatment is just part of your healing process.  During your visits we will discuss activities that may aggravate your condition and recommend exercises or activities to benefit your whole person and lifestyle.

Diet can be addressed regarding more beneficial habits in diet versus less healthy eating habits.  For some patients regular maintenance visits are a part of their healthy, active lifestyle.