OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT: HVLA PROCEDURE - THORACIC VERTEBRAE

Course overview

OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT, OR OMT FOR SHORT, IS A WAY IN WHICH OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN USING THEIR HANDS TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT NUMEROUS HEALTH CONDITIONS FOR YEARS. THIS TYPE OF HANDS-ON TREATMENT HAS HELPED REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PAIN MEDICATIONS THAT PATIENTS MAY NEED TO TAKE FOR A MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURY. HIGH VELOCITY-LOW AMPLITUDE, OR HVLA FOR SHORT, IS A TYPE OF MANIPULATION IN WHICH THE PROVIDER PROVIDES A RAPID (HIGH VELOCITY), THERAPEUTIC FORCE OF A BRIEF DURATION THAT TRAVELS A SHORT DISTANCE (LOW AMPLITUDE) WITHIN THE ANATOMIC RANGE OF MOTION OF A JOINT AND ENGAGES A RESTRICTIVE BARRIER IN ONE OR MORE PLANES OF MOTION TO ELICIT THE RELEASE OF RESTRICTION. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE MECHANICS OF THORACIC HVLA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING THIS CONDITION.