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Osteopathy, unlike osteopathic medicine, which is a branch of the medical profession in the United States, is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones. In most countries, practitioners of osteopathy are not medically trained and are referred to as osteopaths.
Spasticity is a feature of altered skeletal muscle performance with a combination of paralysis, increased tendon reflex activity, and hypertonia. It is also colloquially referred to as an unusual "tightness", stiffness, or "pull" of muscles.
Torticollis, also known as wry neck, is a painful, dystonic condition defined by an abnormal, asymmetrical head or neck position, which may be due to a variety of causes. The term torticollis is derived from Latin tortus 'twisted' and collum 'neck'.
Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after the exercise. It is thought to be caused by eccentric (lengthening) exercise, which causes small-scale damage (microtrauma) to the muscle fibers. After such exercise, the muscle adapts rapidly to prevent muscle damage, and thereby soreness, if the exercise is repeated.
Stretching is a form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle or tendon is deliberately expanded and flexed in order to improve the muscle's felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone. The result is a feeling of increased muscle control, flexibility, and range of motion. Stretching is also used therapeutically to alleviate cramps and to improve function in daily activities by increasing range of motion.
Manual therapy, or manipulative therapy, is a treatment primarily used by physical therapists and occupational therapists to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability. It mostly includes kneading and manipulation of muscles, joint mobilization and joint manipulation. It is also used by Rolfers, massage therapists, athletic trainers, osteopaths, and physicians.
Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), also known as trigger points, are described as hyperirritable spots in the skeletal muscle. They are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. They are a topic of ongoing controversy, as there is limited data to inform a scientific understanding of the phenomenon. Accordingly, a formal acceptance of myofascial "knots" as an identifiable source of pain is more common among bodyworkers, physical therapists, chiropractors, and osteopathic practitioners. Nonetheless, the concept of trigger points provides a framework which may be used to help address certain musculoskeletal pain.
Reciprocal inhibition is a neuromuscular process in which muscles on one side of a joint relax to allow the contraction of muscles on the opposite side, enabling smooth and coordinated movement. This concept, introduced by Charles Sherrington, a pioneering neuroscientist, is also referred to as reflexive antagonism in some allied health fields. Sherrington, one of the founding figures in neurophysiology, observed that when the central nervous system signals an agonist muscle to contract, inhibitory signals are sent to the antagonist muscle, encouraging it to relax and reduce resistance. This mechanism, known as reciprocal inhibition, is essential for efficient movement and helps prevent muscle strain by balancing forces around a joint.
The quadratus lumborum muscle, informally called the QL, is a paired muscle of the left and right posterior abdominal wall. It is the deepest abdominal muscle, and commonly referred to as a back muscle. Each muscle of the pair is an irregular quadrilateral in shape, hence the name.
Hypertonia is a term sometimes used synonymously with spasticity and rigidity in the literature surrounding damage to the central nervous system, namely upper motor neuron lesions. Impaired ability of damaged motor neurons to regulate descending pathways gives rise to disordered spinal reflexes, increased excitability of muscle spindles, and decreased synaptic inhibition. These consequences result in abnormally increased muscle tone of symptomatic muscles. Some authors suggest that the current definition for spasticity, the velocity-dependent over-activity of the stretch reflex, is not sufficient as it fails to take into account patients exhibiting increased muscle tone in the absence of stretch reflex over-activity. They instead suggest that "reversible hypertonia" is more appropriate and represents a treatable condition that is responsive to various therapy modalities like drug or physical therapy.
Counterstrain is a technique used in osteopathic medicine, osteopathy, physical therapy, massage therapy, and chiropractic to treat somatic dysfunction. It is a system of diagnosis and treatment that uses tender points, which are produced by trauma, inflammation, postural strain, or disease, to identify structures to manipulate. The manipulation uses light pressure to decompress the local nociceptors and mechanoreceptors responsible for the sensation of pain, returning central sensitization to its normal state. This technique extends Strain-counterstrain, a technique inhibits the reflexes by putting the tissues in a position of ease directly opposite to that of the reflex. Strain-counterstrain is also known as the Jones technique,, and spontaneous release by position. Counterstrain was developed by Lawrence Jones in 1955 and was originally called “Spontaneous Release by Positioning,” before being termed “strain-counterstrain.”
Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling and intramuscular stimulation, is a treatment technique used by various healthcare practitioners, including physical therapists, physicians, and chiropractors, among others. Acupuncturists usually maintain that dry needling is adapted from acupuncture, but others consider dry needling as a variation of trigger point injections. It involves the use of either solid filiform needles or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome. Dry needling is mainly used to treat myofascial trigger points, but it is also used to target connective tissue, neural ailments, and muscular ailments. The American Physical Therapy Association defines dry needling as a technique used to treat dysfunction of skeletal muscle and connective tissue, minimize pain, and improve or regulate structural or functional damage.
