ANDREW TAYLOR STILL, MD
the founder of osteopathy​
Treatment
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What to Expect in a Visit
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  • Initial Visit: 30-45 minute appointment with history and physical, evaluation, and hands on osteopathic manipulation with or without other therapies.
  • Follow up appointment:  Occurs in 1-3 weeks depending on acuity of the problem(s) being treated, and lasts 20-30 minutes which includes a shorter evaluation followed by hands on treatment.
  • What to bring:  Wear loose comfortable clothing.
  • After Treatment:  Drink plenty of water.

We recommend 3 treatment sessions before evaluating for improvement, but many people will improve after 1-2 treatments.
About Dr Thomas 
Dr. Thomas is an osteopathic physician trained in family medicine. 

  • Harvard Acupuncture for physicians, 2009-2010
  • Greater Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, 2006-2009
  • University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2001-2006
  • Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Anatomy Teaching Fellowship, 2003 & 2006
  • Yoga Teacher Training with Kofi Busia, 2008
  • 4th annual Nutrition and Health with Andrew Weil, 2007
  • Introduction to Ayurveda with Vasant Lad, 2003
  • Yoga studies with Patricia Walden, Baron Baptiste, Shiva Rea, Kofi Busia, Richard Freeman, Tias Little, John Friend, Seanne Corn, Sharat Aurora (India), Jawahar Bangera (Mexico), 1996-present
  • Women’s Herb Workshop with Deb Soule, Avena botanicals, 1998
  • Bowdoin College, BA Spanish and Biology, 1997
​OTHER MODALITIES​

Nutrition

My nutrition approach is to look at the whole person and find the best diet to optimize health and quality of life for each individual.  We may look into blood type, ayurvedic constitution, anti-inflammatory diets, and other alternatives to healing with foods.

Dry Needling

Acupuncture is an element of Chinese and Japanese medicine involving penetration of the skin with fine needles or pressure along different meridians (energy pathways) in the body to restore health.  Acupuncture may be recommended but is not used in this practice due to a focus on osteopathic manipulation.  Acupuncture needles may be offered  for trigger point treatment (dry needling).  

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is ancient medicine from India which uses a combination of nutrition, state of mind, meditation, yoga, astrology, oil, herbs, and pressure point therapy to maintain health.  Ayurveda may be incorporated in this practice from a nutrition, lifestyle, state of mind, and yoga perspective.
Osteopathy

​Osteopathy

About Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a branch of western medicine founded in the late 1800’s by Andrew Taylor Still, MD.  He created a series of hands on treatment techniques to bring balance back to the body.  
His theory was that our bodies have the ability to heal themselves when in balance.  Therefore, he and his followers created techniques to restore balance allowing for self-healing.

Conditions

Conditions Treated
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Depression & Anxiety & Insomnia
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Hormonal Imbalances
  • Menstrual Disorders
  • Pain Disorders- Acute or Chronic
  • Muscle spasms
  • Acute Injuries
  • Concussions, Head Injuries
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
  • Infantile colic, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, autism
  • Anyone considering back surgery for pain without any definitive nerve impingement

Principles

Four tenets of Osteopathy  

·      The body is a unit of mind, body, and spirit. 

·      The body has its own self healing and self regulatory  capability. 

·      Structure and function are interrelated. 

·      Treatment is based on the above principles.

Treatment

Treatment approaches  

·      HVLA (high velocity low amplitude)
A direct technique using a “high velocity, low amplitude” thrust to improve motion in areas of dysfunction

·      Counterstrain
Using an understanding of the anatomical attachments of muscles, ligaments, and fascia in the body to position a person in a way that allows for a spontaneous release of tense areas or tenderpoints

·      Balanced Ligamentous Tension
Using anatomy to find a point of balanced tension within the anatomical and physiological barriers in order to allow for a release of a strain pattern

·      Facilitated Positional Release
Positioning a person in a way that decreases tissue and joint tension then applying an activating force to allow for a release

·      Cranial Osteopathy
Treatment based on the existence of the following: inherent motility of the brain and spinal cord, mobility between the sacrum and ilia, mobility of the cranial bones, movement of cerebral spinal fluid, mobility of intraspinal and intracranial membranes

·      Muscle Energy
A technique where patients actively use their muscles guided by a practitioner to improve strength and flexibily as well as release strains

·      Trigger Point
Hyperactive tender areas which radiate to other areas of the body when pressure is applied which are treated with stretching, dry needling with acupuncture needles, or injections with numbing medications 

·      Articulatory Technique
Using gentle repetitive forces to increase range of motion within a joint