Increase of lower esophageal sphincter pressure after osteopathic intervention on the diaphragm in patients with gastroesophageal reflux

The underlying mechanism, efficiency, and safety of manual therapy for functional gastrointestinal disorders: A narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Functional gastrointestinal disorders encompass a range of conditions resulting from complicated gut-brain interactions, which can negatively impact sufferers' lives. They are prevalent in clinical practice and the community, with a lifetime prevalence of almost 40 % worldwide. The challenge in diagnosing these disorders lies in the non-specificity of symptoms and the absence of reliable biomarkers. The existing literature suggests a multidisciplinary approach, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dietary changes, psychotropic drug therapy, and improving gastrointestinal motility. Manual therapy applied to the abdomen and adjacent areas can potentially enhance gastrointestinal motility.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to examine the types of manual interventions, their mechanisms, efficiency, and safety in managing functional disorders of the digestive system.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and Google Scholar in English from May 2022 to February 2023 with no date restriction. We prioritized systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials and did not exclude any data sources.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

s: Initial evidence suggests that manual interventions on the abdomen and adjacent areas are effective in managing functional gastrointestinal disorders, with no reported adverse events and relatively low costs. However, further studies with rigorous scientific methodology are needed to understand better the unknown dimensions influencing the outcomes observed with abdominal massage and its positive impact on patients. Manual abdominal techniques are a promising therapy option for functional gastrointestinal disorders, and their efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness should be further explored.

Meta-epidemiologic review: blinding and sham treatment in clinical trial design for osteopathic manipulative treatment research

Objective

To analyze the consistency of study designs in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) research, focusing on blinding protocols and the use of sham treatments.

Data Source and Study Selection

PubMed and CINAHL were searched in January 2022. A total of 83 research studies between 2009 and 2021 were selected based on the presence of a double- or single-blind study design and/or sham treatment.

Data Extraction and Analysis

Data regarding the primary outcome measures, blinding design, measures used to determine success of blinding, osteopathic technique used, and sham technique used for each eligible study were extracted and compared among different study designs.

Results

A total of 5968 subjects participated in the 83 trials. The study population mainly consisted of asymptomatic individuals (25%) and chronic back pain patients (19%). Light touch was employed most commonly (49%) as the sham treatment, followed by unrelated sham (20%) and incomplete maneuvers (20%). Most studies blinded the subjects (80%) or the outcome evaluator/data analyzer (71%), while only 20% studies blinded the osteopathic physicians.

Conclusions

Strict double-blinding is achievable for OMT clinical research by blinding the subjects and data collectors/analyzers rather than the osteopaths providing the actual treatment. The use of questionnaires to determine the success of blinding should be considered. Additionally, including OMT-naïve subjects is preferred to enhance blinding success. When designing a sham treatment, careful consideration should be given to blinding the data collector, accounting for the placebo effect, and incorporating an additional no-treatment control group to improve the rigor of the study design.

Breathing Exercises in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review

The pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is multifactorial. The severity of abnormal reflux burden corresponds to the dysfunction of the antireflux barrier and inability to clear refluxate. The crural diaphragm is one of the main components of the esophagogastric junction and plays an important role in preventing gastroesophageal reflux. The diaphragm, as a skeletal muscle, is partially under voluntary control and its dysfunction can be improved via breathing exercises. Thus, diaphragmatic breathing training (DBT) has the potential to alleviate symptoms in selected patients with GERD. High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) is a useful method for the assessment of antireflux barrier function and can therefore elucidate the mechanisms responsible for gastroesophageal reflux. We hypothesize that HRM can help define patient phenotypes that may benefit most from DBT, and that HRM can even help in the management of respiratory physiotherapy in patients with GERD. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current data supporting physiotherapeutic practices in the treatment of GERD and to illustrate how HRM may guide treatment strategies focused on respiratory physiotherapy.

Characterizing the use of osteopathic manipulative medicine in the obstetric population by trimester and indications for use

Context

Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) has been shown to successfully alleviate some pregnancy-related pain. However, most of the published data focuses on the third trimester and postpartum period or musculoskeletal indications.

Objective

To explore OMM use among obstetrical providers and determine the frequency of use by trimester and by clinical indications across multiple types of women's healthcare practices in Southern and Central Maine.

Methods

An anonymous, 43-item survey, presented in English, was emailed to 172 eligible providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives with obstetrics privileges at one of two main delivery centers in southern and central Maine) via an encrypted database system in January 2018. Follow-up email reminders were sent weekly for three weeks. Questions addressed use of OMM for specific indications, knowledge of OMM, and perceived barriers use of OMM.

