Research Digest

1. Osteopathic Treatment of Infants in Their First Year of Life: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study (OSTINF Study)

   In Germany in recent years, a growing number of parents are seeking help from osteopaths for the perceived health complaints of their infants and children. However, reliable evidence for the effectiveness of osteopathic interventions for this group of patients is largely lacking. The objective of this study was to observe and document changes in the […]

2. Moderate to Substantial Inter-Rater Reliability in the Assessment of Cranial Bone Mobility Restrictions

   The World Health Organization benchmarks for osteopathic training consider cranial osteopathy as an important manual skill. Studies of cranial manual therapy have exhibited poor reliability. The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-rater reliability of the manual mobility tests of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS), and the temporal, parietal, and frontal bones, as assessed […]

3. Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment vs Sham Treatment on Activity Limitations in Patients With Nonspecific Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain A Randomized Clinical Trial

   Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is frequently offered to people with nonspecific low back pain (LBP) but never compared with sham OMT for reducing LBP-specific activity limitations. The objective of this RCT was to compare the efficacy of standard OMT vs sham OMT for reducing LBP-specific activity limitations at 3 months in persons with nonspecific subacute […]

4. Stuck in the middle with you: why a broad-brush approach to defining central sensitisation does not help clinicians and patients

   Central sensitization is increasingly interpreted as central nervous system hyperexcitability accounting for a general increase in sensitivity, and used to explain a variety of pain and non-pain symptoms. In this commentary, we argue that such a broad interpretation might not be clinically useful because it fails to distinguish one patient from another based on pathophysiological […]

5. Obstructed defecation syndrome associated with paradoxical puborectalis contraction: osteopathic treatment versus anal biofeedback. Results of a pilot study

   Biofeedback is the most widespread rehabilitative therapy for the treatment of anismus after failed conservative treatment. Osteopathy represents an alternative therapy for constipation. The aim of this study was to evaluate short- and long-term results of osteopathic treatment as compared to biofeedback in patients with dyssynergic defecation … ABSTRACT

6. The use of 3D printing for osteopathic medical education of rib disorders

   With the advent of increasingly accessible three-dimensional (3D) printing, the possibility to efficiently design and generate prototype innovations is also increasing. This type of manufacturing can potentially enhance medical education by allowing design of models specific to osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). The objectives of this study was to determine the viability of a 3D-printed mechanically […]

7. Opposing Vaccine Hesitancy During the Covid-19 Pandemic – A Critical Commentary and United Statement of an International Osteopathic Research Community

   The covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented impact on the social, mental and physical health of the global population. It is only now, more than a year since the beginning of the pandemic, that through remarkable medical and scientific innovation there are several safe and effective vaccines for covid-19, and more are being developed. […]

8. The global summit on the efficacy and effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy for the prevention and treatment of non-musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of the literature

   A small proportion of chiropractors, osteopaths, and other manual medicine providers use spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) to manage non-musculoskeletal disorders. However, the efficacy and effectiveness of these interventions to prevent or treat non-musculoskeletal disorders remain controversial. We convened a Global Summit of international scientists to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine the efficacy […]

9. Thematic Analysis of Attitudes Held by a Group of Italian Osteopaths Toward Osteopathic Evaluation, Treatment, and Management in the Neonatal and Pediatric Field: A Qualitative Study

   The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes held by a group of Italian osteopaths toward osteopathic evaluation, treatment, and management in the neonatal and pediatric field … ABSTRACT

10. A national cross-sectional survey of the attitudes, skills and use of evidence-based practice amongst Spanish osteopaths

    Although evidence-based practice (EBP) is largely supported across healthcare professions, its implementation in manual therapy professions such as osteopathy remains limited and debated. There is currently little knowledge of how Spanish osteopaths relate to EBP. The main aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes, skills and use of EBP among Spanish osteopaths. A secondary […]