Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Affects Renal Mobility and Blood Pressure: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Based on the osteopathic principle that “structure and function are interrelated,” a kidney that is not moving optimally with respiration might be limited in its physiologic functions as well. The objective of this study was to determine if osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) affects craniocaudal renal mobility and if there are any correlations between renal mobility and blood pressure measurements. 33 healthy female participants were recruited. 25 participants were in the treatment group, and 8 in the control group. All participants’ blood pressures were recorded initially. All participants were then evaluated for craniocaudal renal mobility via ultrasound measurements using Mindray Z6 technology. The treatment group then received an OMT protocol, while the control group rested for 20 minutes. The ultrasound evaluation for renal mobility was then repeated on the participants, and a final blood pressure reading obtained (Touro College HSIRB #1799). OMT significantly increased the mobility of the right kidney (P<0.05), but not the left kidney. Although there was no direct correlation between changes in renal mobility and changes in blood pressure, both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings decreased significantly (P<0.05) after OMT. In this preliminary study, right kidney mobility increased and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements both decreased after OMT. Follow-up studies are warranted to further explore kidney mobility and its potential association with blood pressure measurements, as well as the effects of OMT on kidney mobility and blood pressure.