Conditions Treated
What to Expect at Your Visit
Your Story and History
Every visit begins with a conversation. Understanding how your symptoms began, what activities affect them, and how they have changed over time provides important clues about what may be contributing to the problem.
Many musculoskeletal conditions develop gradually through patterns of movement, strain, or compensation in other parts of the body. Taking time to understand your history helps guide a more precise evaluation.
You’ll have the opportunity to describe your symptoms, your goals, and the activities that are important in your daily life, whether that means sports, work, parenting, or simply moving without discomfort.
At Harris Osteopathic Sports Medicine, visits are designed to allow time for careful listening, thorough evaluation, and skilled hands-on treatment. Rather than rushing through symptoms, the goal is to understand the full story behind your pain or injury and develop a thoughtful plan to help you move and feel better.
Physical and Movement Evaluation
Next comes a detailed musculoskeletal examination. This evaluation looks not only at the area where pain is felt, but also at how the surrounding joints, muscles, and connective tissues are functioning.
The examination may include:
Assessment of posture and movement patterns
Evaluation of joint mobility and muscle tension
Functional testing related to your symptoms or activity
Palpation of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues
Pain is often influenced by how different parts of the body interact. A careful evaluation helps identify movement restrictions, imbalances, or compensations that may be contributing to the problem.
Hands-On Osteopathic Treatment
When appropriate, treatment may include osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a hands-on form of medical care used to improve mobility, reduce tension, and support the body’s natural healing processes.
Treatment techniques are carefully selected based on the findings from your examination. These may include:
Gentle stretching and mobilization
Soft tissue techniques
Joint mobilization
Other precise manual treatments designed to improve how the body moves and functions
OMT is generally comfortable and tailored to each patient’s needs.
A Personalized Recovery Plan
Before the visit concludes, we will review what was found during your evaluation and discuss a clear plan moving forward.
Your treatment plan may include:
Hands-on osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to restore mobility and reduce tension
Guidance on activity modification and safe return to exercise or sport
Targeted mobility, stability, or strengthening exercises to support recovery
Breathing and posture strategies that can influence movement, tension, and pain patterns
Practical guidance on stress management, sleep, and recovery habits that support healing
Nutrition guidance when relevant to recovery and overall musculoskeletal health
Referral for imaging, additional testing, or consultation with other specialists when appropriate
Medication management when necessary, used thoughtfully and conservatively
Follow-up care when appropriate to monitor progress and adjust treatment
The goal is simple: restore function, reduce pain, and help you return to the activities that matter most to you.
“Any variation from the health has a cause, and the cause has a location. It is the business of the osteopath to locate and remove it (the cause), doing away with disease and getting health instead.”
– A. T. Still MD, DO, Osteopathy Research and Practice
Visits are scheduled by appointment to ensure each patient receives the time and attention needed for a thorough evaluation and treatment.