Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?
Osteopathy combines elements of conventional medicine with an expertise in a special therapy known as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). The body has an innate ability to heal itself, but sometimes needs a little assistance from a physician or D.O. For a more detailed history and explaination click here.

WHAT IS A “D.O.”?

“D.O.” stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Osteopathic Physicians are fully licensed physicians who have undergone 4 years of medical school following an undergraduate degree and have also completed at least one year of residency training. They can prescribe medication and do surgery in all 50 of the states in the USA. Additionally, Doctors of Osteopathy are trained to treat the body with their hands, not just the skeletal system, but the muscles, nervous system, lymphatic system, myofascia, and cranium.

 

WHAT IS OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT (OMT)?

An Osteopathic Physician is trained to use their hands to feel the tissues within a patient’s body to assess whether all the tissues are functioning properly. During a treatment, the patient will often sit or lie on a table and have the physician place his or her hands underneath or over some area of the body to evaluate and possibly treat any and all tissues, including bones, myofascia, lymphatic system, nervous system, whatever the physician finds on that day. You may think of it as ‘aligning’ the body so that it will function better. Conditions that are treated include body pain, problems of pregnancy, headaches, respiratory issues, etc. For a more complete list of conditions we treat, click here.

 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY FIRST VISIT?

At your first visit, Dr. Albrecht will perform a thorough medical history and physical exam. The history may include many questions you have never been asked before by a physician, including any accidents or falls that may have occurred throughout your entire life. The physical exam will be similar to one you would have in your primary care physician’s office; however, it will also include a detailed Osteopathic structural exam – looking at any aspect of your body that appears to be unbalanced or abnormal for your anatomy.

The whole process will take about an hour, which will include an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. Our goal in the first visit is to gather as much information as possible about you, to establish a treatment plan, and begin OMT.

  

SHOULD I DO ANYTHING BEFORE MY FIRST VISIT?

The more information gathering you do ahead of time the better! Fill out the New Patient Intake Form and bring the completed form with you on your first visit. If possible, obtain all pertinent previously performed diagnostic studies, including discs of any radiologic images. 

Please come to the appointment in loose comfortable clothes or bring a change of clothes. Tight fitting and restricting clothing, especially jeans, can make it difficult for our doctor to perform the necessary exams and treatments. We do not provide gowns, so please dress appropriately.

Please do not wear perfume, cologne, or lotions to your appointment. Some patients of the practice are allergic or highly sensitive to things.

 

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER TREATMENTS?

Not all patients feel better right away, especially after their first visit. Some patients may actually feel sore for a day or two after treatment. This soreness may be due to significant restrictions being removed over the course of the treatment. In other, lactic acid may be the culprit. Lactic acid is a byproduct of baseline cellular metabolism. The body has mechanisms that normally remove this substance, but during times of dysfunction, these mechanisms fail. As a result, lactic acid can build up in the tissues, especially in muscle. When these dysfunctions are removed, the lactic acid (and other pain mediators) can flood the bloodstream. This can cause people to experience flu-like symptoms. Sometimes this can be avoided by drinking plenty of water and "flushing" the body.

Keep in mind, it may take several visits before your concern is resolved.

 

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO SEE THE DOCTOR?

This varies patient to patient. Plan on the first few appointments being weekly. For a more acute issue, you may be asked to return in 3 days. As improvements are made, we will begin spacing out your appointments.

Even after a dysfunction has resolved, some patients find they wish to be proactive and come in monthly for maintenance treatments. These visits are vital to maintaining function.