Osteopathic Medicine for the Treatment of Pain in the Rehabilitation Patient

Abstract

Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM ) is an effective complement to the nonsurgical management of pain. Osteopathic philosophy sees an interrelated unity in all systems of the body, with each working with the other to heal. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are fully licensed physicians, who practice in all areas of medicine. Osteopathic physicians receive additional training in the musculoskeletal system, making this philosophy of medicine comprehensive in its approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques can be performed at any stage in the continuum of pain, from acute to subacute to chronic. The approach to treatment can vary based on the body region, anatomical source of pain, and chronicity of symptoms. Despite strong anecdotal evidence of success in management of pain, there continues to be a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating superiority over other existing therapies. The RCTs often do not reflect the actual patient experience of an individualized evaluation and treatment experience with an osteopathic physician. This is the result of trying to standardize a patient interaction that is inherently individualized. Research aimed at demonstrating the prevention of pain chronicity would provide valuable cost-effectiveness data, as chronic low-back pain is disabling and costly.