Seçilay Güneş , Şeyda Şahinkaya , Sude Yamak , Sude Kaplan , Ali Rıza Sarıkaya , Osman Enes Demirhan , Irem Kar , Şehim Kutlay
{"title":"Relationship of forward head posture with cervical muscle thickness and neck pain-related disability among young adults: a cross-sectional study","authors":"Seçilay Güneş , Şeyda Şahinkaya , Sude Yamak , Sude Kaplan , Ali Rıza Sarıkaya , Osman Enes Demirhan , Irem Kar , Şehim Kutlay","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100770","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100770","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Forward head posture (FHP) is a common postural disorder in patients with neck pain. Despite the intuitive assumption that FHP determines neck pain characteristics, its effect on neck pain and cervical muscle morphology is unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To evaluate whether FHP affects cervical muscle morphology and neck pain-related disability among young adults.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Young adults with chronic neck pain older than 18 years were divided into 2 groups according to craniovertebral angle (CVA): those with FHP (≤49°) and those without. Neck pain severity and disability were evaluated with a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the neck disability index (NDI). Semispinalis capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscle thicknesses were measured via ultrasonography.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-one females and 31 males were evaluated. The mean ages of those with and without FHP were 19.9 ± 1.1 and 20.0 ± 1.1 years, respectively. The incidence of FHP was significantly greater in females (73 %) (p < 0.001). The normalized muscle thickness for body weight of both the semispinalis capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscle, the NRS pain score, and the NDI were similar between the groups. CVA was weakly negatively correlated with pain but was not correlated with cervical muscle thickness or disability. There was a weak negative correlation between semispinalis capitis muscle thickness and the NRS pain scores.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The frequency of FHP is greater in females. The presence of FHP was unrelated to neck pain severity or cervical muscle thickness and disability in individuals with chronic neck pain. There was a mild negative correlation between extensor muscle thickness and neck pain regardless of FHP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100770"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heidi R. Bowman , Brian D. Schwartz , Mark E. Payton , Christopher M. LaFontano
{"title":"A retrospective analysis of osteopathic manipulative treatment techniques used by 3rd and 4th year medical students","authors":"Heidi R. Bowman , Brian D. Schwartz , Mark E. Payton , Christopher M. LaFontano","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To determine whether there is a correlation between the frequency with which osteopathic manipulative techniques are taught in preclinical osteopathic medical school years one and two and the prevalence of student use during years three and four. The secondary objective was to determine the students’ reported comfort and perception of ease and safety when using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Third- and fourth-year OMT patient encounter logs for the classes of 2020–2022 were retrospectively reviewed for the students' technique of choice. These techniques were compared to how frequently that technique was taught in the preclinical curriculum. Survey data was collected from the class of 2025 third-year students upon completion of their family medicine rotation evaluating factors that influence students’ use of certain OMT techniques while on third- and fourth-year rotations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Final analysis included 20,149 OMT logs and ninety-six student surveys. The logs indicated that Muscle Energy (ME) was the most used technique among the classes. Muscle energy is also the most frequently taught in the preclinical curriculum. The data show ease of use and confidence were significantly correlated to students’ use of osteopathic techniques during clinical rotations. There was a strong correlation of consistency (0.72-0.98) among the different classes and all pairwise correlations were statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The use of osteopathic techniques during third and fourth-year clinical rotations is directly related to their confidence and ease of performing the technique. Correlations exist between curricular frequency and students’ confidence, indicating the importance of preclinical curriculum and hands-on lab time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100768"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144623785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pascale Décarie , Sylvain Chouinard , Gabriel Venne
{"title":"Osteopathic manipulative treatment in cervical dystonia patients treated with IncobotulinumtoxinA","authors":"Pascale Décarie , Sylvain Chouinard , Gabriel Venne","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100745","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100745","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cervical dystonia (CD) is a neurological syndrome characterized by involuntary contractions in the cervical region, leading to abnormal head and shoulders postures, neck pain and tremors.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objectives of this pilot study were to observe the impact of osteopathic manual Therapy (OMT) as an adjunct intervention on symptoms associated with CD in patients treated with injections of BotulinumtoxinA (BoNTA).</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This experimental research had a pretest-posttest design. The participants (<em>n</em> = 10) were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: experimental and control. Three questionnaires were used: TWSTRS (severity, disability and pain), CDIP-58 (quality of life) and CGI (evolution). Each patient had six visits over a BoNTA treatment cycle. Overall, three OMT or Sham treatments were administered.