Athletes count on their bodies to perform at their highest level. When an injury sidelines you, you can feel lost and frustrated. David Johnston, DO, at the Osteopathic Wellness Center in Ridgefield, Connecticut, understands how devastating injuries can be, and he uses his osteopathic skills to get his patients back in the game as soon as possible.
What is osteopathic medicine?
A physician who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) undergoes the same training as a doctor of medicine (MD), but the emphasis of a DO is on the musculoskeletal system. Doctors of osteopathy, such as Dr. Johnston, are also skilled in hands-on manipulation, which is an especially effective tool when it comes to sports injuries.
Osteopaths can prescribe medications, practice a full scope of medicine, and perform surgeries. Osteopaths approach medical care from a “whole person” approach, meaning they believe that structural abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system can compromise your overall function and well-being.
How can osteopathic medicine help?
Dr. Johnston doesn’t just evaluate and treat your symptoms or injury. Instead, he looks at your body as a whole. He seeks to understand the underlying cause of your injury. He then treats your injury as well as the root cause in an effort to prevent future injuries.
For example, if you have knee pain, he’ll treat it to relieve your pain. But, the source of your knee pain may be a dysfunction of your hip. Dr. Johnston will also treat your hip to promote comprehensive healing.
What injuries can osteopathic medicine treat?
Osteopathic intervention can help most sports injuries. Some of the most common injuries Dr. Johnston treats include shoulder pain, tennis elbow, hip pain, knee pain, ankle sprains, and ligament sprains. Dr. Johnston also evaluates and treats overuse injuries, such as runner’s knee and shin splints.
What methods are used?
Dr. Johnston combines conventional medical treatments with osteopathic manipulative therapy. You may undergo diagnostic tests, such as physical exams, X-rays, and MRIs to determine the cause of your problem.
Depending on your injury, Dr. Johnston may recommend a variety of osteopathic manipulative techniques, including:
- Soft tissue mobilization – This involves stretching, traction, or pressure to mobilize soft tissue and improve your range of motion.
- Myofascial therapy – This involves releasing trigger points in tight muscles to help relieve pain.
- Cranial osteopathy – This involves gently massaging the skull to restore balance and stimulate natural healing.
- Muscle energy – This treatment involves applying force to specific muscles to alleviate pain and promote healing.
If you have a sports injury and want to see if osteopathic medicine can help, book an appointment online or over the phone with the Osteopathic Wellness Center today.