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"How Appropriate!"
Dustin Brown, OMS II wears the perfect t-shirt for FDM practice
FDM: Teamwork to Treat Refolding Distortions in Ankles
-Monica Barnes, MSUCOM National Rep
“You tore your PCL? That’s interesting!” “Oh, you have bad ankles? Can I feel them?” The tales of past injuries and the exclamations of excitement surround me as I begin busily examining my partner. Each student scrambles to share their respective dysfunctions, encouraging other students to feel ‘this person’s shoulder,’ or ‘that person’s knee.’ It’s 8:30 am on the second morning of AAO Convocation, and despite the lack of sleep or caffeinated beverages, the enthusiasm is evident. We are lost in the intrigue of learning, eager to share our physical findings for the betterment of our peers. There are no procedures to follow, no step-by-step lists of treatment. We are given tips and hints, and instructed to inspect our partner’s joints, to explore and to determine what works through trial and error. The environment is one in which we are encouraged to ask questions, encouraged to make mistakes and to discern which techniques we like best. At convocation, inexperienced students like myself not only have the chance to gain new skills in the field of manipulative medicine, but to immerse themselves in the culture of OMT.
Much of the first two years of medical school are spent diagnosing and treating the somatic dysfunctions of our classmates, who for the most part, are relatively healthy. In essence, we learn the basics, the need-to-know concepts of OMT before we are gently shoved out of the nest and into the hospital to face actual patients. Rarely are we provided with an opportunity to incorporate our knowledge of OMT into clinical scenarios, and it is less often that we are forced to modify a treatment due to our patient’s limitations. We do not regularly evaluate a patient with a fracture, and we would be utterly stumped if asked to find the proper treatment for a patient who is pregnant. Throughout my time at convocation, I was prompted not only to consider why a treatment is successful, but also how it can be adapted and achieve the same effect. Convocation offers a glimpse into the practical world of OMT, a world in which treating somatic dysfunction becomes less of an exercise in memory, and more of a conversation between your hands and your patient’s body.
Just as we are largely isolated from patients, young, aspiring physicians have few chances to interact with our peers and mentors from across the country. Convocation breaks down the barriers established by distance and station, and it allows for us to encounter a variety of techniques, opinions, and styles. Danielle Hunt, an OMS-I at MSUCOM remarks, “I thought [convocation] was an invaluable experience to see the pride of the profession!” She thoroughly enjoyed her interactions with various physicians, stating, “I learned a lot about residencies and my goals from talking to residency directors!” As Danielle aptly recognizes, the years of medical school are truly a time for discovery. They are years in which we can learn about ourselves, our interests, and how we can apply those interests for the betterment of our patients. The time spent at convocation reminds students of the amazing diversity that is contained within the osteopathic profession. We have the opportunity to experience manipulative medicine outside of the classroom, as well as to witness the invaluable nature of OMT in the ever-changing field of medicine.