Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy


To find or verify American Academy Fellowship trained Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapist go to  www.aaompt.org

OMPT is any "hands on" treatment provided by the physical therapist.  Treatment may include moving joints in specific directions and at different speeds to regain movements (joint mobilization and manipulation), muscle stretching, passive movements of the affected body part, or having the patient move the body part against the therapist's resistance to improve muscle activation and timing.  Selected specific soft tissue techniques may also be used to improve the mobility and function of tissue and muscles.

Orthopaedic manual physical therapists treat acute and chronic symptomatic conditions in body regions included the head, neck, back arms and legs.  Early, consistent and skillfully manual physical therapy, combined with exercise and patient education, is central to the OMPT therapist's practice.  Advanced examination, communication and decision making skills that are built on the foundations of professional and scientific education facilitate the provision of effective and efficient care. OMPT practitioners provide patient management, consult with other care providers on neuromusculoskeletal conditions ranging from simple to complex, and provide recommendations and interventions in the area of health and wellness.  By selecting an OMPT-trained practitioner, a patient will receive optimal care that is effective and fiscally responsible.  This is particularly important if the patient has limited resources, has limited visits covered by health insurance, is seeking conservative treatment that may preclude the need for surgery, or in cases where surgery is required, is seeking treatment to enhance their outcomes.

When someone suffers from a neuromusculoskeletal disorder, an exercise and movement re-education program may be sufficient to restore full pain free movement, function, and return to full activity.  However, in some cases, soft-tissue and joint restrictions are present, resulting in these same interventions being painful or, worse, aggravating to the condition.  In these instances, an OMPT therapist can provide hands-on techniques to improve mobility, reduce pain, and restore normal function of soft tissues and joints.  Following these interventions, OMPT therapist can prescribe and implement the most effective individualized exercise and movement re-education program to maintain and improve health.


 

Fortino Gonzalez, PT, Dip MDT, FAAOMPT, OCS  

McAllen Physical Therapy