Abstract

As a hands-on approach to patient care diagnosis and management, osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) can be utilized to modulate the autonomic input to the gastrointestinal system. Palpatory findings of tissue texture changes at predictable body regions may correspond to visceral dysfunction related to the gastrointestinal (GI) system.¹ Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) of the viscero-somatic segment or viscero-visceral reflex can remove the feedback related to the somatic or visceral component, thereby affecting nociceptive facilitation at the spinal or visceral level and helping to restore autonomic balance.^1,2

The purpose of this thesis is to describe an evaluation and treatment protocol to address somatic and visceral dysfunction found in many patients with impaired gastrointestinal function. A retrospective analysis of 5 patients will be outlined using the evaluation and treatment protocol. The safety of an OMT evaluation and treatment protocol as applied to address gastrointestinal function and as outlined in the current literature will also be addressed.