Muscle contractures can occur for many reasons, such as paralysis, muscular atrophy, and forms of muscular dystrophy. Fundamentally, the muscle and its tendons shorten, resulting in reduced flexibility.
Articulatory technique is a type of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) performed by osteopathic practitioners and U.S. trained osteopathic physicians. The physician uses low velocity and moderate to high amplitude forces to carry a dysfunctional joint through its full range of motion, with the therapeutic goal of increasing range of motion. It is a technique that involves repeatedly taking a restricted joint into and out of its barrier to reduce a restriction.
Dynasplint Systems, Incorporated (DSI) is a company that designs, manufactures and sells dynamic splints that are used for range of motion rehabilitation. The corporate headquarters are located in Severna Park, Maryland and it is considered a major employer in Anne Arundel County. Products are Made in the US in Stevensville, Maryland. There is a national sales force throughout the US as well as a presence in Canada and Europe.
Neuromechanics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biomechanics and neuroscience to understand how the nervous system interacts with the skeletal and muscular systems to enable animals to move. In a motor task, like reaching for an object, neural commands are sent to motor neurons to activate a set of muscles, called muscle synergies. Given which muscles are activated and how they are connected to the skeleton, there will be a corresponding and specific movement of the body. In addition to participating in reflexes, neuromechanical process may also be shaped through motor adaptation and learning.
Anatomical terminology is used to uniquely describe aspects of skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle such as their actions, structure, size, and location.
Muscle balance is necessary for muscles to perform their customary roles and move normally; muscle imbalance occurs when there is a lack of parity between corresponding agonist and antagonist muscles. Muscular imbalance can also arise when a muscle performs outside of its normal physiological muscle function.
Neuromusculoskeletal medicine (NMM), now more formally known as Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM), is a medical specialty of American osteopathic medicine. Physicians trained in the specialty focus on the clinical evaluation and management of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and its related visceral and somatic structures. Both American DOs and MDs have the option to train and practice in any of the medical specialties and subspecialties. Neuromusculoskeletal medicine is a specialty which is dominated by DOs, but MDs may also become certified. ONMM physicians complete residency training that includes advanced training on the integration of osteopathic principles into inpatient and outpatient care. They have specialized expertise in the indications, risks, benefits, and application of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) for treatment of patients with neuromusculoskeletal and visceral disorders.
Hydrogymnastics is a water-based therapeutic exercise. As its name suggests, this form of aquatic therapy or aquatic rehabilitation is performed in water, and it can take place in swimming pools at aquatic leisure centres and/or in home pools. Being a form of aquatic therapy, hydrogymnastics aims to improve the physical and psychological health and well-being of an individual. Hydrogymnastics can be performed by anyone, including youths, middle-aged people, the elderly, athletes and those with disabilities. Hydrogymnastics is often assisted by a qualified aquatic therapist and/or exercise physiologist. Although the effects of hydrogymnastics may vary between individuals belonging to different age groups and genders, hydrogymnastics mainly improves one's cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance and mobility.
References
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- ↑ Chaitow, Leon (2013). Muscle Energy Techniques + Videos. Elsevier Science Health Science Division, 2013. ISBN 978-0702046537.
- ↑ Savarese, Robert G. (2003). OMT Review 3rd Edition. p. 135. ISBN 0967009014.
- ↑ "Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology" (PDF). American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. April 2009. p. 28. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- 1 2 Dowling, Dennis J. (2005). "Muscle Energy". In DiGiovanna, Eileen L.; Schiowitz, Stanley; Dowling, Dennis J. (eds.). An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 83–5. ISBN 978-0-7817-4293-1.
- ↑ Savarese, Robert G. (2003). OMT Review 3rd Edition. pp. 1–2. ISBN 0967009014.
- ↑ Wilson E, Payton O, Donegan-Shoaf L, Dec K (September 2003). "Muscle energy technique in patients with acute low back pain: a pilot clinical trial". J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 33 (9): 502–12. doi:10.2519/jospt.2003.33.9.502. PMID 14524509.
- ↑ Ballantyne, Fiona; Fryer, Gary; McLaughlin, Patrick (2003). "The effect of muscle energy technique on hamstring extensibility: The mechanism of altered flexibility". Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 6 (2): 59–63. doi:10.1016/S1443-8461(03)80015-1.
- ↑ Savarese, Robert G. (2003). OMT Review 3rd Edition. pp. 135–136. ISBN 0967009014.
- ↑ Franke H, Fryer G, Ostelo R, Kamper S (2015). "Muscle energy technique for non-specific low-back pain". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2): CD009852. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009852.pub2. PMC 10945353 . PMID 25723574.