Research Digest

1. Effects of osteopathic treatment versus static touch on heart rate and oxygen saturation in premature babies: A randomized controlled trial

   Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has been successfully tested in the context of preterm infants. No studies, however, have been conducted to investigate the OMT immediate effects on physiological measurements, such as partial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR). The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of osteopathic treatment on SpO2 […]

2. Isometric osteopathic manipulation influences on cervical ranges of motion and correlation with osteopathic palpatory diagnosis: A randomized trial

   Isometric manipulation is a current practice in osteopathy and treatment benefits have been reported in the literature. Such benefits could be assessed using experimental non-invasive cervical mobility measurements. The main objective was to quantitatively measure the effects of isometric manipulation on principal and compensatory cervical motions … MORE

3. Osteopathic Medical Care With and Without Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pain Registry–Based Study

   The OSTEOPATHIC Trial demonstrated substantial improvement in pain intensity, decreased need for rescue medication for pain, and greater likelihood of recovery in patients with chronic low back pain who received 6 osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) sessions over 3 months. The objective of this study was to assess osteopathic medical care and the effectiveness of OMT […]

4. Impact of blinding on estimated treatment effects in randomised clinical trials: meta-epidemiological study

   The objective of this meta-epidemiological study was to study the impact of blinding on estimated treatment effects, and their variation between trials; differentiating between blinding of patients, healthcare providers, and observers; detection bias and performance bias; and types of outcome (the MetaBLIND study) … MORE

5. A methodological review revealed that reporting of trials in manual therapy has not improved over time

   The aim of this review was to evaluate a selection of major reporting aspects in manual therapy (MT) trials, before and after the publication of the CONSORT extension for non-pharmacological trials (CONSORTnp … ABSTRACT

6. Introducing national osteopathy practice-based research networks in Australia and New Zealand: an overview to inform future osteopathic research

   Both the Osteopathic Research Innovation Network (ORION) and the Osteopathy Research Connect-New Zealand (ORC-NZ) are practice-based research networks (PBRNs) recently established in Australia and New Zealand. This paper highlights the profile of the osteopaths participating in each PBRN in order to encourage and facilitate further related research in osteopathy. All registered osteopaths in Australia and […]

7. Models and theoretical frameworks for osteopathic care – a critical view and call for updates and research

   A health profession often owns its identity by the originality and relevance of therapeutic models it defends. Historically, part of the success of osteopathic care among patients may be explained by the innovative approaches that emerged in the first 100 years of its existence. During this time, osteopathic models and principles defended concepts that were […]

8. Current Evidence for Diagnosis of Common Conditions Causing Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Standardized Terminology Recommendations

   The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate and summarize current evidence for diagnosis of common conditions causing low back pain and to propose standardized terminology use … MORE

9. Barriers and facilitators experienced by osteopaths in implementing a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework of care when managing people with musculoskeletal pain – A mixed methods systematic review protocol

   Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain conditions have a substantial influence on the quality of life. Psychosocial factors such as depression, anxiety and social isolation have been shown to play an important role in the development and management of MSK pain. Therefore, clinical practice guidelines commonly recommend adopting a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework by practitioners managing MSK pain. However, […]

10. Determinants of health, health behaviours and demographic profile of patients attending an Australian university student-led osteopathy clinic

    Profiles of health professions practice can inform pre-professional education, provide evidence to assist with interprofessional practice, and inform policy development. An understanding of the profile of patients seeking osteopathy care is emerging. Current research suggests that musculoskeletal presentations predominate with approximately one-third of patients presenting with co-morbid diseases. There is little data on these presentations […]