Which of the following is listed as a PMS management approach with OMT?

• A. Treat symptoms - headache, fatigue, mood, bloating, edema
• B. Treat before symptoms begin if possible
• C. Treat somatic dysfunctions and lymphatics
• D. Treat with pharmacologic therapy only

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that osteopathic manipulative treatment for PMS aims to relieve the full range of symptoms patients experience, not just target a single issue. PMS often presents with headaches, fatigue, mood changes, bloating, and edema, so the most effective OMT approach is to address these symptoms directly. Through techniques that improve circulation and lymphatic drainage and by addressing somatic dysfunctions, OMT can reduce the overall symptom burden and improve how the body handles a luteal-phase stress.

While treating somatic dysfunctions and lymphatics can support symptom relief, the overarching goal in this context is to alleviate the symptoms themselves. Proactively treating before symptoms appear isn’t the stated focus, and relying on pharmacologic therapy only doesn’t align with the manual, holistic approach of OMT.