What is Orthopedic Manual Medicine?
Orthopedic Manual Medicine is defined as the medical approach of all benign alterations of the musculoskeletal system (particularly of the spine) and its treatment by manual and non-invasive techniques.
The main technique used in Orthopedic Manual Medicine is joint manipulation (mostly vertebral) although there are other techniques such as joint mobilization without impulse, muscle stretching or massage in its many forms.
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a paramedic practice based on the theory that many diseases are due to a loss of structural integrity. The body systems work together and, therefore, the disorders in a system may affect the function of the other.
According to the principles of Osteopathy, through manipulation of the musculoskeletal system, vital organs alterations or diseases can be healed since this manipulation would help to revitalize the blood supply or return to the normal range of motion at the damaged joint and hence the patient’s recovery.
What is the difference between Orthopedic Manual Medicine and Osteopathy?
While Orthopedic Manual Medicine and Osteopathy share views, therapeutic approaches and manipulative techniques, the main difference is that Orthopedic Manual Medicine can only be performed by a degree in Medicine and Surgery.
Osteopathy, however, is a technique which can be performed by non medical personnel and is just therein lies a major difference.
Most common clinical syndromes consultation
Many syndromes and / or conditions may benefit from treatment with Orthopedic Manual Medicine and Osteopathy, for example:
- Cervical Level: Cervical pain, stiff neck, headache of cervical origin, cervicobraquialgias, some dizziness, headaches, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back pain.
- Dorsal Level: back pain, bone pain, back pain of thoracolumbar origin, abdominal or thoracic celulalgias.
- Lumbar Level: acute and chronic low back pain, sciatica, radicular pain and some other pain in the hip and knee.
Effectiveness of Orthopedic Manual Medicine
Pain syndromes as common as lumbago, sciatica, neck pain or back pain are widespread tax treatment by Orthopedic Manual Medicine.
In most cases there is a pain relief (whose origin was in the joint manipulated) and a restoration of normal mobility thereof. The disappearance of pain may be immediate or deferred in a few hours, depending on the patient.