4 TexasHealthMansfield.org Meet family physician Katherine Pederson, DO Primary care, plus osteopathic hands-on treatments Katherine Pederson, DO, MS, always wanted to be a doctor. Her first patient? A Dalmatian named Vickie. “I got my first Fisher-Price doctor’s bag when I was three or four years old,” Dr. Pederson says. “I played with that thing until it fell apart.” Medicine was a calling, Dr. Pederson adds. Answering that call, she became an osteopathic family medicine physician. Primary care plus Osteopathic Manual Therapy As a family physician, Dr. Pederson provides all the services you’d expect, such as wellness exams and office visits. But unlike most family doctors, she’s also board-certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. As a specialist in this area, she uses Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) to diagnose and treat various conditions. OMT involves using hands-on techniques, such as stretching or applying gentle pressure, to reduce pain and improve function. One technique you may have heard of is called myofascial release. Issues Dr. Pederson may address with OMT include: ● Pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain ● For infants, difficulty with breastfeeding or latching ● Baby colic (frequent crying) ● Asthma-related breathing problems ● Fibromyalgia Osteopathic doctors like Dr. Pederson receive the same training as other physicians but tend to approach care differently. “We have four main tenets in osteopathic medicine,” she says. “One is the body’s innate ability to heal itself. As an osteopath, we also look at the mind, body and spirit to figure out what we need to work on.” For instance, she may consider her patients’ nutrition to understand how their lifestyle habits could be affecting their health. Dr. Pederson also believes in teaching her patients about their overall health and partnering with them on their goals. “We will work together,” she says. “It’s a team approach.” Make an appointment Call 817.806.1130 or visit TexasHealthMansfield.org/Pederson. Dr. Pederson sees patients at 1757 Broad Park Circle N., Suite 201, in Mansfield.
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