What is Osteopractic / an Osteopractor?
An osteopractor is a physical therapist or medical doctor (MD/DO) that has completed the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy's evidence-based post-graduate training program for the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions of the spine and extremities. Osteopractors specialize in the interventions of high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation and dry needling to treat said conditions.
Osteopractic physiotherapy is an approach to care, a sub-specialty within physical therapy, and more accurately describes the kind of physiotherapy services offered (rather than simply "physical therapy"). When one has a heart condition, they look for a cardiologist. When one has a skin condition, they go to the dermatologist. When your child needs medical care, you look for a pediatrician. Likewise, when you have neuromusculoskeletal conditions of the spine and extremities (e.g. neck pain, low back pain, headaches, tennis elbow, heel pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee osteoarthritis, shoulder impingement, joint pain, etc.), it makes sense to look for a specialist not a generalist within physical therapy that is specifically trained and has advanced post-graduate qualifications to treat those conditions—an osteopractic physiotherapist or Osteopractor.
Osteo- originates from the Greek osteon (“bone”) and –practor originates from the Greek praktikos (“to practice, do, or perform”). Although the term osteopractor literally translates to “bone practitioner”, the most recent evidence-based practice guidelines for musculoskeletal disorders clearly supports a “multi-modal” approach; therefore, in addition to the joints (i.e. the bones), the direct treatment of muscle, tendons, ligaments and fascia (all connected to the bones…), is recognized within the osteopractic concept for optimal patient management. Likewise, a neurosurgeon does not just operate on nerves during surgery, and osteopaths do not just treat bone diseases.
The term osteopractor has nothing to do with the chiropractic or osteopathic professions; that is, the osteopractor concept is firmly focused on the management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders in an evidence-based fashion, not the treatment of other organ systems as the profession of chiropractic has traditionally engaged. More specifically, the osteopractic concept does not subscribe to the theory of the “Vertebral Subluxation Complex” as the primary cause of “dis-ease”. In short, osteopractic physical therapists do not diagnose or treat all 10-organ systems as medical, osteopathic and chiropractic physicians are trained and licensed to do, and they do not utilize medicine or surgery as medical and osteopathic physicians are trained and licensed to do.
Not near Optimum DPT? You can find osteopractors and osteopractic trained clinicians here.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling (also known as intramuscular manual therapy) is an intervention which involves inserting either very thin solid filiform or hypodermic needle(s) into the body without injectable medication—thus the “dry” in the name. The purpose of the therapy is to promote local, spinal cord, and cortical (brain) responses which results in decreased pain, decreased muscle tone, improved mobility, and elicitation of the body’s natural healing processes.
Dry Needling is firmly based on western/modern medical knowledge and philosophy. That is, there are no Oriental / Traditional Chinese medical knowledge, philosophy or diagnostic techniques involved. Likewise, Dry Needling does not involve qi or energy, nor are all 10-organ systems influenced. Dry Needling is a shared procedure, practiced by physiotherapists, physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and others.
At Optimum DPT we utilize single use, solid filiform needles for patient safety and comfort, and, typically, incorporate gentle electrical stimulation in conjunction with the needling to enhance the treatment effect. On average treatments take 20-30 minutes. Therapeutic exercises and activities are almost always prescribed to complement, reinforce and magnify the treatment effect.
What is Joint or Spinal Manipulative Therapy?
Manipulative therapy is a manual therapy which involves the delivery of a high-velocity, low amplitude thrust to the body. The thrust, or impulse, is frequently, though not always, accompanied by a joint cavitation or sound (pops/clicks) as the manipulative force reaches the joint and causes a stretch of the tissues. The intent of a manipulative therapy is to decrease pain, decrease sense of stiffness, decrease muscle tone/guarding/spasms, and to improve range of motion and overall mobility.
Osteopractic physical therapy utilizes multiple lever, mid-range, momentum-induced manipulations which frequently result in multiple joint sounds but are far more gentle and comfortable than traditional “locking” manipulative techniques.
Therapeutic exercises and activities are almost always prescribed to complement, reinforce and magnify the treatment effect.