The AAO Journal, 2023/06, 33(2):32-33. doi: 10.53702/2375-5717-33.2.20, type of study: ,ma,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://meridian.allenpress.com/aaoj/article/33/2/20/493544/LBORC-NUFA-Poster-Abstracts-2023-Students)

Keywords:

dysmenorrhea [38]
female [655]
meta analysis [80]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
women [608]

Abstract:

Introduction/Background: 45-93% of menstruating women experience dysmenorrhea, including abdominal cramping, back pain, and diarrhea. Etiology is attributed to an increase in prostaglandins during menses. Initial treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is ineffective in 18% of patients. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a non-pharmacological treatment with minimal side effects that improves joint function and muscle tension with treatment of viscerosomatic reflexes in T10-L2 caused by dysmenorrhea. Objective: Evaluate the effects of OMT in dysmenorrhea patients. Methods: Conducted a search in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Biomedical reference, and Nursing & Allied Health from inception to June 2022. Three independent reviewers assessed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), Controlled Before/After, and case studies. Editorial/opinion articles were excluded. P values were reported. Results: 10 studies (n = 299) demonstrated a decrease in back and menstrual pain intensity and duration. The control groups of four RCTs were sham manipulation, rest, or NSAIDs. All four RCTs reported statistically significant decreases in pain intensity in the treatment group with p values of p < 0.5, p < 0.005, p = 0.004, p = 0.024. Only 12 articles resulted from the initial search, demonstrating a lack of research. Discussion/Conclusion: Numerous positive effects were found, including a reduction in pain duration, pain intensity, and analgesic use. However, the low number of studies supports the need for further investigations. Dysmenorrhea patients could benefit from an RCT targeting spinal facilitation and viscerosomatic reflexes. Non-MSK focused OMT has mostly anecdotal evidence for treating conditions such as migraine, GERD, and anxiety. OMT helps when traditional standards of care have failed. Non-MSK focused OMT research represents a relatively untouched field that can have a profound and positive global impact, particularly in areas with poor income/ healthcare access.