Adjunctive osteopathic therapy for hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A feasibility-oriented chart review study with matched controls

Lennon, Robert P.; Dong, Huamei; Zgierska, Aleksandra; Demetriou, Theodore J.; Croad, Jason; Livelsberger, Craig; Hodge, Lisa; Mendez-Miller, Megan; Darby, Anne; Rabago, David

doi:10.1016/j.ijosm.2022.05.004

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 39 publications

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“…Indeed, past studies have demonstrated the benefits of OMT in suppressing inflammation and disease progression in patients infected with the influenza virus [ 54 , 55 ], and the benefits of OMT had been documented during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1917 [ 56 ]. Due to its efficacy and noninvasive nature, several clinical trials are underway to investigate whether adjunctive OMT can decrease disease progression in hospitalized COVID-19 patients as well [ 57 , 58 ]. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of the benefits of integrating OMT in both neonates and infants admitted to the NICU with respiratory infections is clearly needed.…”

Section: Evidence-based Medicine: Omt Is Effectively Implemented In T...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Decreases Hospital Stay and Healthcare Cost in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

et al. 2022

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Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is used in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Evidence suggests that OMT can reduce both patients’ recovery time and the financial cost of their acute medical treatment and rehabilitation. Multiple studies from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are presented in this article that demonstrate infants treated with OMT recover faster, are discharged earlier, and have lower healthcare costs than their non-OMT-treated counterparts. Data clearly show that adjunctive OMT facilitates feeding coordination in newborns, such as latching, suckling, swallowing, and breathing, and increases long-term weight gain and maintenance, which reduces hospital length of stay (LOS). Osteopathic techniques, such as soft tissue manipulation, balanced ligamentous tension, myofascial release, and osteopathic cranial manipulation (OCM), can reduce regurgitation, vomiting, milky bilious, or bloody discharge and decrease the need for constipation treatment. OMT can also be effective in reducing the complications of pneumonia in premature babies. Studies show the use of OCM and lymphatic pump technique (LPT) reduces the occurrence of both aspiration and environmentally acquired pneumonia, resulting in significantly lower morbidity and mortality in infants. Based on published findings, it is determined that OMT is clinically effective, cost efficient, a less invasive alternative to surgery, and a less toxic choice to pharmacologic drugs. Therefore, routine incorporation of OMT in the NICU can be of great benefit in infants with multiple disorders. Future OMT research should aim to initiate clinical trial designs that include randomized controlled trials with larger cohorts of infants admitted to the NICU. Furthermore, a streamlined and concerted effort to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with the beneficial effects of OMT will aid in understanding the significant value of incorporating OMT into optimal patient care.

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