What is Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine?

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) is a medical approach where treatment focuses on the connection between the body's structure and how it functions. It focuses on supporting the body’s natural ability to heal while working alongside other medical treatments.

Here at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), your child has access to Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), one of the many services offered through our Integrative Health Program. This service is offered at the Main Building on our Philadelphia Campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.

What is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine?

OMM is provided by Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who are fully licensed physicians, just like Medical Doctors (MDs). They complete four years of medical school, licensing examinations, residency training, and, when applicable, fellowship training.

In addition to their medical education, DOs receive 300 to 500 hours of additional training in OMM and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), giving them specialized expertise in using hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat patients.

What is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment?

OMT is a hands-on approach to care used in OMM. Using gentle techniques, your child’s physician evaluates how the muscles, joints, bones, connective tissues and nerves are working, and applies individualized treatment to improve movement, reduce discomfort and support overall health.

OMT can be used along with other treatments or as a treatment on its own. DOs can use OMT in addition to the medical treatments used by MDs. Some DOs think of OMT as an extra tool to help diagnose, treat and prevent disease.

Who might benefit from OMM?

Children of all ages and abilities can be treated with OMM.

Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common complaints OMM can address. OMM in pediatrics can also be used to help treat asthma or pneumonia, feeding difficulties, constipation, migraines and headaches, sports injuries, and other conditions where improving body function may support healing.

Your physician will determine whether OMM is appropriate for your child’s specific condition.

What can we expect during an OMM treatment?

Your child’s inpatient treatment begins with a medical evaluation and discussion of their symptoms, health history and goals for treatment. If OMM is appropriate, your child’s physician will explain the treatment and answer any questions before beginning.

DOs use a wide variety of treatment techniques. Most include:

• Gentle stretching
• Applying light pressure to help address changes to the body’s structure
• Applying light resistance to improve mobility or restore normal body function

Children can sit, stand, lie down or even sleep through treatments. Depending on the concern, treatments may just take a few short minutes or might last a little longer. All treatments are gentle and individualized, adapted to your child’s age, size and medical condition, and designed to be comfortable and well tolerated.

How can I learn more about pediatric OMM, OMT and DOs?

You can visit the following websites to learn more about this style of treatment and how it could work for your child.

American Academy of Pediatrics:
What is a Pediatric Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)? - HealthyChildren.org

American Osteopathic Association: 
Osteopathic Medical Schools | American Osteopathic Association 
The DO Difference - Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine

American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians: 
What is a D.O.? – American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP)