Pod 2 - Incorporating Osteopathic Manual Therapy into your practice for the management of low back pain

Thursday, November 16, 2023

12:45 PM – 2:15 PM CT

Location: Learning Center in the Pavilion

Session Director(s)

Ashley B. Mohan, DO

Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin
Windsor, Wisconsin

No financial relationships to disclose.
Kristin E. Caldera, DO

Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Faculty(s)

JH

Jacob C. Halvorsen, DO

Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Middleton, Wisconsin

No financial relationships to disclose.
Jose S. Figueroa, DO

Physician Clinician and Assistant Professor
Des Moines University Clinic
Des Moines, Iowa

No financial relationships to disclose.
Nicholas C. Elwert, DO,MS

Stroke Rehabilitation Program Director, Associate Residency Program Director
University of Kentucky College of Medicine PM&R Program
Lexington, Kentucky

No financial relationships to disclose.
James Bailey, DO

Interim Chair, NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute (NMI)
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Stratford, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Alyssa M. Warden, DO (she/her/hers)

Resident Physician
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics PM&R Program
Madison, Wisconsin

No financial relationships to disclose.
DL

Drew Lewis, DO

Professor
Des Moines University
Des moines, Iowa

No financial relationships to disclose.

Lab Marketing

Description: : Low back pain is one of the most common diagnoses seen by physiatrists. In the current healthcare system, there is a need to find more cost-effective and time-efficient treatments for patients. This is where Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) can be particularly valuable. OMT is a hands-on technique used to diagnose and treat palpable areas of tightness and misalignment within the musculoskeletal system, which can also represent dysfunctions within underlying organ systems. This skills lab is designed to teach basic palpation and treatment techniques to clincians interested in incorporating manual therapy into their clinical practice. We will focus on teaching how to find and treat dysfunctions that most commonly contribute to low back pain. Additionally, we will show how these techniques can be incorporated into clinical practice by providing patient case examples, including patients with neurologic disorders, and details on procedure reimbursement. This session can be used as an introductory course for those new to osteopathic manual therapy or as a refresher for those looking to advance their skills.

Why is this lab needed? : Many physicians may not feel comfortable performing OMT on their patients due to limited training or lapse in using these skills in clinical practice. This skills lab is designed to provide physicians with basic palpation and treatment techniques that can be utilized in the clinical setting, by every physiatrist.

Lab Outline/Format:: The session will be divided into three blocks. The first block will start with 20 minutes of lecture which will cover the definition of OMT and how to palpate and diagnose somatic dysfunctions (which are changes in the body that may involve muscle, bone, or other fascial tissues). After the lecture, there will be a 10 minute demonstration on how to perform palpation techniques. The last 30 minutes of the first block will be used for the break out sessions where attendees will receive hands on training from the instructors in small groups and can practice what was demonstrated on one another. The second block will start with 15 minutes of lecture covering 2 common manual therapy techniques (muscle energy and strain/counterstrain). The next 15 minutes will be used to demonstrate each of these techniques. The last 30 minutes will be used for break out sessions for participants to receive hands on training from the instructors in small groups and practice what was demonstrated on one another. The third block of the session will cover billing and coding for osteopathic manual therapy (10 minutes), 3 case studies (15 minutes), and the final break out session where attendees can decide which stations to go to get exposure to more advanced manual therapy techniques, including myofascial release, balanced ligamentous tension, and Still technique (30 minutes). The last 5 minutes will be reserved for questions, in addition to the time given for questions at the end of each block.
Learning Objectives:
Identify dysfunctions in key areas of the body that correlate with low back pain.
Perform basic manual therapy techniques targeted at treating low back pain.
Understand how clinicians are reimbursed for OMT.
Understand how OMT can be incorporated into the clinical setting.