WHAT TO EXPECT

It is quite common to have mild to moderate soreness in the 24–48 hours following an Osteopathic treatment. Typically, you can expect a similar level of soreness to muscle pain following heavy exercise or what can be for some people their usual chronic pain flare. If you have new, significant, unrelenting pain that is different from your usual type of pain, please first seek emergency care, and then contact me to follow up in the office or by phone. 

 

You are also likely to be a little more sleepy and low energy following treatment. Honor your body and take the rest of the day to relax. I advise not to engage in significant exercise activity following OMT within the next 12–24 hrs of treatment. Gentle walking, stretching, etc is fine, but avoid running, swimming, exercise classes, weight lifting, or other intensive sports until the following day if possible.
 

MANAGEMENT: 

For most patients, I recommend several approaches: 

• HYDRATE—If you can do nothing else, this is the most important! Drink plenty of water and non-caffeinated beverages following your treatment. If you have a medical condition that requires you to restrict fluid intake, follow your current recommendations from your specialist or primary physician. 

• Ice—Icing reduces inflammation and helps with pain control; ice for 20 minutes on then off for areas that are sore or you anticipate will become sore

• Heat—For comfort, more likely to increase inflammation & blood flow to an area, this will help with soreness for the moment but may cause it to linger for a longer time

• Pain Medications—Do not take anything that another physician or medical provider has advised you to avoid. If needed please contact me to check.

  • NSAIDS (ibuprofen, Advil, Naproxen, etc)—Very effective and safe for many people to use for a short period of time (1–2 days) following OMM; do not take more than recommended on the bottle. Do not take on an empty stomach.

  • Tylenol (Acetaminophen)—less effective but quite safe

  • CBD—we don’t have a large body of evidence yet but there is a lot of anecdotal information to suggest it can be very helpful for inflammation 

• AVOID alcohol, smoking, heavy exercise, and high-sugar foods in the 24 hours following treatment if possible - to help reduce inflammatory burden and to aid in healing

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MAINTAINING TREATMENT: 

After the first 24 hours following OMT it is good to return to normal exercise activity and mindfully adjust to the way the treatment has settled into your body. Exercises discussed during the appointment can help progress treatment more quickly. Additionally using outside PT or other forms of bodywork is encouraged! Especially when properly spaced out (please let me know if you do start another kind of therapy or bodywork so I can help formulate a plan between myself and other providers).