Osteopathic manipulative treatment for autism spectrum disorder: Three case reports

Context

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence that is on the rise. Despite a growing body of research, definitive etiology or universally beneficial treatments have not been identified. Patients and providers try therapeutic modalities beyond the conventional interventions, including osteopathic manipulative treatment or OMT. Reports on OMT as therapy for patients with ASD are few. These case reports seek to add to the small body of evidence supporting the use of OMT in patients with ASD.

Objective

To determine whether OMT can be a safe and effective therapeutic intervention for patients with ASD.

Methods

Three students with ASD at a non-public school for youths with ASD and neurodevelopmental disorders received a series of adjunctive OMT sessions and their clinical progress was monitored. These students received a specified series of OMT for at least eight weeks from a pediatrician trained in OMT. Symptoms, including communication, anxiety, classroom behavior, peer interaction and sleep were monitored by the OMT provider, the patient's primary psychiatrist, their parents, and their teachers.

Results

Patients receiving the OMT were observed by parents, teachers, and clinicians to demonstrate improvement in posture, gait, awareness, eye contact, communication, and an overall more relaxed state. All patients tolerated the OMT well with no adverse events reported.

Conclusion

OMT was well-tolerated and improvements were observed in the clinical cases. This series of three cases informs the development of a protocol to demonstrate the potential benefits of OMT for the treatment of ASD.

Implications for practice

• •

  OMT was well-tolerated in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

• •

  No adverse events/effects were reported in the case series of applying OMT for pediatric patients with ASD.

• •

  Pediatric patients with ASD who received OMT showed improved mood, concentration, posture, and other benefits as reported by clinicians, teachers, school administrators, and families.