The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2011/01, 111(1):55-56. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2011.111.1.54, type of study: ,ct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2011.111.1.54/html)

Keywords:

balance [85]
clinical trial [674]
dizziness [41]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]

Abstract:

Background: Dizziness is the third most common complaint among all outpatient visits and the single most common complaint among patients older than 75 years. It is often a symptom of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which typically improves within 2 months time. This study evaluated the effect of osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) for spinal somatic dysfunction in patients with greater than 3 months duration of dizziness symptoms using the SMART Balance Master (SBM), a validated instrument that measures balance. Null Hypothesis: Osteopathic manipulative treatment for spinal somatic dysfunction in patients with at least 3 months of dizziness will not have a measurable effect on improving balance using the SBM. Methods: This was a prospective clinical cohort study. The SBM provides graphic and quantitative analysis of sway and balance while the protocol systematically eliminates sight, spatial orientation and platform levelness, challenging the participants to remain balanced in the standing position while sway and posture are measured via the platform upon which the participant stands. Power analysis yielded the need for 16 patients to obtain 99% power at α=.05 level (2-sided). Sixteen participants (2 males, 14 females; age range, 13-75 y; mean age, 49 y; average duration of symptoms, 84 months) with dizziness of at least 3 months duration and somatic dysfunction, but no history of stroke or brain disease, were recruited from the local university community by flyer and e-mail and evaluated for postural balance before and after OMT and 1 week later using the SBM. Two experienced (>20 years) faculty, board certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine, provided OMT. Results: Paired t tests of the changes in means of the composite scores of all challenge tests revealed that balance improved immediately after OMT (P=.0002); this improvement was apparent 1 week later (P<.0001). There was no change between immediately post-OMT and 1 week later scores (P=.1971). Conclusion: The null hypothesis was rejected. Osteopathic manipulative treatment for spinal somatic dysfunction improved balance in patients with at least 3 months of dizziness. Treatment effect was clinically significant immediately after OMT intervention and was sustained 1 week later. The study was approved by the Western University institutional review board and was sponsored by the departments of neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine, physical therapy, and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.