What Is OMM? Understanding Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine with Dr. Drew Rose

“OMM helps us look beyond the place where pain shows up and understand what may be contributing to it.” —Dr. Drew Rose

In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, sits down with Drew Rose, DO, to explore how Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) offers a hands-on way of understanding the body’s structure and movement patterns. Dr. Drew explains how structure and function are interconnected, why touch can offer insight that standard testing may not provide, and how OMM can be used as part of an individualized approach for people navigating chronic pain, headaches, fatigue, inflammatory conditions, COPD, fibromyalgia, and other complex concerns.

He also shares lessons from his years practicing hospital and ICU medicine, including why one-size-fits-all care often falls short—and how osteopathic principles offer a deeper perspective on what the body may be signaling.

Highlights include:

→ What OMM is and how it differs from chiropractic care

→ Why osteopathic medicine focuses on structure and function

→ How foot and gait mechanics can influence low back pain

→ What NASA research revealed about cranial motion

→ How hands-on assessment can offer a different perspective than imaging alone

→ Using OMM within individualized care for chronic and complex concerns

→ The role of lymphatic flow, fascia, and subtle motion

→ How OMM complements the Riordan Clinic approach to whole-person care

About Drew Rose, DO

Drew Rose, DO, is an internal medicine physician with advanced training in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Before joining Riordan Clinic, he spent six years practicing hospital and ICU medicine in Kansas. He brings a whole-person, hands-on approach to patient care, integrating structural evaluation, osteopathic principles, and nutritional insights to support alignment, mobility, and overall well-being. Learn more about Dr. Drew or schedule a new patient appointment.

Episode Links & Resources

Learn more about the Riordan Clinic

Listen to more episodes of the Real Health Podcast

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome + introducing OMM

01:10 MD vs DO vs chiropractic training

02:46 Structure, function, and whole-body evaluation

04:18 Low back pain and the kinetic chain

06:01 Foot mechanics and alignment

07:34 Cranial motion, NASA research, and headaches

10:14 OMM and migraines

12:19 Foundational osteopathic principles

14:11 OMM in chronic and complex experience

17:22 Nervous system sensitization and subtle motion

20:05 Individualized care in hospital medicine

22:12 How OMM complements whole-person care

Disclaimer

The information contained on the Real Health Podcast and the resources mentioned are for educational purposes only. They are not intended as and shall not be understood or construed as medical or health advice. The information contained on this podcast is not a substitute for medical or health advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Information provided by hosts and guests on the Real Health Podcast or the use of any products or services mentioned does not create a practitioner-patient relationship between you and any persons affiliated with this podcast.

Topics we explore in this episode:

osteopathic medicine, OMM, osteopathic manipulative medicine, cranial motion, cranial rhythmic impulse, chronic pain, migraines, headaches, low back pain, gait mechanics, kinetic chain, lymphatic flow, fascia, COPD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, integrative medicine, functional medicine, hands-on medicine, individualized care, whole-person health, Riordan Clinic providers, structural alignment, root-cause perspective