Bones, Joints, Nerves, and Muscles
“While I may work on your body’s outer layers, I’m always analyzing how it impacts the internal nervous system and other parts of the body you may not even realize play a role in your medical problem.” ~Dr. Schuster
In addition to Dr. Schuster’s medical training in osteopathic primary care, he is also board certified in Musculoskeletal and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. Treatment in this area is separate from the DPC part of his medical practice, with many patients receiving musculo- and neuromusculoskeletal treatment seeing Dr. Schuster for sports medicine care or other medical concerns that impact the body’s bones, joints, nerves, and muscles.
Specialties
Musculoskeletal Medicine is a branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and management of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments). Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common medical conditions, impacting about one-third of all adults in the United States. That number is growing with an aging population. When someone refers to a “sports injury” this commonly means the injury is a musculoskeletal injury. Dr. Schuster is a member of the American Osteopathic Association for Sports Medicine and has worked with teams at the University of Toledo and Marian University.
Problems that involve musculoskeletal treatment include muscular and soft tissue injuries, joint injuries, bone disorders, and arthritis. Dr. Schuster works to identify pain conditions that impact a patient’s movement patterns and then determines the best course of action to pursue. Treatment options may include OMT, pain management strategies, trigger point treatment, soft tissue and joint injections, prescription medicine, surgery, or a change in diet.
Common Musculoskeletal Conditions:
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Lower Back Muscle Strains
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Tendonitis
- Bone Fractures
- Muscle or tendon strain
- Herniated disc
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow
Neuromusculoskeletal medicine is a branch of medicine that specializes in treating conditions that affect the neuromusculoskeletal system of the nerves, muscles, bones, skull, and spine. Dr. Schuster uses hands-on osteopathic examination and manipulative medicine to determine what treatment will best suit a patient. As a doctor who specializes in NMM, Dr. Schuster uses his hands to detect structural abnormalities in the body and how they impact a person’s ability to function and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is central to treatment in this area.
With the combination of Dr. Schuster’s primary care training, his expansive skillset in OMT, and his specialized training in neuromusculoskeletal medicine he is positioned to treat acute and chronic medical conditions, as well as tackle complicated diagnoses. As the body operates as a unit, neurological and musculoskeletal problems are interrelated and treatment for these conditions should look to the body as whole to identify the best medical treatment plan for a patient.
Common Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions:
- Chronic fatigue
- Digestive problems
- Migraines
- Tension headaches
- Back or Neck pain
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Sciatica
- Genitourinary conditions (urinary incontinence, UTIs, kidney stones)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Asthma
- Depression
- Anxiety
Treatments
In treating musculoskeletal or neuromusculoskeletal conditions, Dr. Schuster uses all resources available to identify the best course of treatment for a patient. With his careful attention and comprehensive knowledge in the field, he formulates a plan of treatment best suited for each patient.
Treatment options include, but are not limited to:
- OMT
- Diet
- Exercise
- Rehab
- Prescriptions
- Injections – These are done in office
- Prolotherapy – a treatment, which stimulates the tissue to lay down new tissue, is used for joint laxity and ligament injuries
