Research Digest

1. Cynefin Framework for Evidence-Informed Clinical Reasoning and Decision-Making

   Osteopathy (manipulative care provided by foreign-trained osteopaths) emphasizes manual techniques as the cornerstone of patient care. Although osteopathic medicine has been well integrated into traditional health care systems in the United States, little is known about the role of osteopathy in traditional health care systems outside the United States. Therefore, it is incumbent on the […]

2. Manual therapy for the pediatric population: a systematic review

   This systematic review evaluates the use of manual therapy for clinical conditions in the pediatric population, assesses the methodological quality of the studies found, and synthesizes findings based on health condition. We also assessed the reporting of adverse events within the included studies and compared our conclusions to those of the UK Update report … […]

3. Cerebral Perfusion Changes After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: A Randomized Manual Placebo-Controlled Trial

   Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is a therapeutic approach aimed at enhancing the body’s self-regulation focusing on somatic dysfunctions correction. Despite evidence of OMT effectiveness, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms, as well as blood perfusion effects, are still poorly understood. The study aim was to address OMT effects on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in asymptomatic young volunteers […]

4. Refining the biopsychosocial model for musculoskeletal practice by introducing religion and spirituality dimensions into the clinical scenario

   Addressing religion and spirituality (R/S) dimensions may be uncomfortable for patients and practitioners because they refer to intimate beliefs about existence, vary across the globe and cultures, and are not routinely shared in the modern therapeutic scenario. Often, R/S dimensions are overlooked in musculoskeletal (MSK) practice despite associations with attitudes and behaviour that directly affect […]

5. Patient experience, satisfaction, perception and expectation of osteopathic manipulative treatment: A systematic review

   Patient experience, satisfaction, perception and expectation are some related measures valued by patient-centered health care. Patient experience (PE) usually refers to objective, observable events or facts; while patient satisfaction, perception and expectation (PS) are measures which focus on a patient’s subjective evaluation of the health care process. These concepts have been studied in osteopathic manipulative […]

6. Do empathic osteopaths achieve better clinical results? An observational feasibility study

   Empathy plays a role in medical care. Studies have showed that higher empathy levels of physicians correlates with better patient outcomes. The role of empathy in osteopathic practice has been poorly investigated. The objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of analysing the link between the empathy of osteopaths and the improvement in […]

7. Manual therapy for the pediatric population: a systematic review

   This systematic review evaluates the use of manual therapy for clinical conditions in the pediatric population, assesses the methodological quality of the studies found, and synthesizes findings based on health condition. We also assessed the reporting of adverse events within the included studies and compared our conclusions to those of the UK Update report … […]

8. Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

   The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials was to assess the benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) for the treatment of chronic low back pain … MORE

9. The acute effects of joint manipulative techniques on markers of autonomic nervous system activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials

   The autonomic nervous system (ANS) interests many chiropractors and manual therapists, because joint manipulative techniques (JMT), e.g. high velocity low amplitude (HVLA) manipulations and mobilizations, appear to produce acute changes in ANS mediated physiology. The complexity of this issue justifies a systematic critical literature review. The objective of this study was to review the literature […]

10. Assessment of Pulmonary Function After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment vs Standard Pulmonary Rehabilitation in a Healthy Population

    Standard pulmonary rehabilitation (SPR) does not use osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), but OMT has potential to improve lung function and patient perception of breathing. the objective of this study was to analyze the immediate effects of OMT and SPR techniques on pulmonary function using spirometry and subjective ratings in young, healthy persons … ABSTRACT