Osteopathic Principles and Practice 1

Catalog description

Osteopathic Principles and Practice 1 introduces first-year osteopathic medical students to the philosophy, principles, and clinical application of osteopathic medicine. The course provides the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills necessary for the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), emphasizing the relationship between structure and function and the body’s inherent capacity for self-regulation and healing. Students will learn the core osteopathic tenets, develop palpatory skills, and begin training in osteopathic structural examination and treatment. Instruction focuses on the osteopathic assessment and treatment of the major body regions,including the spine, pelvis, sacrum, ribs, and extremities. Through a combination of didactic instruction, laboratory training, and clinical reasoning exercises, students will develop the ability to integrate osteopathic principles into patient care. The course introduces fundamental osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) approaches and techniques, including soft tissue, counterstrain, muscle energy, myofascial release, articulatory techniques, and additional indirect and direct methods. Students will also learn proper physician posture, ergonomics, and safe patient positioning to support effective and professional hands-on care. Additional topics include anatomy, physiology, clinical documentation of somatic dysfunction using osteopathic terminology, indications and contraindications for OMT, basic integration of OMM into common clinical presentations, and professionalism in patient interaction during hands-on care. Emphasis is placed on patient safety,respectful touch, and the integration of osteopathic thinking with the broader biomedical sciences taught during the first year of medical school. By the end of the course, students will be able to perform a basic osteopathic structural exam, identify common…