title: Osteopathic manipulative medicine considerations in patients with chronic pain.
abstract: Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) incorporates diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that address body unity, homeostatic mechanisms, and structure-function interrelationships. In regard to pain, osteopathic physicians take thorough histories guided by palpatory examination to determine the quality, duration, and origin of this condition, how it uniquely affects the individual, and whether segmental, reflex, or triggered pain phenomena coexist. Osteopathic manipulative medicine expands differential diagnoses by considering somatic dysfunction and treatment options by integrating specific aspects of complementary care into state-of-the-art pain management practices. Prescriptions formulated through an OMM algorithm integrate each osteopathic tenet with biopsychosocial and patient education models and medication, rehabilitation, and manual medicine techniques proportionate to individual needs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4190 City Ave, Suite 320, Philadelphia, PA 19130-1633, USA. MichaelKuc@pcom.edu
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kuchera
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D026301:Manipulation, Osteopathic; D059408:Pain Management