The SOM OMM Free Clinic

The mission of The SOM Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Clinic is to spread awareness of the osteopathic medical field by providing free treatment, especially to service individuals who give back to the community, and by providing education to osteopathic medical students. The student-run OMM clinic strives to promote osteopathic awareness, improve the overall health of the community it serves, and hold firm to its osteopathic principles, namely that the person is a unit of mind, body, and spirit.

What is osteopathic manipulative medicine?

Osteopathic manipulative medicine is a hands-on approach to diagnosis and treatment used by doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). Using their hands, physicians assess the muscles, joints, and connective tissue for areas of restriction, asymmetry, or tenderness, then apply gentle techniques to improve motion and reduce pain.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is the treatment itself. It can be used on its own or alongside medication, physical therapy, and other care. Techniques range from firm and direct to very light and passive, and they are selected based on what each patient can comfortably tolerate.

What we commonly treat

• Low back and neck pain
• Headaches, including tension-type and migraine
• Sprains, strains and overuse injuries
• Shoulder, hip and knee pain
• Rib and upper back pain
• Postural strain and repetitive stress complaints
• Joint stiffness and reduced range of motion
• Pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain
• General wellness visits, including physical exam and diet and exercise counseling

What to expect at your visit

1. Check in -  Plan to arrive about 10 minutes early to complete a brief intake form.
2. History - A student physician will ask about your concern, your medical history, and your goals for the visit.
3. Examination - The student will perform a focused physical exam, including a hands-on structural assessment. This involves palpating your back, neck, and limbs, and asking you to move through simple ranges of motion.
4. Supervision - A physician reviews the findings with the student and confirms the plan before treatment begins.
5. Treatment - Techniques are explained to you before they are performed. You will be asked for consent, and you can stop or pause at any point.
6. After - Some patients feel immediate relief, and some feel mild soreness for a day or two, similar to how you might feel after exercise. Drinking water and gentle movement usually help.

Visits last about 20 minutes. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows movement. Athletic wear works well.

Who provides your care?

The clinic is student-run and physician-supervised. Osteopathic medical students perform the history, examination, and treatment under the direct supervision of licensed, board-certified physicians who are present in the clinic and who review every case. This model gives students meaningful clinical training while ensuring that every patient receives care that meets our standards.

Is OMM safe?

OMT is generally well tolerated. Techniques are chosen to match each patient's age, medical history, and comfort, and low-force approaches are available for anyone who needs them.

Please tell us before your visit if you have any of the following, since they may change which techniques we use or whether OMT is appropriate that day:

• A recent fracture, or a known bone condition such as osteoporosis
• Active cancer or a history of cancer
• A bleeding disorder, or use of blood thinning medication
• Recent surgery, or a joint replacement
• Active infection or fever
• New numbness, weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder control