It’s all in the hands. Just ask Dr. Kurt Heinking.

As an osteopathic physician, Heinking uses his hands to diagnose illness and injury and to encourage a body’s natural tendency toward good health.

Heinking, an instructor at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, will use his healing hands to demonstrate Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, or OMT, on his students at the NBC5 2008 Healthy Lifestyle Expo. The free, family friendly event will be held on Saturday March 15 and Sunday March 16 at Navy Pier. Visitors will enjoy healthy cooking demonstrations, dancing, rock climbing, health tests and screenings. NBC5 and TelemundoChicago personalities will be on hand to greet Expo guests. 

Heinking, who will appear at the expo on Sunday, is the chairman of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at Midwestern University and Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“We osteopaths have more of a holistic philosophy. We rely a little bit less on medication,” Heinking said. “But we do prescribe medicine, and we do perform surgery. We have hospital privileges.”

Heinking practices medicine at Chicago Osteopathic Health Care in Willowbrook. Patients visit him seeking relief for sports injuries, arthritis, headaches and the pains of pregnancy.

The joys of motherhood are coupled with the discomfort of nausea, fatigue and backaches. Heinking uses OMT to relieve stress in such areas as the upper torso and lower back that become especially sore during pregnancy. In addition, applying OMT to the cranium can relieve tension headaches and stress to help a mother relax.

“I’m sort of unique. I did a residency in family medicine and a fellowship in sports medicine. I’m a specialist for muscle and joint problems and a generalist for the rest of my patients. That’s what I like,” Heinking said. “It gives me a lot of variety in what I do. I’m here for the whole family, for anyone who wants a good family doctor.”

Family practice comes naturally to Heinking, a Darien resident. He and wife, Laura, an accountant, are the parents of Kyle, 8, and Samantha, 4. After closing his clinic each evening he goes home “where the real work begins.” 

“My hours are sort of unique because I’m in academics as well as owning my own practice. I pretty much have two full-time jobs,” Heinking said. “I enjoy working with patients at the same time I’m teaching students. My favorite part of my job is also my biggest challenge. The hours that I work mean a time commitment away from my family.”

As an educator, Heinking teaches his osteopathic students to listen to their patients and to look for a somatic component to their patients’ chief complaints.

To learn more about Heinking, contact Chicago Osteopathic Health Care at (630) 455-0472.