Curious about Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM)? Dr. James Philson, at Des Moines University Osteopathic Manual Medicine Clinic has answers for your pediatric OMM questions.
Changes and patterns that develop in the early years can have long-lasting effects through life. Doctors can assess and treat a child’s body using osteopathic manual medicine (OMM), so the child can develop and maintain a diverse range of positive, lifelong growth.
Doctors at Des Moines University OMM Clinic maximize the health and wellbeing of kids and the changes to their bodies, minds, and spirits.
What is osteopathic manual medicine?
With osteopathic manual medicine, physicians use their hands to diagnosis and treatment. We feel for structural changes in the body and utilize various techniques to address these changes to improve function. The goal of OMM treatment is to improve how a person and his body functions.
What are some reasons you treat a child?
OMM can be useful for many conditions, including:
- Infant feeding or nursing difficulties (e.g., problems with latching on or swallowing)
- Colic
- Reflux
- Constipation
- Torticollis
- Misshapen head (plagiocephaly)
- Fluid in the middle ear (otitis media), whether with active infection or not
- Viral infections
- Asthma
- Developmental delay
- ADHD
- Migraines and other headaches
- Pain and some musculoskeletal issues
The utility of OMM is not limited to the above issues. With OMM, the focus is on the individual, one’s body and optimization of function, rather than a focus on the disease or problem. We are looking to find what isn’t working properly within that system and making the individual susceptible to disease/illness/or injury.
How does treatment with osteopathic medicine compare to going to a chiropractor?
Chiropractors mainly focus on the alignment of the spine and nerves. Physicians who practice osteopathic medicine, on the other hand, look more at the whole body and focus on its structure. Osteopathic physicians tend to treat a broader range of disorders, while most chiropractors tend to focus on muscle and joint pain. Disclaimer: I am not a chiropractor and can’t fully speak for them, and may not have my facts correct concerning their practice and training.
Is osteopathic manual medicine safe? What are some side effects?
Overall OMM is quite safe. The most common side effect for infant and toddlers is fussiness or crying during the treatment. This may be because young age groups don’t like having their movement restricted (e.g., when gently holding their head or upper chest to treat). Common effects after treatment for infants can include sleeping a bit more and being calmer, which most parents are just fine with. Other side effects can sometimes be a temporary increase in irritability, headache, soreness, aching, and behavioral changes. There can initially be some worsening of symptoms, which are seen most frequently with pain in adults or adolescents (if present for a while), or reflux in young children. Most of the time this worsening is temporary, and what follows is often a good improvement of symptoms.
How long are appointments, and how frequently is one seen?
For the initial appointment, the physician will be in the room for about 40 minutes. For repeat visits, the physician will be in the room for about 20 minutes for discussion and treatment. Typically, we initially see patients once every one to two weeks, though this is also dependent based on what is going on with the person’s concern and how their condition is changing.
Do you need a special referral for treatment, and does insurance typically cover it?
The DMU OMM Clinic does not require a referral to be seen. Some insurance companies require a referral from a primary care physician for the patient to be covered in a specialty clinic such as the OMM Clinic. It is best to check with your insurance company if you are uncertain.
About Des Moines University Clinic
Des Moines University Clinic is a part of Des Moines University, a graduate health sciences university. DMU Clinic features comprehensive family medicine services all in one location, quick scheduling and prompt appointments, and specially trained physicians and staff with a focus on wellness and prevention.
Learn more about the Des Moines University Osteopathic Manual Medicine Clinic and how it can help your child. Call (515) 271-1717 to schedule an appointment.
Thanks for explaining that osteopathic manual medicine is when people use their hands to find a problem and help improve how your body functions. I think this would be great for my niece who is having a lot of problems with her body. I’ll tell my sister about it and hopefully she’ll be able to find someone who performs this form of therapy.