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, the percentage differences between groups were: 32.0 % better in the experimental group for the TWSTRS global score; 38.3 % for severity and 51.6 % for the pain subscore. The quality-of-life CDIP-58 score was 12.2 % better in the experimental group. As for the global evolution CGI score, the experimental group showed a 57.1 % of improvement compared to the control group. No adverse events associated with OMT were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Results suggest that OMT could improve symptomology associated with CD, when administered as an adjunct therapy to BoNTA treatment; consequently, suggesting this care as an adjunct therapy. A larger-scale study would be required to validate findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100745"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144242209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Employment characteristics of individuals who received osteopathic care: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study","authors":"N. Verhaeghe , P.L.S. van Dun , L. Annemans","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The profile and clinical presentation of people consulting osteopaths in Belgium has been studied and reported before. Information on employment aspects of such individuals is lacking. The aim was to contribute to filling this gap.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study had a retrospective cross-sectional observational design. The study population included employed Dutch-speaking members, aged 18–65, of a large Health Insurance Fund in Belgium who had visited an osteopath at least once in the period January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Data collection occurred through a digital self-reported instrument to be filled out once. Participation in the study was entirely voluntary. Descriptive, between-group and a multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study population included 955 individuals with 70 % being female. Thirty-one per cent reported work absence (mean: 37.5 ± 62.5 days) in a 12 months’ time period due to the complaint for which they consulted an osteopath. The main reason for work absence included non-specific low back pain (21.9 %). Respondents indicating the osteopath as the first care professional they consulted had significantly fewer work absence days compared to those who first consulted another health care professional (27.9 ± 52.2 vs. 41.5 ± 66.1 days, p < .01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This is the first study examining employment-related characteristics of individuals seeking osteopathic care. The findings must be cautiously interpreted, but they give a first impression of what the effect of osteopathic care on employment may be. This impact needs to be further examined applying study designs that allow conclusions about the causal or non-causal relationship between osteopathic care and employment outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100772"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144313290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicholas Tripodi , Amy Lawton , Daniel Corcoran , Jack Feehan
{"title":"Understanding specific, contextual and non-specific effects in osteopathy","authors":"Nicholas Tripodi , Amy Lawton , Daniel Corcoran , Jack Feehan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osteopathic care has been a part of the healthcare landscape for many years, and whilst diverse in its practice, in many world regions it has a predominant focus on musculoskeletal care. Despite the extensive history of osteopathy, the paradigms, principles and modes of effect that occur within its delivery lack consensus. Of the proposed modes of effect, many are based on specific and local phenomena that lack robust evidence supporting their proposed mechanisms. Recent research has promoted a shift away from exclusively explaining clinical outcomes through specific effects but rather, conceptualising these outcomes through the interplay of specific, non-specific and contextual effects. An improved understanding of this interplay is critical for osteopathy and, indeed, all other professions involved in musculoskeletal care. Reconceptualising the effects involved in clinical interventions will contribute to improved health outcomes through the facilitation of person-centred care and the adoption of the biopsychosocial model of healthcare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100773"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144313293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joseph Peters , Grant Runnels , Alexa Lauinger , Tanner Murphy , Abbey Griffith , Turner Slicho
{"title":"A review of osteopathic and related manipulative treatments for improving symptoms of gastrointestinal distress in neurological disorders","authors":"Joseph Peters , Grant Runnels , Alexa Lauinger , Tanner Murphy , Abbey Griffith , Turner Slicho","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To determine the clinical utility of osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) and related manual therapies for improving gastrointestinal distress in patients with neurological disorders (ND).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A database search through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Ovid was conducted to identify randomized and non-randomized clinical trials that analyzed the effects of OMT and related manual therapies on gut health in patients with ND. Two independent reviewers screened articles for inclusion and extracted information related to participant characteristics, intervention details, outcome measures, and significant outcomes. Methodological quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twelve studies (nine randomized controlled trials, two pre-post trials, and one non-randomized controlled trial) with a total of 516 individuals with ND were analyzed. All twelve studies showed improvements in symptoms of gastrointestinal distress following OMT and related treatments. Findings may be limited by methodological variability (i.e., heterogenous disability types, treatment modalities) and language exclusions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Evidence suggests that OMT and related treatments are effective interventions for improving symptoms of gastrointestinal distress like constipation and abdominal pain. Future randomized controlled trials should examine the dose-response of OMT and microbiome changes associated with these treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100766"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ramon Cases-Solé , David Varillas-Delgado , Marta Astals-Vizcaino , Victoria Aldecoa-Bilbao , Óscar García-Algar
