DES MOINES, IA (04/13/2012)(readMedia)-- The public is invited to learn about and experience first-hand the benefits of osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) at Des Moines University's annual OMM Community Night on April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Student Education Center, 3300 Grand Avenue.

This event is organized by student clubs and will have at least 50 medical student volunteers on hand to provide free OMM treatments in the lab where they train. These treatments utilize full-body structural and muscular assessments that can relieve pain and improve health.

"At the heart of osteopathic medicine is the belief that the body has the capacity to heal itself," explained Christina Moynihan, D.O. student in the class of 2015 and event co-organizer. "Through OMM, physicians are able to remove any barriers to health. For example, a common migraine can be improved by loosening up tight muscles in the neck and releasing restrictions of movement rather than automatically taking an aspirin. Osteopathic physicians use this approach to bring the body into balance without harmful side effects."

OMM Community Night is free and open to all ages. In the past, DMU has demonstrated OMM at the Iowa State Fair and at the finish line of local athletic events. The treatments are always hugely popular.

"It is such a privilege to open our school to the community and educate Des Moines on the importance and effectiveness of osteopathic medicine," said supervising physician G. Bradley Klock, D.O. "Our goal is to have one-on-one time in an informal setting to answer questions and demonstrate the different styles of hands-on osteopathic treatment."

D.O.s practice a "whole body" approach to medicine, recognizing the body as an integrated unit. Osteopathic manual medicine is a unique tool that differentiates D.O.s from other health care providers. These doctors use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, identify structural problems and facilitate the body's healing. By combining all other medical procedures with OMM, osteopathic physicians offer their patients the most comprehensive health care available today.

For more information, call 515-271-1722 or visit www.dmu.edu.

Des Moines University is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, health care administration, anatomy, biomedical sciences and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.

Posted Friday April 13, 2012 at 03:43 pm by Des Moines University
Last Updated Tuesday July 24, 2012 at 05:03 pm