Dr. Jed Downs has a different approach to the neuromusculoskeletal system than most of his colleagues in the region. He views the body from a functional standpoint. Just as a car will not function to its fullest capacity if the alternator belt is loose or slipping or the brake rotor is warped, the human body will not function well if its individual parts are too tight or too loose or the muscles fire out of sequence. Whether the car in question is a 1963 Dodge Dart or a 2009 Cadillac, the car must be maintained and tuned for optimal performance.
Restoring optimal performance after trauma or an accident is critical. There are no guarantees of "good as new" in medicine, but there is better than the pain and difficulties you are having now.
Downs' training in osteopathy, in addition to helping patients with work- related injuries and pain, has had the side benefit of helping people with trauma from motor vehicle accidents and personal injuries. He can often help the high- performance athlete or the weekend warrior who recognizes that something is wrong with his or her body that prevents them from achieving their usual speed and agility, or which causes pain. While there are injuries from overuse that show up as tendonitis, and sprains, strains, breaks and tears do happen, there are many problems which persist and plague the athlete or worker long after those problems should have healed.
Early on or down the road, it may be time for Downs to do a full and comprehensive assessment to look for areas of the body that are not working as well as they did in the months or weeks prior to an injury. A comprehensive assessment may be necessary to locate the imbalances or restrictions in the body responsible for the pain. A patient is capable of locating their pain but may not be capable of knowing where the pain is actually coming from.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Downs completed residencies in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center and in occupational medicine at St. Paul-Ramsey Hospital. Downs practiced occupational medicine for 17 years.
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Downs has completed more than 1,000 hours of hands-on training in osteopathy. He recently attended a conference focused on cranial nerve diagnosis and treatment techniques and is now able to offer a more comprehensive cranial examination and treatment.
Occupational and Manual Medicine of Duluth Ltd. is located in the Lakewalk Building, 1420 London Road, Suite 102B. If you are experiencing chronic pain, you may reach Downs at 724-6000.
