A Journey to Whole Body Wellness Through Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

July 23, 2026

At 66, Frances Jackson had always prioritized staying active, until a rear-end car accident in 2025 left her with lingering aches and pain.

While initially cleared of serious injury after the accident, Jackson spent the next few months in persistent discomfort, including whiplash, lower back pain, and eventually degenerative disc issues. When physical therapy and chiropractic care provided less than ideal results, she turned to a longtime friend who recommended osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) treatment at the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center.

When Jackson first met Karen Vega, DO, an assistant professor in the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at PCOM Georgia, she was optimistic about her recovery.

“I love the concept of hands-on therapy,” she said. “When I started seeing Dr. Vega, I felt like I was finally on the right track.”

In addition to whiplash, aches and lower back pain, Jackson presented with a five-year history of a chronic cough and shared that she was having difficulty taking long, deep breaths.

Dr. Vega assessed her ribs and found that the left side of her rib cage was compressed against the diaphragm, which helped to explain her difficulty breathing.

“My goal is to help my patients understand their whole selves, not just their symptoms,” Dr. Vega said. “If someone is having breathing issues, it's important to look at how the thoracic and rib regions are functioning. Once we identified Frances’ compressed ribs, I was able to show her simple exercises to do at home to support the treatment and help alleviate symptoms.”

During another appointment, Jackson reported sinus pressure and dizziness. Dr. Vega performed cranial manipulation, relieving cranial nerve pressure and helping restore her sense of balance.

“Since working with Dr. Vega, I feel more in tune with my body, and I’ve noticed improvements in my overall well-being,” she said. “The personalized care, the attention to healing as a whole person, it’s a different experience from traditional health care, and I’m grateful for it.”

For Dr. Vega, this personalized care approach not only fosters trust and genuine connection with her patients, but it also reinforces the osteopathic philosophy.

“In osteopathy, we believe the body has an innate ability to heal itself,” Dr. Vega said. “That’s what makes our work so valuable. I often hear patients asking, ‘Why aren’t there more practitioners like you?’ And I tell them, ‘That’s what we’re building here.’”

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