Osteopathic Treatment of Muscular Strains
Osteopathic treatment is the treatment of the body as a whole.
The osteopathic physician, or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) also believes that healing comes from within. The treatment of osteopathic medicine is done by manipulation, stretching, ice, rest, exercises and other similar treatments.
Osteopathic medicine is not to be confused with chiropractic medicine or physical therapy.
Osteopathic medicine was founded in 1874 by a man named Andrew Taylor Still. An osteopath is a physician and may also be a primary care physician as well.
Osteopathic medicine is becoming widely recognized in the United States. The first school for this type of medicine was started in Missouri in 1892.
On first visiting the osteopathic physician, he or she would evaluate you to determine exactly where the area of discomfort was initiated. He or she would then move your body in a variety of ways and if further diagnosis were necessary an MRI or x-ray would be prescribed. A medical history would also be discussed and charted. You should plan on an hour-long visit upon initial examination.
Osteopathic treatment of muscle strain may involve ice, rest, and/or manipulation such as a force or pressure to the strained area. Other possibilities of treatment for a muscle strain might also involve traction, counterforce movements in a certain direction, thrusting movements, or a counterstrain technique. It is important to mention here that one should never attempt or have anyone untrained attempt these movements on your body.
Only a licensed, qualified Doctor of Osteopathic medicine is trained to do this. Greater injury can result if an unqualified or untrained individual attempts these same movements and techniques. Depending on the approach that is used for your specific injury there may be some muscle soreness that develops after an osteopathic session. This is entirely normal and to be expected. Should this last longer than a couple of days you will need to consult with your osteopathic physician.
If you have tried other methods for healing, such as seeking out the advice of your physician or chiropractic medicine and were not satisfied, you might try an osteopathic physician. Osteopathic medicine is becoming more readily available and a much more commonly sought out treatment in the United States.
Consult with your physician as to where you can find an Osteopathic medical facility in the area. Many people have been helped using this form of treatment. The sooner that you facilitate treatment for you injury, the sooner that you will be able to be discomfort free and back onto the road to living a normal lifestyle as you had previously. Osteopathic medical treatment is not for everyone, but it very well may be the best source of medical treatment for your muscle strain injury.