Chronic pain is one of the most common causes of long-term disability in the United States. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, affecting more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.
Osteopathic manipulation offers a holistic approach to pain relief. Ryan Freibert, DO, Osteopathic Manipulation specialist at St. Elizabeth Physicians explains, “I have specialized training in the musculoskeletal system. I understand the body’s intricate system of muscles, nerves and bones. Each of these systems is interconnected and a change in one can affect the other systems.”
The role of osteopathic manipulation in pain management is underutilized and sometimes misunderstood. According to the American Osteopathic Association, Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy involves using the hands to diagnose, treat and minimize illness or injury. Using Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy, an osteopathic physician will move muscles and joints using techniques including stretching, gentle pressure and manipulation.
“My job is to find places in your body that impede normal function, from mechanical to chemical to emotional,” says Dr. Freibert. “When you are in pain something happens to your body that doesn’t allow it to sustain a healthy environment. I find the subtle abnormalities or the mechanical compensations the body has made and fix those through musculoskeletal manipulation.”
Every motion the body makes should happen without resistance. Injury or trauma may change the mechanics of your body, not allowing that body to function or move accurately. Through manipulation, positioning and application of manual force, the osteopathic specialist can remove that resistance and improve pain symptoms. Therapy can be done in a few sessions to several months of treatment depending on your injury and the duration of your illness.
Osteopathic techniques can help patients with health problems such as:
- Arthritis pain
- Back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ear and sinus disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Joint pain
- Menstrual pain
- Migraines or headaches
- Neck pain
“Every person is a collection of spiritual, physical and emotional events,” says Dr. Freibert. “I treat every person as an individual. No two people need the exact same treatment.”
If you suffer from pain and have tried other options with no pain relief, osteopathic manipulation therapy may help you. To learn more, watch this video or call (800) 737-7900 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Freibert.