What is an Osteopathy Manual Practitioner?
An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (OMP) is a healthcare provider skilled in assessing, diagnosing, and treating the body using hands-on techniques. Their work is premised on the understanding that the body is a system—the bones, muscles, joints, fascia, circulation, and organs are all interconnected and influence one another. Rather than chasing symptoms, OMPs seek to uncover the mechanical causes of pain and dysfunction and to restore balance so that the body can be free to heal itself, as it is designed to.
The Role of an OMP
From observing movement, restriction, and the relationship between structure and function to understanding biomechanics, an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner assesses with palpation; listening to the body through gentle touch. Therapies may include light adjustments, soft tissue techniques, movement therapies, and gentle structural adjustments that can assist with alignment, circulation and mobility.
OMP’s treat patients entirely manually. They do not administer medications, or use machines, unlike many other machine-based, pharmaceutical-based or exercise-based professions. This makes OMPs particularly ideal for those seeking safe, natural, and holistic health options.
Areas of Care
Patients frequently visit Osteopathic Manual Practitioners for various reasons, including:
- Back, neck, and joint pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Sports and workplace injuries
- Posture-strain and repetitive stress concerns
- Digestive, circulatory or respiratory issues associated with structural imbalance
- Stress-related tension and fatigue
Since the goal of OMPs is to support the individual as a whole, and not just look at isolated symptoms, patients often find themselves feeling better in more areas than the one they first sought help for, like better energy, better sleep, and better mood.
Why Education Matters
The OMP diagnosis and treatment may widely vary according to the quality of their education.
Advanced Osteopathy programs include a minimum of 4200 hours of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, osteopathic theory, hands-on lab and clinicaltraining practice. The purpose is to ensure that graduates are capable of identifying subtle dysfunctions and then treating them safely, accurately and effectively.
Sadly, not all programs are made the same. Programs that do not demand sufficient rigour at every level can graduate practitioners who do not possess the knowledge base to diagnose and treat complicated cases properly.
Fundamentals of the Profession
All OMPs work with these core osteopathic concepts at the core of their practices:
- The body is a unit, all systems are interconnected.
- Structure governs function.
- The body is self-healing and self-regulating.
These rules guide the OMP to look behind symptoms every time, to discover the cause of the dysfunction, ensuring osteopathy is preventive as well as therapeutic.
Choosing the Right OMP
Patients being treated by an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner need to:
– Did they participate in a 4200+ hours program with intensive hands-on lab and clinical practice?
– Are they affiliated with established osteopathy associations?
– Do they engage in ongoing education to stay on top of their skillset?
The Value of Osteopathy
Educated at the highest level, Osteopathic Manual Practitioners can yield exceptional results for patients, restoring them to health and wellness and arming them with strength and vitality.
How much an OMP can help you depends on their training. Pick a professional educated in a rigorous, principles-based education program, and you’ll be trusting a skilled, knowledgeable and caring practitioner to help manage your health.