Results

The survey response rate was 73 of 172 (42%); 95% of respondents were physicians (n=69). Due to the low response rate of non-physicians, only data from physicians was included in the study. Data were summarized descriptively as frequencies (n [%]). The highest rates of OMM utilization were during the third trimester (35 [51.5%]) and postpartum (41 [60.3%]) periods, while the lowest rates of utilization were in the intrapartum (eight [11.9%]) and first trimester periods (26 [38.3%]). Osteopathic physicians (n=19) used OMM more frequently in the first, second, and third trimesters, as well as the intrapartum period (10 [52.6%]; 11 [57.9%]; 14 [73.7%]; and six [31.6%], respectively) compared with their allopathic physician (n=50) counterparts (nine [8%]; 15 [30%]; 21 [42%]; and two [4%], respectively). While osteopathic physicians reported higher frequencies of OMM use and referral for non-musculoskeletal indications such as constipation, edema, and nasal congestion (13 [68.4%]; 11 [57.9%]; 10 [52.6%], respectively), musculoskeletal complaints were the most frequently cited indication for OMM use among both osteopathic and allopathic physicians (low back, 67 [97.1%]; pelvis, 65 [94.2%]; coccyx, 50 [72.5%]; and head, 49 [71%]).

Conclusion

These results suggest that more education is needed about OMM use in the obstetric population, particularly during early trimesters and the intrapartum period, as well as for visceral and lymphatic complaints of pregnancy.

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Practice Patterns of Third-Year and Fourth-Year Osteopathic Medical Students: An Educational Research Project

Context

Colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) are required to provide hands-on osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) training during clerkship years, but this can be challenging given that students are in a variety of clinical sites and often train with allopathic physicians.

Objective

To identify student OMM practice patterns documented on required OMM practice logs detailing 10 OMM treatments each semester as part of a 3-semester third- and fourth-year clerkship curriculum and to determine whether these practice patterns varied by supervisor type (osteopathic vs allopathic) and semester.

Methods

The OMM practice logs from 2 class years were retrospectively reviewed for patient and supervisor characteristics and OMM treatment details. Semesters included 2 third-year semesters and an extended fourth-year semester.

Results

Between July 2015 and March 2018, 1018 OMM practice logs were submitted detailing 10,150 treatments involving 4655 clinical (45.9%) and 5474 volunteer (53.9%) patients. Logs contained up to 10 treatments per log; 26.0% included only clinical patients, 17.4% included only volunteer patients, and 56.6% included both. Significantly more clinical patients (1708 [36.7%]) were treated during the first semester of the third year than the other 2 semesters (P<.001). The supervisor's credentials were identified as an osteopathic physician for 6639 treatments (65.4%) and an allopathic physician for 768 (7.6%). No difference was found in the proportion of clinical to volunteer patients supervised by osteopathic or allopathic physicians (P=.34). Neuromusculoskeletal complaints accounted for 10,847 (90.7%) chief complaints, and nonneuromusculoskeletal complaints accounted for 1115 (9.3%). The most commonly treated body regions were the thoracic (6255 [61.4%]), cervical (4932 [48.4%]), and lumbar (4249 [41.7%]). More body regions were treated on clinical patients than on volunteer patients (mean, 2.7 vs 2.6, respectively; P=.04). Commonly used techniques were muscle energy (6570 [64.5%]); high-velocity, low-amplitude (4054 [39.8%]); soft tissue (3615 [35.5%]); balanced ligamentous tension/indirect techniques (2700 [26.5%]); and myofascial release (1944 [19.2%]).

Conclusion

More than 80% of students documented OMM practice on clinical patients for their required OMM practice logs. Both osteopathic and allopathic physicians provided supervision. Chief complaints and types of osteopathic manipulative treatment used were consistent with current clinical practice. Areas identified for enhanced didactic education included OMM for nonneuromusculoskeletal complaints.

Effects of Osteopathic Visceral Treatment in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Osteopathic manual treatment has been recommended as a non-pharmacological therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). However, to date, no study has supported the effectiveness of this intervention with respect to the symptoms of the disease. Our goal was to assess the effect of an osteopathic manual technique for the lower esophageal sphincter on GERD symptoms, cervical mobility and on the C4 spinous process pressure pain threshold (PPTs).

