Richard L Van Buskirk, DO, PhD, FAAO Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Richard Van Buskirk, DO is an osteopathic physician who treats problems of muscles, tendons, joints, bones & nervous system.
New Books Published
For the Public
Understanding you musculoskeletal system is the key to gaining and keeping good health of your bones, joints, muscles tendons and ligaments. This new book is intended to help you achieve these goals.
For the Profession
The Still Technique Manual, Second Edition has now been republished in a new format with some revisions and updating. I am pleased to announce that it is now available. It is the only English language version of this seminal work describing the rediscovery, redevelopment and application of the osteopathic musculoskeletal manipulative technique originated by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of Osteopathic Medicine.
About Us
Our offices are at 1217 S. East Avenue, Suite 310, Sarasota, Florida 34239
You can find us in the middle building in the Midtown Medical Offices on East Avenue across the street from Michael's on East.
Restoring balance
We have offered skilled and compassionate medical and osteopathic care for 35 years in Sarasota.
We offer expert diagnosis and treatment of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints and the related nervous system. Our primary focus is using Osteopathic manipulative treatment to help you achieve the goals of balance, improved mobility and reduction of the discomfort that comes from musculoskeletal restriction. When necessary and appropriate we also use nerve blocks, joint, tendon, muscle and tenderpoint injections and prolotherapy injections.
About the Osteopathic Practice
What is Osteopathic medicine
Osteopathic medicine is an American medical practice licensed in all 50 states and 65 other countries. It was first developed in the late 19th Century by Andrew Taylor Still, MD. Osteopathic medicine is a patient-focused approach to medical care that looks at every aspect of the patient, including physical, personal, and spiritual well-being. An osteopathic physician (DO) understands that the body is more than just a sum of its parts. The focus of an osteopathic medical practice is to assist the patient’s innate capacity to heal. Traditionally that has included addressing the interrelationship of the body’s nerves, muscles, bones and organs. Osteopathic physicians are licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in all medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties.
Richard L. Van Buskirk, DO, PhD, FAAO
Dr. Van Buskirk is an internationally recognized osteopathic physician who has been in private practice in Sarasota, Florida for over 35 years. He is Board Certified in and has practiced Family Medicine and Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. Before attending the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine he was an Associate Professor in Physiology and Neuroscience, having earned his PhD from Duke University. Dr. Van Buskirk is a Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy and has served for 31 years on the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Osteopathy. He is responsible for the rediscovery of and redevelopment of one of Dr. Still’s primary manipulative methods, the Still Technique. He is the published author of books, medical and scientific articles and has given lectures and courses in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan.
What is Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine?
The muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints and connective tissue (fascia) make up 80% of the body's mass and volume. Restrictions in the ability to use any part of the body because of injuries, disuse, disease or trauma can have profound effects on our ability to function. The interrelationships of all body organs, including the musculoskeletal system is fundamental. What affects a part, affect all. The musculoskeletal system affects all other internal organs and in turn is affected by them in both health and disease. Musculoskeletal restrictions may or may not be visible to an outsider and may or may not be seen on x-rays and other radiology studies. Even so we clearly experience them, sometimes even with pain. Using his or her hands the trained osteopathic physician examines your body and determines where these restrictions are and what movement is still present. Diagnosis and treatment will be based on knowledge of both the normal and potential abnormalities as well as the relationships of all the parts of this complex system to each other, the nervous system and the other organs of the body. Treatment always includes some form of manual medicine but may also include prescription of medications, injections or referral to other physicians or surgeons..
Osteopathic manipulative methods used by Dr. Van Buskirk
The primary manipulative method used by Dr. Van Buskirk is the Still Technique. It involves induction of motion by the physician in the restricted tissue without force. It is generally pain-free.
Other methods commonly used by Dr. Van Buskirk include Muscle Energy, Counterstrain, Balanced Ligamentous Tension and Cranial Osteopathy
Van Buskirk Osteopathic Treats Trauma
Management of Physical Trauma
We have thirty-five years of experience in evaluation, diagnosis, management of and treatment of physical trauma including motor vehicle injuries, sports injuries and other accidents, including falls.
You need to be aware that under Florida Law anyone wishing to claim injuries from a motor vehicle accident MUST be evaluated by a Florida licensed MD or DO within 14 days of the accident. Richard Van Buskirk, DO can provide this necessary evaluation.
Dr. Van Buskirk has extensive experience in evaluating and treating both the acute and long-term problems that result from physical trauma. Whether your trauma has caused pain, physical restriction, limitations in your ability to function at home or at work, proper and prompt diagnosis and initiation of a treatment protocol tailored to you is essential.
Although you may be experiencing pain and restriction limited to only part of your body, your trauma has involved your whole person. That is who he treats. Dr. Van Buskirk will utilize all necessary resources to manage and promote your healing including medication, osteopathic musculoskeletal manipulative treatment, injections, radiology imaging, physical therapy, alternative therapies and where necessary referral to another medical specialist. His extensive experience is helpful in dealing with both the insurance companies and lawyers that are typically the result of trauma.
