Research Digest

1. Immediate alteration of the lumbar intervertebral foramen during the so-called osteopathic locking technique: A preliminary analysis on healthy subjects

   Degenerative processes in the lumbar spine can lead to a decrease of the disc height and an alteration of the foramen with potential compression of the nerve root. Several osteopathic manipulative techniques are designed to improve the intervertebral joints and the foraminal area. The objective of this study was intended to explore the effect of […]

2. Preventing progression from chronic to widespread pain and its impact on health-related quality of life: a historical cohort study of osteopathic medical care

   This study aimed to determine if osteopathic medical care lowers the risk of progression from localized chronic low back pain to widespread pain and lessens the impact of pain on health-related quality of life … MORE

3. Osteopathic structure/function models renovation for a person-centered approach: a narrative review and integrative hypothesis

   The construct of the osteopathic structure-function models is reported as a cornerstone of clinical reasoning and treatment processes. Nevertheless, there are no shared procedures described for their use in clinical practice. The present narrative review aims to analyze a more comprehensive perspective on the phenomenon… ABSTRACT

4. Reliability and validity of manual palpation for the assessment of patients with low back pain: a systematic and critical review

   Static or motion manual palpation of the low back is commonly used to assess pain location and reproduction in low back pain (LBP) patients. The purpose of this study is to review the reliability and validity of manual palpation used for the assessment of LBP in adults … MORE

5. The importance of selecting the correct site to apply spinal manipulation when treating spinal pain: Myth or reality? A systematic review

   The concept that spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) outcomes are optimized when the treatment is aimed at a clinically relevant joint is commonly assumed and central to teaching and clinical use (candidate sites). This systematic review investigated whether clinical effects are superior when this is the case compared to SMT applied elsewhere (non-candidate sites) … MORE

6. Effects of osteopathic approach in infants with deformational plagiocephaly: an outcome research study

   The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of the osteopathic approach in infants with deformational plagiocephaly at 12-month follow up and to evaluate parental satisfaction and safety of the treatments … ABSTRACT

7. Do manual therapies have a specific autonomic effect? An overview of systematic reviews

   The impact of manual therapy interventions on the autonomic nervous system have been largely assessed, but with heterogeneous findings regarding the direction of these effects. We conducted an overview of systematic reviews to describe if there is a specific autonomic effect elicited by manual therapy interventions, its relation with the type of technique used and […]

8. Results of a feasibility randomised controlled trial of osteopathy on neck-shoulder pain in computer users

   Computer use is a well-known source of chronic pain, leading to absenteeism and reduced productivity and well-being. This study evaluated the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomised controlled trial. Several methodological variables defined trial feasibility … ABSTRACT

9. Fast improvements in functional status after osteopathic manipulative treatment based on myofascial release in patients with moderate or severe fibromyalgia: a retrospective study

   Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by a large variety of symptoms. Evidence suggests that an alteration of central nervous system processing of pain could be involved. The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical records of patients affected by FM who underwent osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), predominantly based on a myofascial […]

10. An osteopathic approach to carpal tunnel syndrome

    Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common cause of medical and workforce-related expenses in the United States. It is also frustrating for patients who have difficulty using the affected hand, impairing their activities of daily living and decreasing their quality of life. By utilizing the philosophy of osteopathic medicine, providers can better implement a treatment […]