Ask The Expert - Osteopathic Treatment

by Dr. Jess Svingen, DO

Q. "Can osteopathic treatment be helpful for neck pain? I slept wrong and have a kink in my neck that won’t go away. I can hardly turn my head! "

A. Yes! Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) can be very helpful in cases of acute neck spasm. I have treated patients and some of my nurses for just this case. OMT greatly improved their range of motion and decreased their pain.

Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) use OMT to treat mechanical pain (muscle, tendon or bone pain due to structural imbalance) and a wide range of health conditions. DOs also use OMT to diagnose and prevent disease and help your body function better.

Using several OMT techniques, DOs apply gentle pressure to manipulate the muscles, soft tissues and joints. The treatment encourages your body to heal itself by ensuring that your bones and muscles are aligned and balanced properly.

I see patients for OMT every Friday at the Ruby Valley Medical Center. Call (406) 842-5453 for an appointment.