Somatic dysfunction

In osteopathic medicine and osteopathy, somatic dysfunction is defined as the impaired or altered function of related components of the somatic (bodywork) system including: the skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures, and their related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements. Somatic dysfunction may be evaluated and treated by osteopaths or osteopathic physicians using osteopathic manual technique (OMT).^[1]

Diagnosis

Somatic dysfunction is diagnosed via physical examination by an osteopathic physician, which is a physician with the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.). The osteopathic physician looks for signs and symptoms related to the somatic dysfunction commonly represented by the mnemonic device "TART" (tissue texture change, asymmetry, restriction, and tenderness) or "STAR" (sensitivity, tissue texture change, asymmetry, restriction).^[2] The physician uses techniques such as layer-by-layer palpation and intersegmental range of motion testing to diagnose the somatic dysfunction. Diagnosis usually requires only the use of the physician's hands and fingertips, though instruments such as a goniometer can be used to detect a diminished range of motion.

Signs and symptoms

Tissue texture changes may include edema, fibrosis, atrophy, rigidity, or hypertonicity of musculature.^[2] There may be asymmetry in the bones, muscles, or joints.^[2] There may also be a "restrictive barrier" related to the musculoskeletal structure in question. The language of "barriers" refers to the point at which a structure cannot move farther in a given direction. For example, a natural "physiologic barrier" of the arm represents the farthest that a person can naturally move their arm before it cannot be comfortably moved farther. The "anatomic barrier," describes how far the arm can be pushed or pulled by an outside force before the arm becomes physically injured. A "pathological" or "restrictive" barrier represents the shortened range of motion to which the arm is confined because of an injury, muscle spasm, or some other somatic dysfunction. The goal of treatment is to restore the arm's full range of motion (or that of the structure in question). Of the signs and symptoms associated with somatic dysfunction, tenderness is the only purely subjective finding, while the others are objective findings.^[2]

Types of somatic dysfunction

Other types of somatic dysfunctions may include occlusions or mutilations of vasculature or lymphatic vessels, which can impair cardiovascular or lymphatic circulation. This may also occur secondary to organ pathology, a factor which theoretically allows the detection of visceral dysfunction by examining surface structures. It is by this explanation that Chapman's Points are said to be used in identifying problems with deep tissue structures. A Chapman's Point is an area of bunched tissue or vasculature that is assumed to occur as a result of fluid backup or another dysfunction at a portion of the vasculature more proximal to an organ affected by pathology.^[3] The evidence for these points remains controversial, though some studies suggest modest sensitivity and specificity for their use in diagnosis.^[4]

References

↑ Barnes, PL; Laboy 3rd, F; Noto-Bell, L; Ferencz, V; Nelson, J; Kuchera, ML (2013). "A comparative study of cervical hysteresis characteristics after various osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) modalities.". Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 17 (1): 89–94. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2012.10.004. PMID 23294689.
1 2 3 4 Savarese, Copabianco & Cox 2009, pp. 1–3
↑ "Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology" (PDF). American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. April 2009. p. 10. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
↑ Washington, K; Mosiello, R; Venditto, M; Simelaro, J; Coughlin, P; Crow, WT; Nicholas, A (October 2003). "Presence of Chapman reflex points in hospitalized patients with pneumonia.". The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 103 (10): 479–83. PMID 14620082. Retrieved 7 December 2012.

Additional sources

Ward, Robert (2003). Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine (2nd ed.). Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-3497-5.
Savarese, Robert G.; Copabianco, John D.; Cox, James J. (2009). OMT review. ISBN 978-0967009018.

Osteopathic medicine (ICD-10-PCS 7)

General	Osteopathic medicine in the United States Osteopathic medicine in Canada

Treatments	Articulatory technique Balanced ligamentous tension Chapman reflex points Counterstrain Cranial Lymphatic pump Muscle energy technique Myofascial release Paraspinal inhibition Soft tissue technique Somatic dysfunction

Education	List of osteopathic medical schools Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Accrediting Commission

Licensing	COMLEX NBOME

Organizations	AOA COA AACOM Student Council Specialty Boards Specialty colleges Directors and Medical Educators American Academy of Osteopathy

People	List of osteopathic physicians Andrew Taylor Still S. S. Still

Media	The DO The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association Osteopathic Family Physician

History	History California merger Flexner Report

Osteopathic medicine

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