Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy for Respiratory Diseases

Overseen By Andrew Ackerman, MS

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Geisinger Clinic

Disqualifiers: Healing fracture, Cancer treatment, Liver disease

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

Duration: 5 days

68 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial investigates whether Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) can help people with respiratory illnesses recover more quickly when combined with standard treatments like medication. It compares two groups: one receiving usual care and the other receiving both usual care and OMT, which involves hands-on techniques to promote healing. The trial seeks participants recently diagnosed with a respiratory condition, such as sinusitis or bronchitis, who are visiting the Geisinger 65-Forward Buckhorn clinic. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative treatment options and contribute to advancing medical knowledge.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It mentions that Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy will be added alongside other standard care, which may include medication.

What prior data suggests that Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy is safe for respiratory diseases?

Research has shown that Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies found that patients who received OMT reported very few negative effects, with most side effects being mild, such as temporary soreness or tiredness after treatment. This suggests that OMT is a safe option for many people. Importantly, OMT has been safely used for various conditions, not just breathing problems, supporting its safety for new trials.

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) for respiratory diseases because it offers a hands-on approach that differs from the standard medication-based treatments like inhalers and steroids. OMT uses techniques like the lymphatic pump to enhance lymphatic flow and improve respiratory function, potentially offering relief without pharmaceuticals. This method could complement existing treatments, providing a holistic option that focuses on the body’s natural healing processes.

What evidence suggests that Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy is effective for respiratory diseases?

Research shows that Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) can help people with breathing problems. Studies have found that OMT might improve lung function by enhancing fluid movement in the body, easing congestion, and making breathing easier. In this trial, some participants will receive lymphatic pump OMT therapy in addition to standard care. In past studies with pneumonia patients, those who received OMT alongside regular treatment often recovered faster and experienced shorter illness durations than those who only received regular treatment. These findings suggest that adding OMT could help people with breathing issues recover more quickly and comfortably.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Margaret Moore, DO

Principal Investigator

Physician

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients recently diagnosed with respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, sinus infections, and pneumonia. It's open to those who are receiving standard care for these conditions but have not yet tried Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT).

Inclusion Criteria

Patients being seen for respiratory illness symptoms at Geisinger 65-Forward Buckhorn, PA clinic for care

I am between 65 and 100 years old.

I was recently diagnosed with an upper respiratory illness, sinusitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia.

Exclusion Criteria

I have or had liver disease.

I am currently healing from a bone fracture.

I am currently undergoing cancer treatment.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive standard care with or without lymphatic pump OMT therapy for respiratory illness

5 days

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for symptom severity and duration after treatment

1 year

Electronic survey on day of diagnosis and 5 days later

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests if adding OMT to usual care improves recovery in respiratory illness patients. The goal is to see if symptoms resolve faster and the overall sickness duration decreases compared to standard treatment alone.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients will receive lymphatic pump OMT therapy in addition to other standard care (similar to the control patients, this would be a medication, follow-up instructions, etc.)

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients in the control group will receive normal standard care, including any prescriptions, follow-up instructions, etc., as given by the provider to help treat their condition.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Geisinger Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

159

Recruited

1,976,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 884 patients, the incidence of adverse events immediately after osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) was found to be low at 2.5%, with pain or discomfort being the most common complaint.

Women reported experiencing adverse events more frequently than men, suggesting a potential demographic factor in the response to OMT, but overall, the rate of adverse events was lower than those reported in other manual therapy practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characterizing Adverse Events Reported Immediately After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. Degenhardt, BF., Johnson, JC., Brooks, WJ., et al.[2022]

In a study of 1310 osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) consultations, 47% were for musculoskeletal complaints, with back pain being the most common reason, indicating a strong focus on treating physical pain in hospitalized patients.

A significant portion of consultations (27%) were for newborn feeding difficulties, suggesting that OMT may also be beneficial for pediatric patients, but overall awareness among physicians about its broader applications, including respiratory issues and postoperative recovery, appears limited.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Consultations for Hospitalized Patients. Levy, VJ., Holt, CT., Haskins, AE.[2022]

A systematic review of 23 studies found that the majority of adverse events (AEs) following osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) were mild, accounting for 98% of reported AEs, indicating a generally safe profile for this treatment.