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed. Sixty subjects suffering from GERD participated in this study and were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG) (n = 29), who received the osteopathic technique for the lower esophageal sphincter, or to a control group (CG) (n = 31), who received a manual contact, which mimicked the osteopathic technique without exerting any therapeutic force. Randomization was computer-generated, with allocation concealed by sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. The GerdQ questionnaire was used to assess symptom changes the week after intervention. Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) and algometer were used to evaluate cervical mobility and PPTs before and after both treatments. Before-after between groups comparison (t-test) was used for statistical analysis of the outcome, with two measurement points (GerdQ), while repeated-measures ANOVA was used for those outcomes with four measurement points (CROM and PPT).

RESULTS

The application of the osteopathic manual treatment in subjects with GERD produced a significant improvement in symptoms one week after the intervention (p = 0.005) with a between-groups difference of 1.49 points in GerdQ score (95% CI: 0.47-2.49). PPT C4 improved in the EG after the treatment (p = 0.034; η² = 0.048) (between-groups difference 8.78 Newton/cm²; 95% CI: 0.48-17.09). CROM also increased in the EG compared to the CG (p < 0.001; η² = 0.108) (between-groups difference 33.89 degrees; 95% CI: 15.17-52.61).

CONCLUSIONS

The manual osteopathic technique produces an improvement in GERD symptoms one week after treatment, cervical mobility, and PPTs. This may mean that osteopathic treatment is useful for improving symptoms of GERD.

Effects of diaphragmatic myofascial release on gastroesophageal reflux disease: a preliminary randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether implementing a myofascial release (MFR) protocol designed to restore the myofascial properties of the diaphragm has any effect on the symptoms, quality of life, and consumption of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) drugs by patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We randomized 30 patients with GERD into a MFR group or a sham group. Changes in symptomatology and quality of life were measured with the Reflux Disease Questionnaire and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index. Need of PPIs was measured as the milligrams of drug intake over the 7 days prior to each assessment. All variables were assessed at baseline, one week and 4 weeks after the end of the treatment. At week 4, patients receiving MFR showed significant improvements in symptomatology (mean difference-1.1; 95% CI: -1.7 to -0.5), gastrointestinal quality of life (mean difference 18.1; 95% CI: 4.8 to 31.5), and PPIs use (mean difference-97 mg; 95% CI: -162 to -32), compared to the sham group. These preliminary findings indicate that the application of the MFR protocol we used in this study decreased the symptoms and PPIs usage and increased the quality of life of patients with non-erosive GERD up to four weeks after the end of the treatment.

Effectiveness of an Osteopathic Abdominal Manual Intervention in Pain Thresholds, Lumbopelvic Mobility, and Posture in Women with Chronic Functional Constipation

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of an osteopathic abdominal manual intervention (AMI) on pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), mobility, hip flexibility, and posture in women with chronic functional constipation.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING/LOCATION

Subjects were recruited for the study by referral from different gastroenterology outpatient clinics in the city of Madrid (Spain).

SUBJECTS

Sixty-two patients suffering from chronic functional constipation according to the guidelines of the Congress of Rome III.

INTERVENTIONS

The experimental group (n = 31) received an osteopathic AMI, and the control group (n = 31) received a sham procedure.

OUTCOME MEASURES

PPTs at different levels, including vertebral levels C7, T3, T10, T11, and T12, trunk flexion range of motion (ROM), hip flexibility, and posture, were measured before and immediately after the intervention. A comparison between the difference between the pre- and postintervention values using the Student's t test for independent samples or nonparametric U-Mann-Whitney test depending on the distribution normality of the analyzed variables was perfomed.

RESULTS

In the intergroup comparison, statistically significant differences were found in PPT at T11 (p = 0.011) and T12 (p = 0.001) and also in the trunk flexion ROM (p < 0.05). Moreover, women showed no adverse effects with acceptable pain tolerance to the intervention.

CONCLUSION

The application of an osteopathic AMI is well tolerated and improves pain sensitivity in areas related to intestinal innervation, as well as lumbar flexion.

Low back pain and gastroesophageal reflux in patients with COPD: the disease in the breath

COPD is a worsening condition that leads to a pathologic degeneration of the respiratory system. It represents one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in the world, and it is characterized by the presence of associated comorbidity. This article analyzes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and low back pain (LBP) in patients with COPD and tries to produce anatomo-clinical considerations on the reasons of the presence of these comorbidities. The considerations of the authors are based on the anatomic functions and characteristics of the respiratory diaphragm that are not always considered, from which elements useful to comprehend the symptomatic status of the patient can be deduced, finally improving the therapeutic approach. The information contained in the article can be of help to the clinician and for physiotherapy, and to all health professionals who gravitate around the patient’s care, improving the approach to the diaphragm muscle.

