Research Digest

1. Chronic pain, complexity and a suggested role for the osteopathic profession

   Chronic pain is common and has a substantial impact on individuals’ lives and the society in which they live. However, current strategies for managing chronic pain have low to moderate efficacy. We present a complexity informed model of managing chronic pain. The authors propose that the biological, psychological and social factors influencing the experience of […]

2. Characteristics of Australian and New Zealand osteopaths who treat patients presenting with non-musculoskeletal complaints: outcomes from two practice-based research networks

   Australian and New Zealand osteopaths predominantly manage musculoskeletal complaints using a variety of modalities including manual therapy, exercise and lifestyle and occupational advice. There appears to be a small percentage of patients who seek osteopathy care for non-musculoskeletal issues such as conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The evidence base for osteopathic treatment as part of […]

3. Accuracy of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4o, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity in advising on lumbosacral radicular pain against clinical practice guidelines: cross-sectional study

   Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots, which generate human-like responses based on extensive data, are becoming important tools in healthcare by providing information on health conditions, treatments, and preventive measures, acting as virtual assistants. However, their performance in aligning with clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for providing answers to complex clinical questions on lumbosacral radicular pain is still […]

4. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on comorbid depressive symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

   Chronic low back pain (CLBP) and depressive symptoms (DS) are highly prevalent, burdensome, costly and comorbid health conditions. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) was shown to improve pain and disability in patients with CLBP; however, the effect on comorbid DS remains less certain. Interestingly, CLBP and DS seem to be associated with changes in interoception, which […]

5. Longitudinal outcomes among patients with fibromyalgia, chronic widespread pain, or localized chronic low back pain

   The objective of this study was to compare longitudinal outcomes of patients with FM, CWP, or localized chronic low back pain (LBP) to determine whether FM is an extreme manifestation of the CWP continuum … MORE

6. Carpal tunnel dimensions following osteopathic manipulation utilizing dorsal carpal arch muscle energy: a pilot study

   Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. When mild to moderate in severity, nonoperative treatments including osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) have been found to be effective. Studies have been carried out to quantify the mechanism of such treatments with cadaver studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. This pilot project investigated the […]

7. The role of osteopathic manipulative treatment in neurological disorders: A critical review with clinical advice

   Since more people age and live longer with chronic disease, it is important to develop complementary and adjunctive approaches to improve body homeostasis and ensure the highest possible level of well-being for people affected by neurological disorders, besides the known benefits related to neurorehabilitation. In this context, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) should be considered a […]

8. Employment characteristics of individuals who received osteopathic care: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study

   The profile and clinical presentation of people consulting osteopaths in Belgium has been studied and reported before. Information on employment aspects of such individuals is lacking. The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to contribute to filling this gap … ABSTRACT

9. Investigating the trustworthiness of randomized controlled trials in osteopathic research: a systematic review with meta-analysis

   The objective of this review is to systematically investigate trustworthiness (methodological rigor, transparency, good governance, research integrity, and absence of misconduct) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of osteopathic manual therapy … MORE

10. The effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on chronic rhinosinusitis

    Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses that may significantly impair quality of life. CRS may also benefit from the application of manual techniques through osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which aims to improve venous and lymphatic circulation, sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow, and cervicothoracic somatic dysfunction. This study aimed to assess […]