This past Monday was our annual Chippin' in for Students Golf Outing for the MWU Glendale Campus. More than 100 golfers joined us for an afternoon at the Arrowhead Country Club, raising funds for student scholarships. One of the special features of this year's outing was that the club's teaching pros were at the putting green and driving range offering tips and lessons. I made the mistake of asking the teaching pro to help me correct my slice on my drives. He taught me a new swing that, indeed, fixed my slice. However, the awkward swing also caused me to pull a muscle in my neck. So, off to the OMM Clinic I went.
Many of you considering careers in osteopathic medicine may have experienced osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) treatments firsthand. Others of you--including students in other professions who are applying or attending MWU--may wonder what exactly this type of treatment is. So, to the degree that it is helpful, here's my patient's perspective on OMM.
At our Glendale Campus, we have an outpatient Osteopathic Specialty Clinic that serves both as a patient care center and a student rotation site. We have several physicians, who are also clinical faculty, who practice and teach at this site. They are all experts in OMM and are truly skilled in the art and science of this approach. They have thriving practices because they bring an extra set of skills to treat their patients. Plus, they embody the holistic, patient-centered philosophy of osteopathic medicine. I know that sounds like "corporate-speak" from an administrator, but I believe it in my heart as a patient. These docs are wonderful and truly special. In addition, there is at least one or two OMM teaching fellows at the clinic. These are fourth- or fifth-year AZCOM students who are part of the OMM Fellows Program. They extend their predoctoral program by a year to receive additional training and rotation experience in OMM. Like the docs, these students are also wonderful.
As a result of my weird new golf swing, I woke up Tuesday morning with a very sore neck and upper back. Turning my head to either side resulted in pain. I explained my symptoms to my OMM fellow (Ben), and he proceeded to examine me. By feeling my back and my muscles, he could use his hands to feel the tension and the problem areas. Then, using several techniques, he was able to relieve the specific area of stress and loosen up the sore muscle. He knows how to do this because osteopathic students are given additional training in the musculoskeletal system through first- and second-year OMM classes and specialty rotations. D.O.s can combine their knowledge of anatomy with their ability to use their hands in diagnosis and treatment to work on patients with various injuries and illnesses. They understand how the body is supposed to be aligned and how it is supposed to move, and they can use their sense of touch and knowledge of structure and function to find problems and resolve them. It is a very unique set of skills, and osteopathic students and physicians are privileged to be able to receive this additional training (again, speaking as a patient).
Because of my current neck problem and a previous TMJ issue with my jaw locking (yes, while eating deep-dish Chicago-style pizza), I am a believer in OMM. And, sitting in the waiting room of the clinic, I know many other patients feel the same way. While not all of our graduates utilize OMM in their practices, they all have a greater understanding of the body and how it works--not just from a cadaver or an anatomy book. They can use their sense of touch and their hands to palpate and feel structures in the body. They can use their OMM techniques to release tension, relieve pain, and bring a more balanced state to the body's systems. Again, I'm describing this as a layperson who has undergone OMM treatment. I know it works.
If you are pursuing admission to an osteopathic college, I encourage you to seek out an OMM treatment. I know it is sometimes difficult to find a physician who specializes in OMM, depending on where you live. But once you experience OMM, you do gain a greater understanding of what makes osteopathic physicians so special.
I have another treatment scheduled for Monday, and my plan is to take it easy over the weekend. And, for my next round of golf, I'm sticking with my tried and true swing--even with the slice!
