OMT technique classes

6 min read. Updated October 9, 2026.Founders

Two questions classify every technique

  • Direct or indirect? Direct techniques engage the restrictive barrier. Indirect techniques move away from it, toward ease.
  • Active or passive? Active techniques need the patient's voluntary muscle effort. Passive techniques do not.
TechniqueDirect or indirectActive or passive
Muscle energyUsually directActive
HVLA (thrust)DirectPassive
ArticulatoryDirectPassive
Soft tissueUsually directPassive
CounterstrainIndirectPassive
Facilitated positional release (FPR)IndirectPassive
Functional techniqueIndirectPassive
Balanced ligamentous tension (BLT)Usually indirectPassive
Myofascial releaseDirect or indirectPassive (patient may assist)
CranialDirect or indirectPassive
Still techniqueStarts indirect, ends directPassive

Indirect does not mean recreating the original injury. It means taking the tissue toward the position it prefers.

The rest of this guide is for founders

Founders get every guide, endless cases with an AI tutor, and Anki export of their misses. Here is what is inside:

  1. Two questions classify every technique
  2. Soft tissue
  3. Muscle energy
  4. Counterstrain
  5. Facilitated positional release
  6. Still technique
  7. HVLA (thrust)
  8. Articulatory technique
  9. Functional technique
  10. Balanced ligamentous tension (ligamentous articular strain)
  11. Myofascial release
  12. Trigger points
  13. Choosing a technique

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