Research Digest

1. The changing face of acute low back pain management by physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors in the UK: a 20-year comparison from 2003 to 2023

   Low back pain (LBP) remains a leading source of disability and societal cost. In the UK, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors are front-line providers of LBP care. Despite widespread dissemination of clinical guidelines, little is known about how their clinical practice has changed over time. National surveys of UK physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors in 2003 and […]

2. Effectiveness of osteopathic manual treatment in the elderly population: a scoping review of clinical evidence

   Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is an emerging nonpharmacological intervention utilized to address various health conditions, particularly among the elderly population. This scoping review aims to examine the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of OMT in improving pain, balance, and quality of life in geriatric patients, identifying gaps in the current research and suggesting future directions. […]

3. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values of Italian Osteopaths Toward the Management of Patients With Tension-Type Headache: A Categorical Content Analysis

   Tension-type headache (TTH) is among the 20 leading causes of disability worldwide. Due to the difficulty in diagnosis and the variable association of other symptoms, the management of this clinical condition is often unsatisfactory. Osteopathic manipulative treatment combined with exercise, diet, and general relaxation therapies may be valid for TTH. This study investigated osteopaths’ common […]

4. Chronic pain, complexity and a suggested role for the osteopathic profession

   Chronic pain is common and has a substantial impact on individuals’ lives and the society in which they live. However, current strategies for managing chronic pain have low to moderate efficacy. We present a complexity informed model of managing chronic pain. The authors propose that the biological, psychological and social factors influencing the experience of […]

5. Characteristics of Australian and New Zealand osteopaths who treat patients presenting with non-musculoskeletal complaints: outcomes from two practice-based research networks

   Australian and New Zealand osteopaths predominantly manage musculoskeletal complaints using a variety of modalities including manual therapy, exercise and lifestyle and occupational advice. There appears to be a small percentage of patients who seek osteopathy care for non-musculoskeletal issues such as conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The evidence base for osteopathic treatment as part of […]

6. Accuracy of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4o, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity in advising on lumbosacral radicular pain against clinical practice guidelines: cross-sectional study

   Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots, which generate human-like responses based on extensive data, are becoming important tools in healthcare by providing information on health conditions, treatments, and preventive measures, acting as virtual assistants. However, their performance in aligning with clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for providing answers to complex clinical questions on lumbosacral radicular pain is still […]

7. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on comorbid depressive symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

   Chronic low back pain (CLBP) and depressive symptoms (DS) are highly prevalent, burdensome, costly and comorbid health conditions. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) was shown to improve pain and disability in patients with CLBP; however, the effect on comorbid DS remains less certain. Interestingly, CLBP and DS seem to be associated with changes in interoception, which […]

8. Longitudinal outcomes among patients with fibromyalgia, chronic widespread pain, or localized chronic low back pain

   The objective of this study was to compare longitudinal outcomes of patients with FM, CWP, or localized chronic low back pain (LBP) to determine whether FM is an extreme manifestation of the CWP continuum … MORE

9. Carpal tunnel dimensions following osteopathic manipulation utilizing dorsal carpal arch muscle energy: a pilot study

   Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. When mild to moderate in severity, nonoperative treatments including osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) have been found to be effective. Studies have been carried out to quantify the mechanism of such treatments with cadaver studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. This pilot project investigated the […]

10. The role of osteopathic manipulative treatment in neurological disorders: A critical review with clinical advice

    Since more people age and live longer with chronic disease, it is important to develop complementary and adjunctive approaches to improve body homeostasis and ensure the highest possible level of well-being for people affected by neurological disorders, besides the known benefits related to neurorehabilitation. In this context, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) should be considered a […]