OMT for Patients With Sacral Somatic Dysfunction
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Katherine Yu
OMT Minute: OMT for Patients With Sacral Somatic Dysfunction
eVideo. Sacral rocking can optimize biomechanical efficiency of the pelvis.
The sacrum is an important keystone for normal gait mechanics, connecting mechanical forces from the lower extremities and providing a foundation of support for the body. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may be used to treat somatic dysfunction of the sacrum to optimize the biomechanical efficiency of the pelvis. Additionally, treatment of the sacrum may influence parasympathetic tone to the large intestine and genitourinary systems. Parasympathetic innervation arises from the S2-S4 spinal levels and exits via the ventral rami to become the pelvic splenic nerves, which travel to their target organ. In this way, treatment of the sacrum may aid in conditions including low back pain, constipation, and dysmenorrhea.
One technique for sacral somatic dysfunction is sacral rocking (video), which uses breathing to reduce respiratory restriction of the sacrum. Respiratory motion affects the lumbar spine via diaphragm attachments at L1 through L3. During inhalation, lumbar lordosis decreases; as a result, the sacral base moves posteriorly, also known as counternutation. During exhalation, the lumbar lordosis increases, moving the sacral base anteriorly, also known as nutation. These motions are exaggerated during the sacral rocking technique and thus can improve somatic dysfunction and restriction of the sacrum.
Resources
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Articles in the same Issue
- CASE REPORT
- Nontraumatic First Rib Fracture and Empyema Presenting as Shoulder Pain
- OMT MINUTE
- OMT for Patients With Sacral Somatic Dysfunction
- EDITORIAL
- A Focus on Research at the First School of Osteopathic Medicine
- The Safety of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
- STILL RELEVANT?
- Addressing the Opioid Crisis Through the Teachings of A.T. Still
- ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
- Characterizing Adverse Events Reported Immediately After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
- Influence of Transverse Process Landmark Localization on Palpation Accuracy of Lumbar Spine Models
- Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Sacral Base Asymmetry
- Tool for Predicting Medical Student Burnout From Sustained Stress Levels: Factor Analysis of the Medical Education Hassles Scale-R
- REVIEW
- Role of Magnesium in Vitamin D Activation and Function
- JAOA/AACOM MEDICAL EDUCATION
- Increasing Self-Awareness of Medical Students Through the Use of Ultrasonography
- Physician-Mentored Patient Rounds to Observe and Assess Entrustable Professional Activities 1 and 2 in Preclinical Medical Students
- CLINICAL IMAGES
- Strangulated Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia
Articles in the same Issue
- CASE REPORT
- Nontraumatic First Rib Fracture and Empyema Presenting as Shoulder Pain
- OMT MINUTE
- OMT for Patients With Sacral Somatic Dysfunction
- EDITORIAL
- A Focus on Research at the First School of Osteopathic Medicine
- The Safety of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
- STILL RELEVANT?
- Addressing the Opioid Crisis Through the Teachings of A.T. Still
- ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
- Characterizing Adverse Events Reported Immediately After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
- Influence of Transverse Process Landmark Localization on Palpation Accuracy of Lumbar Spine Models
- Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Sacral Base Asymmetry
- Tool for Predicting Medical Student Burnout From Sustained Stress Levels: Factor Analysis of the Medical Education Hassles Scale-R
- REVIEW
- Role of Magnesium in Vitamin D Activation and Function
- JAOA/AACOM MEDICAL EDUCATION
- Increasing Self-Awareness of Medical Students Through the Use of Ultrasonography
- Physician-Mentored Patient Rounds to Observe and Assess Entrustable Professional Activities 1 and 2 in Preclinical Medical Students
- CLINICAL IMAGES
- Strangulated Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia
