Research Digest

1. Neuromuscular Response to High-Velocity, Low-AmplitudeSpinal Manipulation—An Overview

   The clinical use of spinal manipulation to treat musculoskeletal conditions has nearly tripled in the United States since 1980, and it is currently recommended by most global clinical guidelines as a conservative treatment for musculoskeletal pain, despite a lack of knowledge concerning its mechanisms of action. This overview highlights evidence of direct neuromuscular responses to […]

2. Indigenous Epistemological Frameworks and Evidence-Informed Approaches to Consciousness and Body Representations in Osteopathic Care: A Call for Academic Engagement

   Indigenous perspectives, which emphasize non-materialistic dimensions of healing, such as the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit, align with one foundational principle of osteopathic care. Integrating these perspectives into person-centered care may enhance therapeutic effectiveness by accommodating diverse understandings of health and well-being. This perspective paper explores how various epistemological frameworks, including Indigenous non-materialistic […]

3. Autonomic correlates of osteopathic manipulative treatment on facial functional mapping: an innovative approach based on thermal imaging

   Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has shown efficacy in various clinical conditions and age groups. Understanding its neurobiological, particularly autonomic, mechanisms of action remain limited. Preliminary studies suggested a parasympathetic effect of OMT, evidenced by heart-rate-variability analysis. A cross-over RCT on healthy adults was conducted to compare OMT with sham therapy. Thirty-seven participants underwent two sessions […]

4. Insights into how manual therapists incorporate the biopsychosocial-enactive model in the care of individuals with CLBP: a qualitative study

   Chronic low back pain (CLBP) presents a significant challenge for manual therapists. Recent advancements in pain research have highlighted the limitations of the traditional biomedical and biopsychosocial models, prompting the exploration of alternatives. The biopsychosocial-enactive (BPS-E) model has emerged as a promising alternative. This study aims to explore the application of the BPS-E model by […]

5. Prevalence and profile of New Zealand osteopaths treating people experiencing headaches and migraines

   Manual and manipulative therapy interventions are commonly sought by individuals experiencing headaches or migraines. Evidence supports the use of manual therapy as part of the management of headache and migraine disorders. Osteopaths are health professionals who provide care for individuals experiencing headaches and migraines. However, there is a lack of data concerning the profile of […]

6. Contextual effects in musculoskeletal pain: are we overlooking essential factors?

   The role of contextual effects in musculoskeletal pain research and clinical practice has garnered growing interest in recent years. While ongoing research has advanced knowledge, it has also sparked debate between clinicians, clinical trialists and other researchers. The controversy over contextual effects in musculoskeletal pain research and practice highlights the tension between leveraging their therapeutic […]

7. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pain in palliative care patients: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

   Standard osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) is used as a supportive care for pain management in cancer patients. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of OMT with that of a sham treatment to attenuate pain in cancer patients in a palliative care unit … MORE

8. Early osteopathic manipulative treatment to prevent cranial positional deformities: A randomized controlled trial

   Cranial positional deformities occur frequently in the first months of life. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in preventing the onset of positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly at 4 months in at-risk newborns … MORE

9. Osteopathic treatment of infants with infantile colic/excessive crying: a prospective, multicentric, randomized controlled trial and nested observational trial

   Colic in infants is defined as excessive crying in an otherwise healthy and thriving baby. Colic is a common but poorly understood and often frustrating problem for caregivers. The objective of this paper is to study whether osteopathic treatments of infants with infantile colic / excessive crying (IC/EC) have an impact on the subjectively perceived […]

10. Context is Complex: Challenges and opportunities addressing contextual factors in manual therapy mechanisms research

    Mechanistic studies on manual therapy (MT) have potential to allow better understanding of ‘why’ and ‘how’ MT interventions provide an effect. Contextual factors (CF) include the multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic inputs outside of the specific intervention which influence response. CFs must be accounted for within both clinical and mechanistic trials. The influence of CFs […]