An Osteopathic Approach to Patients with Degenerative and Herniated Discs
This paper reviews the basic science of disc disease (DD), which suggests; osteopathic manipulative medicine addresses the causes and symptoms of DD, can reverse its pathologic cascade, prevent its side effects and future episodes. The paper will use the modern scientific understanding of disc disease to show the body is a self-regulating, self-healing unified whole, structure and function are interrelated at all levels, and intervertebral disc cells contain the biochemical and physiologic capacity for self-healing. This evidence suggests osteopathic intervention initiates and magnifies this healing process. The paper will also discuss the authors’ experience with a treatment protocol for DD, based on osteopathic principles.Abstract
Contributor Notes
Disclosures: none reported.
This article was completed as part of the requirement toward earning the designation of Fellow in the American Academy of Osteopathy. Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint or official policy of the American Academy of Osteopathy.The Committee on Fellowship in the AAO provided peer reviewing for this article, and it was edited to conform to the AAOJ’s style guidelines.