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The Best of Both Worlds
Dr. Lawrence S. Glass is an osteopathic physician, or D.O. -- a doctor who combines the scientific training of an M.D. with the chiropractic skills of spinal manipulation.
D.O.'s and M.D.'s practice the same medical specialties. However, D.O.'s are distinguished by their expertise in musculo-skeletal medicine. D.O.'s focus on the role of the body's structure and function in disease and wellness.
As in integrative medicine, osteopathy emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself.
Dr. Glass' philosophy is based on a patient-centered approach to treating the the total person with conventional medicine, spinal manipulation, and proven complementary therapies, including prolotherapy.
DO's, or Doctors of Osteopathy, use diagnostic and treatment methods of allopathic medicine, but they also practice Manipulation of the Spine. Spinal manipulation is designed to affect the structure or function of the patient's spine by applying contact, force or leverage to the articular joints.
The theory behind osteopathic Manipulation of the Spine is based on the close association between the spinal vertebrae and the autonomic nervous system. The neuromuscular system connects the spinal vertebrae and the autonomic nervous system via the sympathetic trunk and ganglia. The goal of osteopathic spinal manipulation is to maintain balance by affecting the musculo-skeletal system. According to the philosophy of Osteopathy, once this balance or homeostasis has been achieved, the body can heal itself.
Osteopathic spinal manipulation is a generalized therapy that increases circulation at the site of an injury or problem area. However, osteopaths view structure and function of the body as inseparable. Therefore, treating one site can have favorable effects on other parts of the body.
By contrast, chiropractic adjustments are more specific than general. Chiropractors usually work only on the spine while osteopaths work on all joints and soft tissues as well as the spine. Osteopathic spinal manipulation includes stretching techniques and manipulative thrusts to spinal joints. More than 100 distinct therapeutic procedures are used in osteopathic manipulation of the spine.
Osteopathic physicians such as Dr. Glass may use both classic osteopathic manipulation and chiropractic techniques. The advantage of osteopathic spinal manipulation is that it can be used to treat a wide array of conditions that may not respond to chiropractic manipulation. In addition, osteopaths integrate manipulation of the spine with other therapies -- allopathic and complementary therapies -- in designing the optimum treatment plan for each patient.
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