DR. SUSANNAH PARKE, DO
SERVICES
Dr. Parke’s background includes specialty training in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), as well as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), making her particularly adept at diagnosing conditions involving pain, musculoskeletal dysfunction and neurological compromise. PM&R residency involves learning to diagnose and treat a broad spectrum of injuries. She learned how to care for patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, concussion, MS, cerebral palsy, amputation, nerve injuries, spine, and joint problems. Dr Parke has narrowed her focus over the years to treating mostly pain and musculoskeletal conditions, but this background has served her well.
​
Dr. Parke treats many conditions, including (but not limited to): joint pain, back pain, limb pain, nerve pain and entrapment, headaches, TMJ dysfunction, pain related to pregnancy, hypermobility disorders (hEDS/HSD) and other ligament injuries, tendon injuries, vertigo/dizziness, facial pain and gait problems. She also treats people who are post-stroke, suffer from brain injury or other neurological conditions provided they are able to lie or sit still for at least 20 minutes.
​
Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy
Prolotherapy Injections
Medication, Natural Remedies & Supplements
Optimizing Recovery
Appreciation of the Universal Health of the Patient
Private Sessions
(Coming Soon!)
OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT (OMT)
​
​OMT is form of bodywork that treats dysfunctional motion, tissue injury and pain. Dr. Parke uses gentle techniques to obtain improved skeletal alignment and tissue homeostasis. Most patients receive OMT, but it’s not a requirement to be seen.
PROLOTHERAPY
​
​Prolotherapy or Prolo is a form of regenerative medicine that works by injecting a 18% dextrose solution into ligaments, tendons, and joints to stimulate healing and proper joint functioning. For some cases, Dr. Parke will refer to her colleague Dr. Robert Krasnick for more advanced treatments. Dr. Parke does occasionally do cortisone injections but since they can be detrimental to the tissues and joint cartilage long term, she tends to avoid them.
MORE THAN MEDICINE
​
​Dr. Parke recommends natural remedies including supplements, when possible, but she also prescribes conventional medicines when it is indicated in certain medical conditions.
PERSONAL FITNESS CONSULTS
​
​Exercise is key to a robust and lasting recovery. Dr Parke works with patients 1:1 to develop a fitness routine that is tailored to your body and takes into account injuries or medical conditions so that you can work out SAFELY. Bring in old exercises you want to review, edit and we will figure out a routine that fits your goals.
BIODYNAMICS
​
Biodynamics is type of osteopathic treatment. This is listed separately from OMT since it’s such a unique treatment and yet fundamental to Osteopathy. The father of Biodynamics was James Jealous DO who recently passed in 2021 but set forth a strong legacy among osteopathic practitioners. He was influenced by many but particularly by one of the Osteopathic founders, Dr. William Sutherland.
​
When performing a biodynamic treatment, the practitioner sits quietly in order to sense and appreciate the universal Health in the patient and synchronize with it. There is a therapeutic force to heal waiting in the lesion (the lesion can be physical, psychological etc.) and over time the lesion becomes integrated back into the whole. According to Dr. Jealous, by partnering with these therapeutic forces which have embryologic wisdom, we help the patient move closer to Wholeness.
As written by Dr. Jealous, I believe that to acknowledge a higher wisdom at work and to sense rather than palpate is at the Soul of Osteopathy. A soul that will not compromise the beauty and consciousness that lies beyond our intellect. Integrity demands that we speak undiluted truth.
We are always perfect beginners, inspired, awed, apprehensive and self-searching.
Within the Dynamic Stillness we are healed without process or time. From the Breath of Life a new living matrix is created in each moment. The Tide brings us the power of Life and “feeds” us. The fluids respond, lawfully balancing the power of life and skillfully “driving” the continuum towards perfect proportion.
YOGA
​
Dr. Parke earned her RYT 200-hour training in February 2022. Her training at Spirit Rising Yoga in Brighton, MI was in-person and grounded in the 8-limbs of yoga. She was drawn to yoga because of its focus on generating self-awareness and self-compassion, and of course the healing potential through asana and breath.
​
She will soon offer private sessions with the goal of establishing a set of poses or a routine to enhance body strength, alignment, and stability. We recommend seeing Dr. Parke for at least 1 session in her regular clinic so that she can learn how your unique body moves and which areas to focus on together. The goal is not to do a perfect downward dog or warrior 1, but to appreciate what your body can do and generate an awareness of self that will serve you in all aspects of life.