What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a science, a science that uses all
sciences. The central science is functional anatomy,
the study of the human body and how it moves.
Osteopathy is based on the principles of scientific
study and the application of all knowledge in
health care, in particular the study of the inter-relationship
and inter-dependence of structure (anatomy) and
function (motion). The one causes the other; they
do not exist without each other.
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What is Physiatry (PM&R)?
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR) also
referred to as Physiatry (PM) or Rehabilitation
Medicine (RM) is the medical specialty concerned
with diagnosing, evaluating, and treating persons
with physical disabilities. These disabilities
may arise from conditions affecting any of the
bodily systems.
For example, the musculoskeletal system is
frequently affected with neck, back, or limb
pain resulting from occupational & sports
injuries, or painful conditions secondary to
various hereditary & acquired diseases.
Alternatively, the disabilities may result from
neurological trauma or disease such as spinal
cord injury, head injury, stroke, or carpal
tunnel syndrome. A physician certified in physical
medicine and rehabilitation is often called
a Physiatrist.
The primary goal of the Physiatrist is to achieve
maximal restoration of physical, psychosocial,
and vocational function through comprehensive
multi-disciplinary rehabilitation. Pain management
is often an important part of the role of the
Physiatrist. For diagnosis and evaluation, a
Physiatrist may include the techniques of electrodiagnosis
(EMG/NCS), in addition to all available advanced
imaging technology, to supplement a thorough
history and physical.
As Osteopathic (DO) Physiatrists, we often
extensively include various hands-on manual
medicine techniques, which have evolved over
the centuries into a high art form, as well
as taking into account any nutritional considerations.
Thus the care provided under the direction of
a DO Physiatrist is rendered with a holistic
philosophy, incorporating the best of all that
traditional and complementary (alternative)
medicine have to offer.
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What is Pain Management?
The specialty of Pain Medicine is concerned with
the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment,
and rehabilitation of painful disorders. Such
disorders may have pain and associated symptoms
arising from a discrete cause, such as postoperative
pain or pain associated with a malignancy, or
may be syndromes in which pain constitutes the
primary problem, such as neuropathic pains or
headaches. The diagnosis of painful syndromes
relies on interpretation of historical data; review
of previous laboratory, imaging, and electrodiagnostic
studies; behavioral, social, occupational and
avocational assessment; interview and examination
by the pain specialist; and may require specialized
diagnostic procedures, including central and peripheral
neural blockade or monitored drug infusions. The
special needs of the pediatric and geriatric populations
are considered when formulating a comprehensive
treatment plan for these patients..
The pain physician serves as a consultant to
other physicians but is often the principal
treating physician and may provide care at various
levels, such as direct treatment, prescribing
medication, prescribing rehabilitative services,
performing pain relieving procedures, counseling
of patients and families, direction of a multidisciplinary
team, coordination of care with other healthcare
providers and consultative services to public
and private agencies pursuant to optimal healthcare
delivery to the patient suffering from a painful
disorder. The pain physician may work in a variety
of settings and is competent to treat the entire
range of painful disorders encountered in delivery
of quality health care.
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What is Neuromusculoskeletal
Medicine Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM/OMM)?
NMM/OMM is the medical specialty which is concerned
the integration of osteopathic principles, practice
and manipulative treatment in patient care. The
focus of this specialty is on the neuromusculoskeletal
systems and their relationships with every other
system in the body, including, but not limited
to, cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine,
reproductive, genitourinary, dermatologic, vascular,
lymphatic, psychologic, ophthalmologic, ENT, and
rheumatologic systems.
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