Practice Services
What our practice does
Diagnosis of problems relating to muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and bones.
Diagnosis of rheumatological problems.
Evaluation of role of the brain, spinal cord and nerves as they relate to the musculoskeletal system.
Diagnosis and treatment of headaches, sciatica, head injuries, arthritis, spinal disc disease and spinal stenosis and involvement in the diagnosis of neurological disorders such as myasthenia gravis, parkinsonian syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
Evaluation of the role of other organ systems like the thyroid, cardiovascular and respiratory systems in musculoskeletal complaints.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) using Still Technique, Muscle Energy, Counterstrain and Cranial osteopathy.
We also provide when appropriate:
Joint, tendon and ligament injections.
Peripheral nerve blocks.
Prolotherapy.
Basic exercise and stretch prescription
Self treatments.
Fixed prices for patients
Standard prices for an office visit and treatment*
New Patient: $500.00
Returning Patient: $355.00
* Does not include injections.
For Medicare patients
We have opted out of Medicare as of January 1, 2026. This means we are not providers for Medicare of Medicare Advantage Plans. Neither the patient nor the practice can legally bill Medicare or any Medicare Advantage plan for medical and manipulative services. We expect to be paid at the time of service.
For Trauma patients covered by Motor Vehicle Insurance
Typical rates in Florida are two times that of Medicare.
Some Motor vehicle insurance policies pay 100% of the expected rate. Others pay 80%. If there is a balance we expect the remaining 20% at the time of service unless there is prior arrangement with our office, your lawyer or the other party's insurance company
Taking Charge of your Musculoskeletal Health
Psoas Self Release with a Wedge Block
The psoas is the major hip flexor muscle. It attaches to the lumbar spine (low back). The psoas crosses inside the abdomen and the pelvis to attach to the femur or thigh bone just below and inside the boney projection of the pelvis called the anterior inferior iliac spine (ASIS). When the psoas contracts it bends the hip joint upward a
The psoas is the major hip flexor muscle. It attaches to the lumbar spine (low back). The psoas crosses inside the abdomen and the pelvis to attach to the femur or thigh bone just below and inside the boney projection of the pelvis called the anterior inferior iliac spine (ASIS). When the psoas contracts it bends the hip joint upward and forward, flexing the thigh on the pelvis.
If the psoas is in spasm or is too tight, we cannot straighten the leg out flat when we lie on our back. When we stand it won’t let us stand fully erect on the tight side. If both psoas muscles are tight, we stand bent forward at the waist. If one psoas is tight it will contribute to low back pain in that side. If both psoas muscles are tight, we stand bent forward at the waist and can’t stand straight or we develop an increased low back curve and the buttocks are pushed backwards. Both situations cause lower back pain and pain in the groin.
One major cause of tight psoas muscles is sitting too much of the time. The muscles and their tendons shorten and can no longer extend to their full length.
Gently extending the psoas provides significant relief. When the shortening is chronic, the best solution will involve daily stretching for at least six weeks. The method we have found best is performed on a flat surface using a yoga wedge block. You can find them on Amazon for less than $15 for two blocks.
To passively lengthen psoas:
1. Lie on your back on a firm bed, table or the floor.
2. Insert the wedge block with the thin edge under the buttock on the affected side. The wedge part of the block should be pointing towards the opposite shoulder. Your sitz-bone (ishial tuberosity) is the boney projection at the bottom of the buttock and the top of the thigh. It is the pelvic attachment for the hamstrings. Place your sitz-bone on the highest part of the wedge angle where it joins the top thick part of the block.
3. Straighten your leg out in line with your body.
4. Rest for a couple of minutes.
5. Remove the block and do the same for the other side of the body if it needs release and lengthening too.
Jammed Sacrum Self Release
The sacrum is a wedge shaped bone between the two halves of the pelvis. It is the foundation for the spine. The sacrum is suspended between the two halves of the pelvis by thick ligaments. It is supposed to move as much as 4 mm when we are walking, bending, twisting, stretching, sitting or lying down.
Sometimes the sacrum can be jammed dow
The sacrum is a wedge shaped bone between the two halves of the pelvis. It is the foundation for the spine. The sacrum is suspended between the two halves of the pelvis by thick ligaments. It is supposed to move as much as 4 mm when we are walking, bending, twisting, stretching, sitting or lying down.
Sometimes the sacrum can be jammed down and immobilized between the two halves of the pelvis, like a keystone in an arch. Causes include falling on our rear, plopping down to sit rather than lowering ourselves in a controlled fashion, coughing or sneezing, and inappropriate lifting of a heavy object. With a jammed sacrum we may experience back pain or discomfort and stiffness across both sides of the whole lower back. It can produce hip and buttock muscle pain.
Freeing the impacted sacrum provides significant relief. In my experience, sacral jamming occurs frequently. There is a simple exercise sequence that can release a sacral jam:
1. Sit on an arm chair with your hips and knees at 90 degrees. Your feet should be on the floor. The back of your calves should be 4-5 inches in front of the seat.
