Research Digest

1. The efficacy of muscle energy techniques in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects: a systematic review

   Muscle energy techniques are applied to reduce pain and increase range of motion. These are applied to a variety of pathological conditions and on asymptomatic subjects. There is however limited knowledge on their effectiveness and which protocol may be the most beneficial. The aim of this review is to determine the efficacy of muscle energy techniques […]

2. Shared decision making by United Kingdom osteopathic students: an observational study using the OPTION-12 instrument

   At the crux of patient centred care is Shared Decision Making (SDM), which benefits patient and practitioner. Despite external pressures, studies indicate that SDM remains poorly practised across a variety of healthcare professions. The degree of SDM engagement within United Kingdom osteopathic undergraduate teaching clinics is currently unknown. The authors of this study used the reliable and […]

3. Concussion Evaluation and Management: An Osteopathic Perspective

   Concussions have been increasingly reported over the past decade, but the reported incidence likely minimizes the actual numbers of people affected. Associated symptoms include emotional, somatic, and cognitive complaints, which may be prolonged in patients with certain risk factors. Neurologic examination is necessary to exclude upper motor neuron lesions and thus the need for brain […]

4. Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy in Patients With Chronic Tension-Type Headache: A Pilot Study

   Nonpharmacologic treatment, such as osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMTh; manipulative care provided by foreign-trained osteopaths) may be a beneficial complementary treatment for tension-type headache. However, to the authors’ knowledge, the benefit of OMTh in the management of tension-type headache has not been explored, especially chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). The objective of this study was to investigate the […]

5. Specialized cutaneous Schwann cells initiate pain sensation

   An essential prerequisite for the survival of an organism is the ability to detect and respond to aversive stimuli. Current belief is that noxious stimuli directly activate nociceptive sensory nerve endings in the skin. We discovered a specialized cutaneous glial cell type with extensive processes forming a mesh-like network in the subepidermal border of the […]

6. Clinical Preceptors’ Perceptions of Empathy: The Empathy in Osteopathic Training and Education (EMOTE) Study

   Physician empathy influences rapport with patients and improves outcomes, but it is not well understood as an outcome of osteopathic medical education. The objective of this study was to determine how clerkship preceptors at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA (TUCOM) in Vallejo define empathy and how they compare observed empathetic behavior of TUCOM students with […]

7. Osteopathic and Allopathic Physician Interpersonal Manner, Empathy, and Communication Style and Clinical Status of Their Patients: A Pain Registry–Based Study

   Comparisons of osteopathic physicians (ie, DOs) and allopathic physicians (ie, MDs) on interpersonal manner, including empathy and communication style, have been limited by such methodologic issues as self-assessment and a focus on medical students rather than practicing physicians. The objective of this study was to compare perceptions of the interpersonal manner, empathy, and communication style of […]

8. Spinal manipulation frequency and dosage effects on clinical and physiological outcomes: a scoping review

   The burden of musculoskeletal disorders increases every year, with low back and neck pain being the most frequently reported conditions for seeking manual therapy treatment. In recent years, manual therapy research has begun exploring the dose-response relationship between spinal manipulation treatment characteristics and both clinical and physiological response to treatment. The purpose of this scoping review […]

9. 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 […]

10. Effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on patients with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study

    The objective of this study was to describe the effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment in patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) … ABSTRACT