The study established a patient safety benchmark for post-OMT AEs at 1.0 AEs per 100 post-OMT interval-days, providing a reference point for future research and comparisons in patient safety within osteopathic manipulative medicine.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Defining the landscape of patient harm after osteopathic manipulative treatment: synthesis of an adverse event model. Unger, MD., Barr, JN., Brower, JA., et al.[2023]

In a pilot study of 32 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, those receiving osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) alongside standard pharmacological therapy showed significant improvements in quality of life and functional tests compared to those receiving only conventional treatment.

The OMT group demonstrated better results in spirometry, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and the six-minute walking test (6MWT), indicating that adding osteopathic treatment can enhance the overall management of COPD symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of osteopathic treatment in patients with stable moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled pilot study. Buscemi, A., Pennisi, V., Rapisarda, A., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 25 participants with COPD, four osteopathic techniques (thoracic lymphatic pump with and without activation, rib raising, and myofascial release) were found to cause mild adverse effects on pulmonary function immediately after treatment, with TLP with activation specifically increasing residual volume.

Despite the negative changes in objective pulmonary function measures, most participants reported feeling they could breathe better after the manipulative treatments, indicating a potential disconnect between subjective experience and objective measurements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The immediate effect of individual manipulation techniques on pulmonary function measures in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Noll, DR., Johnson, JC., Baer, RW., et al.[2022]

In a study of 35 elderly participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) resulted in significant changes in pulmonary function parameters, including increased airway resistance and decreased forced expiratory flow compared to sham therapy.

Despite subjective reports of improved breathing from 82% of the OMT group, the immediate effects of OMT indicated a worsening of air trapping, suggesting that OMT may not provide the expected benefits in pulmonary function for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Immediate effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Noll, DR., Degenhardt, BF., Johnson, JC., et al.[2022]

Osteopathic manipulative treatment was effectively used to enhance respiratory mechanics in a critically ill patient suffering from acute respiratory failure, demonstrating its potential in emergency settings.

The treatment led to significant clinical improvements, including reduced work of breathing, better arterial oxygenation, and resolution of tachycardia, highlighting its efficacy in critical care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Osteopathic philosophy and emergent treatment in acute respiratory failure. Stretanski, MF., Kaiser, G.[2004]

Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) techniques, such as thoracic thrust and diaphragm stretching, significantly improved Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in healthy individuals, indicating a positive effect on certain aspects of respiratory function.

However, these techniques did not show any improvement in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) or Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), suggesting that while OMT can enhance some breathing metrics, it may not overall improve lung health in individuals without pre-existing lung conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term effect of osteopathic manual techniques (OMT) on respiratory function in healthy individuals. Stępnik, J., Kędra, A., Czaprowski, D.[2020]

In a study of 20 patients with severe COPD, combining osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) with pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) significantly improved exercise capacity, as measured by the 6-minute walk test, with the OMT group walking an average of 72.5 meters more than the PR-only group.

The OMT group also experienced a significant reduction in residual volume and an increase in FEV1, indicating improved lung function, compared to the PR-only group, highlighting the potential benefits of OMT in managing COPD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Osteopathic manipulative treatment effectiveness in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study. Zanotti, E., Berardinelli, P., Bizzarri, C., et al.[2012]

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) shows promising effectiveness in reducing pain and improving function for conditions like acute and chronic non-specific low back pain, chronic non-specific neck pain, and chronic non-cancer pain, based on a review of nine systematic reviews and meta-analyses involving 3740 participants.

There is limited and inconclusive evidence regarding the efficacy of OMT for pediatric conditions, primary headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome, and no adverse events were reported in most studies, suggesting a favorable safety profile.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of osteopathic manipulative treatment: an overview of systematic reviews. Bagagiolo, D., Rosa, D., Borrelli, F.[2022]

Citations