The AAO Journal, 2024/06, 34(2):28-29. doi: 10.53702/i2375-5717-34.2.16, type of study: ,obs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://meridian.allenpress.com/aaoj/article/34/2/16/500954/LBORC-NUFA-Poster-Abstracts-2024-Students)

Keywords:

medical students [694]
observational study [246]
osteopathic medicine [2109]
pilot study [215]
thoracic spine [98]
USA [1752]

Abstract:

Background: As first-year osteopathic medical students learn common osteopathic dysfunctions, they seem to become aware of dysfunctions in their own bodies. Despite this widespread experience, few studies explore the effects of how learning osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) changes how one perceives their own body. Objective: This prospective observational study aims to determine if proprioception/interoception changes after studying OMM. Methods: IRB approval was obtained (#HSIRB_2241). Participants included 8 first-year osteopathic medical students (study group) and 5 Touro Masters students (control). Data was collected during first-year orientation (baseline), and +/- 7 days around each OMM TouroCOM examination, representing knowledge acquisition about the thoracic spine (follow-up 1) and the ribs/lumbar spine (follow-up 2). At each session, participants’ osteopathic knowledge about each region was assessed as they self-reported pain and underwent an osteopathic evaluation to identify dysfunctions. Qualitative data analysis involved “matching” participant reports to researcher findings, exploring whether reported dysfunctions were confirmed via osteopathic evaluation. Results: At baseline, 50% of osteopathic students who reported thoracic discomfort were found to have thoracic somatic dysfunctions. At follow-up 1, after studying the thoracic spine, student reporting and investigator findings match increased to 87.5%. In comparison, control group baseline for thoracic spine was a 40% match rate, and stayed 40% during follow up 1. Other anatomical regions showed less significant results. Discussion/Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that with increasing thoracic osteopathic knowledge, first-year participants identify real thoracic somatic dysfunctions more accurately than baseline and the control. These clinically significant results not only add to data supporting the benefits of hands-on learning in understanding anatomy/biomechanics, but highlights the advantages gained by student osteopathic physicians as they develop stronger mind-body connections.