Should I see an Osteopathic Manual Therapist?

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Written By Emma Letki

Learn how Osteopathic Manual Therapy can support the physical and mental well-being of your whole family.

Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) can be a powerful way to overcome pain, relieve stress, and connect with your body.

OMT has been around since the 1880’s, and it’s a truly western modality, having been developed in the USA. As more people fell in love with it, it traveled to Europe and around the world, where each country added to its development, understanding, and research.

In Canada, 1 in 5 people will experience chronic pain. Chronic pain can lead people to feel disbelieved and isolated. It can affect sleep, daily activities, mental health, and engagement with social relationships. OMT can help by providing a holistic approach to pain management that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of chronic pain. Offering support and relief through gentle, hands-on techniques aimed at improving overall function and well-being  

Before we go any further here is a quick definition of what OMT is: 

OMT is a holistic approach to healthcare that promotes whole body health through non-invasive hands-on manual therapy. It looks at asymmetries (big and small) in your body’s structure as affecting pain and other health issues.


a man receiving osteopathic manual therapy

How an Osteopathic Manual Therapist can help

An OMT can support you physically by:

  • Alleviating musculoskeletal pain such as back pain, neck pain, or joint pain.

  • Increasing resiliency to bounce back from sports injuries

  • Helping you find ease and comfort in your body during pregnancy

  • Making sure kids are growing well through all their wiggling, tumbling, and adventures

  • Improving mobility and flexibility

  • Enhancing postural alignment

  • Using gentle manipulation to improve mobility and reduce stiffness

An OMT can support your mental health by:

  • Improving sleep

  • Promoting relaxation and well-being

  • Addressing tissues that are holding on to emotions 

  • Calming your nervous system and tissues

  • Helping you find a deeper connection in your body.

An OMT can support you with preventative care by:

  • Preventing injuries by maintaining optimal physical function

  • Supporting overall health and wellness

  • Managing chronic conditions to prevent symptoms getting worse

  • Addressing minor aches and pains early to prevent them becoming chronic

  • Balancing your nervous system to manage stress and overuse injuries

What an OMT does not do!

  • Replace your primary healthcare provider

  • Prescribe medication

  • Diagnose medical conditions (such as arthritis, sprains, or disc diseases)

  • Use HVLA’s 

  • As much as I love OMT and believe it has far reaching benefits, OMTs have a limited scope of practice. OMTs are complementary practitioners that work in coordination with your medical team (nurse practitioners, family doctors, and specialists) and other complementary and alternative health practitioners.  

a child receiving osteopathic manual therapy

Should I work with an Osteopathic Manual Therapist?

Working with an osteopathic manual therapist can significantly enhance your overall health and well-being. Patients who receive osteopathic care often experience:

  • Pain reduction and improved function for chronic pain, back pain, neck pain [here, here, here]

  • Decreased disability from pelvic girdle pain [here]

  • Reduced pain during pregnancy and postpartum [here]

  • Reduces time in hospital after surgery [here]

  • Relief from musculoskeletal issues (e.g., arthritis, sciatica)

  • Support for sports injuries and concussions

  • Ease from postural tension

  • Support for growing kids

I can’t speak to what our animal companions feel, cause I don’t talk dog!

a dog receiving osteopathic manual therapy

Common misconceptions about OMT

Osteopathy is only for adults

It definitely benefits adults, but it's not just for us big kids! Because OMT is so gentle and can be fine tuned to each patient, so OMT is safe for people of all ages, and animals. OMT uses a variety of techniques, some more gentle than others. If you prefer more gentle techniques just chat with your therapist. As for pups, the most dangerous part is when they paw me for more!

OMT is about bones and your back

OMT is SO much more than bones and backs! The word osteopathy does derive from the meaning bone, but OMTs use the bones (or rather joints) to inform and guide our treatments. You are one person – body, mind, soul – all together, and no one aspect can be separated out. So, treatment inherently can affect any element of you. I support my patients' aches and pains, mental health, and visceral health. 

OMT is too gentle to be effective for chronic pain

A gentle approach to pain can be extremely soothing, and relaxing. It can also interact with the nervous system to promote pain modulation. These benefits are secondary to the structural goals of OMT. Patients are often surprised with changes they feel. Gentle doesn’t mean ineffective!

I don’t need to see an OMT because I’m already seeing another practitioner. 

That’s great! I will probably treat you differently than your other practitioners and focus on different elements of your healing! The research is in and it recommends a multidisciplinary approach for the best outcomes! OMT can complement other therapies you are receiving, enhancing your overall well-being.

Have questions about Osteopathic Manual Therapy?

Shoot me an email or book an appointment!

Emma Letki
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