Osteopathic physicians played a pivotal role in treating patients suffering from the H1N1 influenza A virus of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. This article focuses on case reports and questionnaire answers from the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA), now the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (JOM), and Osteopathic Physician concerning the modalities, techniques, and efficacy of osteopathic treatments of the 1918 pandemic. There are 19,565 patients who are represented in this analysis. The results are compared to the often-cited 110,120 patient cases reported by the JOM in 1920. Several different approaches, including lymphatic and visceral techniques, were widely used at the time, and their historic incorporation into patient treatment is explored. There is a discussion of the geographic location and characteristics of the practices. Statistical breakdown of mortality rate, the most commonly used approaches, somatic dysfunctions commonly treated, physician anecdotes, and other common remedies used by osteopathic physicians, are noted additionally. A comparison is done of the literature regarding the osteopathic approach for COVID-19. The newly analyzed case reports in this article demonstrate a similar mortality rate as in the 1920 JAOA article and illustrate the geographical distribution, treatment approaches, and personal stories of osteopaths during the pandemic.Abstract
Based on the osteopathic principle that “structure and function are interrelated,” a kidney that is not moving optimally with respiration might be limited in its physiologic functions as well. The objective of this study was to determine if osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) affects craniocaudal renal mobility and if there are any correlations between renal mobility and blood pressure measurements. 33 healthy female participants were recruited. 25 participants were in the treatment group, and 8 in the control group. All participants’ blood pressures were recorded initially. All participants were then evaluated for craniocaudal renal mobility via ultrasound measurements using Mindray Z6 technology. The treatment group then received an OMT protocol, while the control group rested for 20 minutes. The ultrasound evaluation for renal mobility was then repeated on the participants, and a final blood pressure reading obtained (Touro College HSIRB #1799). OMT significantly increased the mobility of the right kidney (P<0.05), but not the left kidney. Although there was no direct correlation between changes in renal mobility and changes in blood pressure, both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings decreased significantly (P<0.05) after OMT. In this preliminary study, right kidney mobility increased and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements both decreased after OMT. Follow-up studies are warranted to further explore kidney mobility and its potential association with blood pressure measurements, as well as the effects of OMT on kidney mobility and blood pressure.Abstract
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Research is emphasized as a critical component of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Osteopathic Recognition (OR) criteria, yet there remains a deficit of osteopathic contributions to the literature. Scholar 12 combines discrete research development tools into an interactive application and blog forum that guides students from research team formation with an agreed-upon query to a scholarly product and presentations. This study aims to evaluate a beta test of Scholar 12 in developing a scholarly culture within medical school education. An unblinded prospective cohort beta trial by 6 osteopathic medical students across different campuses provided feedback for improvement measures and self-assessed research skill competency before and after completing Scholar 12 on an accelerated time frame. The pre- and post-Scholar 12 surveys scored 12 skills based on learning objectives for each unit on a 5-point Likert scale. The composite results from self-assessments of 6 medical students demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in research skill familiarity by the completion of Scholar 12 (p<0.001). The osteopathic profession has opportunity to advance clinical practice and fulfill ACGME OR initiatives with evidence-based medical research. Scholar 12 is a foundational educational tool and aims to engage medical students, residents, and attendings with scholarly work, regardless of experience level. The present survey provides a preliminary measure of the efficacy of Scholar 12 in improving medical students’ knowledge of creating new scholarly work. General feedback has been communicated to the application developer and editorial staff for improvement measures before the 2020 nationwide launch. Despite the statistical significance of these students’ self-reported progress, additional beta trials; blinded, long-term evaluation of students’ and mentors’ productivity as a result of this research learning tool; and controlled comparison to other research development programs are warranted. Scholar 12 is designed to accommodate students’ academic obligations with a convenient, virtual tool to learn the research process on a flexible schedule, in order to meet generational needs.Abstract
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This paper reviews the basic science of disc disease (DD), which suggests; osteopathic manipulative medicine addresses the causes and symptoms of DD, can reverse its pathologic cascade, prevent its side effects and future episodes. The paper will use the modern scientific understanding of disc disease to show the body is a self-regulating, self-healing unified whole, structure and function are interrelated at all levels, and intervertebral disc cells contain the biochemical and physiologic capacity for self-healing. This evidence suggests osteopathic intervention initiates and magnifies this healing process. The paper will also discuss the authors’ experience with a treatment protocol for DD, based on osteopathic principles.Abstract
This paper reviews a multimodal approach to the treatment of acute pain. Early recognition of systemic changes in pain indicators may be efficacious for the patient and practitioner to understand the subjective pain response. The application of osteopathic manipulative medicine may be beneficial during de-escalation therapy of opioid pain medication when the patient is experiencing symptoms consistent with opioid-induced hyperalgesia syndrome. Improved education and recognition of opioid-induced hyperalgesia can potentially improve medical management with the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment.Abstract
Many people experience symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome each year; one cause of these symptoms is the presence of cervical ribs. Cervical ribs have an estimated prevalence of 2% in the general population and 8.3% of those with thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms.1 Current treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome includes physical therapy and surgical resection. Techniques have been described for the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome with osteopathic manipulation, but no specific treatment for cervical ribs was noted on a literature review. 25-year-old healthy female presents with intermittent hand numbness and tingling along the C8 distribution that worsened with crocheting. She had also noted for many years the presence of a hard-supraclavicular mass on her left side. Palpation of this mass showed a bony protrusion that stopped 2 cm posterior to the clavicle on the left, but no mass noted on the right. Records review revealed an x-ray confirming cervical rib on the left. After the treatment of surrounding dysfunctions without improvement in symptoms, the cervical rib was identified, manually isolated, and treated with direct myofascial release with respiratory assistance. This treatment provided immediate resolution of her symptoms. She remained asymptomatic for 10 days after treatment. A repeat treatment at two weeks resulted in resolution of her symptoms as far out as three months. Cervical ribs are common in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome, and treatment for these patients typically includes physical therapy followed by surgical intervention for non-responders. We propose that OMT, with a focus on direct myofascial release, may be effective in alleviating symptoms for patients with cervical ribs. A limitation of this study is that it is a case report of one young active female. A larger study that includes various ages, activity levels, and both sexes would be more generalizable. Direct myofascial release is an effective technique for treatment of cervical rib induced thoracic outlet syndrome when myofascial restrictions are present.Abstract
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