{"title":"Potential impact of an osteopathic intervention for internationally adopted children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD); a prospective case series","authors":"Ramon Cases-Solé , David Varillas-Delgado , Marta Astals-Vizcaino , Victoria Aldecoa-Bilbao , Óscar García-Algar","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100763","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To explore the potential impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) on internationally adopted children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twelve children with FASD adopted from Eastern European countries were recruited in this prospective observational study. HRQoL was collected using the Kidscreen-52 questionnaire. The participants followed a six-month intervention plan that included 4 bi-weekly OMT sessions and 4 monthly OMT sessions.</div></div><div><h3><em>Results</em></h3><div>Significant differences were detected in the pre-post intervention values (p = 0.001), interaction by group (p = 0.048), in the results of four dimensions (Moods & Emotions, p = 0.008, Self-Perception, p = 0.016, School Environment, p = 0.008 and Social Acceptance, p = 0.017) and in the overall assessment for parents’ version (p = 0.002). A mild adverse effect (pain/discomfort) was reported by one participant (8.3 % of the total sample) after one session.</div></div><div><h3><em>Conclusion</em></h3><div>This study shows that a six-month OMT intervention is a feasible personalized intervention for children and adolescents with FASD coming from international adoption. The study suggests that measuring instruments can detect changes in HRQoL over time, pointing out the need to develop a specific HRQoL assessment instrument for children with FASD to be applied in future studies. Even though promising significant changes were observed, these were most likely not only due to OMT, and further studies are required before assuming these could be due to osteopathic care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article 100763"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144313291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charles Joseph , Linda S. Mintle , Carl Hoegerl , David Asher , Kristen Adams , Patrick Fugler , Janell McKinney
{"title":"Development of standardized osteopathic manipulative treatment tracking forms recording pain and functional outcomes to facilitate osteopathic research","authors":"Charles Joseph , Linda S. Mintle , Carl Hoegerl , David Asher , Kristen Adams , Patrick Fugler , Janell McKinney","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2024.100743","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2024.100743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Osteopathic physicians are well positioned to provide needed non-pharmacological pain management using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in the holistic treatment of pain. Reflecting on years of often ineffective and potentially harmful traditional pharmacological management of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, OMT as an alternative method is underutilized and under-recognized option. There is a need for standardized data collection to support the use of OMT as an evidence-based complement to pain management. This project developed efficient and standardized intake and follow-up forms to assess short and long term OMT treatment outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Addressing the need, standardized, mineable research instruments that capture the specifics of patient presentation, clinical findings, treatment modalities including outcomes for OMT pain management were created. Including background health information, the intake includes active medications, quantitating analgesics, pain location charts, pain severity/location (ICD) 10th revision diagnostic codes (ICD-11 codes unavailable in US), functional capacity score/location, and OMT implemented/body location. Follow-up form documents prior treatments outcome, pain, and functional status outcome scores, quantitates analgesics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Forms are open access for general use, without restriction, tracking effectiveness of OMT for pain management and encourages development of an international database.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Developing these OMT intake and follow-up forms creates clinically useable and research mineable instruments for documentation of OMT procedures and outcomes in the overall treatment of MSK pain. OMT will gain better worldwide recognition as a validated alternative to pharmacologic treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100743"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Burhan Taşkaya , İsmail Taşkent , Mahmut Çakıllı , Öznur Tunca
{"title":"Is regression in lumbar disk herniation possible by spinal mobilization? A single-blind randomized controlled clinical study","authors":"Burhan Taşkaya , İsmail Taşkent , Mahmut Çakıllı , Öznur Tunca","doi":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims</h3><div>This study aims to examine the impacts of spinal mobilization practices on herniation distance, disc height, and facet joint distance, as well as functional status, pain, range of motion (ROM), and flexibility in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Thirty-two participants participated in the study, divided into an Intervention and Control Group. Radiological findings were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging before and after the study. The Back Performance Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, The S, and The Sit and Reach Test were assessed before, after, and at three months. The control group received ten sessions of stabilization exercises for five weeks, two sessions per week. In the intervention group, spinal mobilization applications were applied in addition to stabilization exercises</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Intra-group analysis revealed significant reductions in herniation distance, increases in facet joint distance, pain alleviation, functional improvement, enhanced flexibility, and extended ROM in both groups (p < 0.05). Notably, a significant increase in disc height was observed exclusively in the Intervention Group (p < 0.05). Inter-group analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups post-intervention (p > 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Mobilization applications applied in LDH patients may have a positive effect on radiological findings, functional status, pain, ROM, and flexibility.</div></div><div><h3>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier</h3><div>NCT05753579 (03.02.2023)</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51068,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 100760"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143890883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}