The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2008/08, 108(8):416. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2008.108.8.413, type of study: ,rct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2008.108.8.413/html)

Keywords:

asthma [62]
lung function [18]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
randomized controlled trial [947]
USA [1751]

Abstract:

Background: Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) is underutilized in addressing lung function and symptoms in asthma patients. The objective of this study is to determine if a single session of OMT can improve lung function and symptoms in patients suffering from asthma in order to develop a protocol by which physicians can use to apply OMT to address lung disease in patients. This was a randomized controlled quasi-experimental study which took place in family practice, pulmonology, and asthma specialist offices in southwest Virginia. Thirty-two participants aged 6 to 56 with asthma were recruited. The intervention was a 10 minute semi-individualized OMT protocol. Outcome measures were lung function and symptoms as displayed by spirometry, thoracic excursion, and a symptom rating scale. Methods: Once IRB approval was obtained, variable baseline, within-subject study design was utilized allowing each person to serve as their own control. After informed consents were signed, pre and post test measurements include: participant spirometry FEV1, FVC, and PEF, and thoracic excursion upper and lower rib cage motion, and a five question survey with a rating scale to determine current asthma symptoms. A 10 minute OMT session included an individualized thoracic and rib screening and treatment with soft tissue, muscle energy, or facilitated positional release, sub-occipital release, diaphragm release, and thoracic pump. Comparison between pre and post OMT lung function and symptoms portrayed change. Results: Statistically significant (p<.05) improvements after initial OMT were documented for 8 out of 10 measurements. Only two spirometry values, FEV1 and PEF, did not significantly improve. However, many of the participants were in advanced treatment for asthma, thus higher spirometry values limited potential elevation values. Conclusions: With a simple, easy to repeat, 10 minute semi-individualized OMT session, researchers demonstrated improved lung function and symptoms in this group of participants in Southwest Virginia. Future studies expanding on this pilot study should further explore this finding. In future studies, the researchers recommend using a larger patient population including patients with lower pre treatment spirometry values in order to accurately monitor potential for change.