2. First sit erect or slightly leaning back. Place your elbows on the chair arms so that any attempt to lean forward meets the resistance of the arms and shoulders. Now gently and briefly lean your head and neck backward and then forward towards your lap. Do this three times
3. Next lean all the way forward bringing your chest and abdomen as close to the thighs as possible.
4. Wrap your arms under your thighs and grasp your forearms or elbows. The object is to prevent movement of your upper body off your thighs.
5. Hold this position while gently attempting to straighten up. This is an isometric movement and you shouldn’t actually move very much. Attempt to straighten up three brief times.
6. Now remove your arms from under your thighs and place your hands on your knees. Using your arms push yourself into an erect sitting position. Do not sit up using your back muscles. This completes the sacral release.
Perform this exercise daily. Even if the sacrum isn’t jammed it helps the muscles along the spine.
Miss-Tracking Knee Cap
Miss-Tracking Knee Cap
One major non-arthritis source of knee pain occurs when the knee cap miss-tracks when you extend your knee. The pain is worse getting in or out of chairs or climbing stairs. You may feel that your leg is somehow weak and could give way. There may be tenderness along the inside and/or outside of the kneecap. To figure out whether the kne
One major non-arthritis source of knee pain occurs when the knee cap miss-tracks when you extend your knee. The pain is worse getting in or out of chairs or climbing stairs. You may feel that your leg is somehow weak and could give way. There may be tenderness along the inside and/or outside of the kneecap. To figure out whether the kneecap is miss-tracking, sit on something high enough that you can freely swing your knee. Grab your kneecap between your thumb and index finger so you can feel what the kneecap does when you straighten your knee. If the kneecap moves toward the other leg or away from the other leg as you straighten your leg, you have a miss-tracking kneecap. You may be able to feel a gap under the kneecap on the side toward which it drifts. These signs indicate is that there is a muscle imbalance in the quadriceps muscles.
It is surprisingly easy to correct this knee problem, and the fix is at least semi-permanent. We use an exercise to re-balance the strength of the four strap muscles that make up the quadriceps.
For a kneecap that rides toward the other leg (medial miss-tracking):
1. Place a one- or two-pound weight around your ankle (150 pennies weighs about a pound; a shoe generally weighs at least a pound).
2. Sit on a surface high enough so that your feet are off the floor.
3. Roll your thigh inward so your ankle is to the outside of your knee.
4. Holding this position, swing your foot and lower leg from the back to the front (back and forth). This activates the outer quadriceps muscles.
5. The target is 50 swings a day for two weeks. After two weeks the quadriceps muscle should be balanced, and the kneecap should track properly. As long as it is properly tracking you can stop the exercise.
For a kneecap that is tracking towards the outside of the knee (lateral miss-tracking): 1. Roll the thigh outward so the ankle is closer to the other leg.
2. Maintain this position while doing 50 front-to-back swings a day for two weeks .
3. Do not continue the exercise longer than two weeks or the kneecap may start to swing in the opposite direction.
HIPPA Notice
HIPAA: Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
In general we only use an officially HIPAA compliant Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to record your medical information. Our medical practice email is also HIPAA compliant. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Your Rights
- You have the right to:
- Get a copy of your paper or electronic medical record
- Correct your paper or electronic medical record
- Request confidential communication
- Ask us to limit the information we share
- Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information
- Get a copy of this privacy notice
- Choose someone to act for you
- File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
Your Choices
You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we:
- Tell family and friends about your condition
- Provide disaster relief
- Include you in a hospital directory
- Provide mental health care
- Market our services and sell your information
- Raise funds
- Our Uses and Disclosures
We may use and share your information as we:
- Treat you
- Run our organization
- Bill for your services
- Help with public health and safety issues
- Do research
- Comply with the law
- Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
- Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
- Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
- Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
Further information on Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.
- Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.
We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
- Ask us to correct your medical record
You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.
We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.
- Request confidential communications
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.
We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.
- Ask us to limit what we use or share
You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.
- Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information
You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.
- Get a copy of this privacy notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
- Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
- File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information on this web site.
You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Your Choices
For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.
In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
- Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
- Share information in a disaster relief situation
- Include your information in a hospital directory
If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
In most cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:
- Marketing purposes
- Sale of your information
- Most sharing of psychotherapy notes
- In the case of fundraising:
- We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.
Our Uses and Disclosures
How do we typically use or share your health information?
We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.
- Treat you
We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.
· Run our organization
We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.
Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.
- Bill for your services
We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.
How else can we use or share your health information?
We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.
- Help with public health and safety issues
We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:
- Preventing disease
- Helping with product recalls
- Reporting adverse reactions to medications
- Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
- Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety
- Do research
We can use or share your information for health research. Generally this information is stripped of all identifiers.
- Comply with the law
We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.
- Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.
- Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.
- Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
We can use or share health information about you:
- For workers’ compensation claims
- For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
- With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
- For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services
- Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
Our Responsibilities
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.
Changes to the Terms of this Notice
We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our web site.
Richard L. Van Buskirk, DO
November 9, 2018