The paradox of sham therapy and placebo effect in osteopathy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Placebo, defined as "false treatment," is a common gold-standard method to assess the validity of a therapy both in pharmacological trials and manual medicine research where placebo is also referred to as "sham therapy." In the medical literature, guidelines have been proposed on how to conduct robust placebo-controlled trials, but mainly in a drug-based scenario. In contrast, there are not precise guidelines on how to conduct a placebo-controlled in manual medicine trials (particularly osteopathy). The aim of the present systematic review was to report how and what type of sham methods, dosage, operator characteristics, and patient types were used in osteopathic clinical trials and, eventually, assess sham clinical effectiveness.

METHODS

A systematic Cochrane-based review was conducted by analyzing the osteopathic trials that used both manual and nonmanual placebo control. Searches were conducted on 8 databases from journal inception to December 2015 using a pragmatic literature search approach. Two independent reviewers conducted the study selection and data extraction for each study. The risk of bias was evaluated according to the Cochrane methods.

RESULTS

A total of 64 studies were eligible for analysis collecting a total of 5024 participants. More than half (43 studies) used a manual placebo; 9 studies used a nonmanual placebo; and 12 studies used both manual and nonmanual placebo. Data showed lack of reporting sham therapy information across studies. Risk of bias analysis demonstrated a high risk of bias for allocation, blinding of personnel and participants, selective, and other bias. To explore the clinical effects of sham therapies used, a quantitative analysis was planned. However, due to the high heterogeneity of sham approaches used no further analyses were performed.

CONCLUSION

High heterogeneity regarding placebo used between studies, lack of reporting information on placebo methods and within-study variability between sham and real treatment procedures suggest prudence in reading and interpreting study findings in manual osteopathic randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Efforts must be made to promote guidelines to design the most reliable placebo for manual RCTs as a means of increasing the internal validity and improve external validity of findings.

Qualitative evaluation of osteopathic manipulative therapy in a patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a brief report

CONTEXT

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that affects a growing number of people and is currently among the most common disorders seen in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a protocol for the management of GERD with osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMTh) applied to the diaphragm and esophagus, and to evaluate the protocol's effectiveness using the quality of life scale (QS-GERD) for the disease.

METHODS

In this single-blinded prospective study, an OMTh protocol focusing on the diaphragm and esophagus was applied to a single patient, who had received a diagnosis of GERD 4 years previously. Outcomes were measured using the QS-GERD, which has a total possible score ranging from 0 to 45 (the lower the score, the better the quality of life) and a level of satisfaction from very satisfied to incapacitated. The OMTh protocol was applied at 3 sessions (initial session, second session 1 week after the first, and third session 2 weeks after the second), and the patient completed the QS-GERD 4 times (before the first session, before the third session, and 2 and 4 weeks after the third session).

RESULTS

The OMTh protocol was administered without adverse events, and the patient reported positive outcomes after the third session. The QS-GERD showed a score improvement from 13 of 45 to 4 of 45.

CONCLUSION

The results in the present report show that OMTh applied to the diaphragm and esophagus may improve symptoms of GERD and should be added to the somatovisceral approach to the care of patients with this condition.

Respiratory physiotherapy in gastroesophageal reflux disease: A review article

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a frequent disorder which is expensive to diagnose and treat. Initiating therapy with empiric trial of proton-pump inhibitor is a well established strategy; however, symptoms of GERD do often persist regardless of effective medication. Nowadays, increasing interest concerning the efficacy and safety of chronic acid suppression with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), prompts a consideration for GERD treatment strategies related to the basic physiology of the lower esophageal sphincter, including modulation of its tone and ending of spontaneous transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, which contributes to reflux. Together, the lower esophageal sphincter and the crural diaphragm represent the major antireflux barrier, protecting the esophagus from reflux of gastric content. In order to prevent the need for enduring PPIs therapy or surgical procedures, substitute therapeutics approaches are being researched. Recently, studies have focused on the response of the respiratory muscles to inspiratory muscle training. As a result, inspiratory muscle training has emerged as a potential alternative for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux. The present report reviews the physiologic factors contributing to GERD, and presents the newly developed therapies that can be applied either alone or in association with available efficient GERD therapy.

Anatomic connections of the diaphragm: influence of respiration on the body system

The article explains the scientific reasons for the diaphragm muscle being an important crossroads for information involving the entire body. The diaphragm muscle extends from the trigeminal system to the pelvic floor, passing from the thoracic diaphragm to the floor of the mouth. Like many structures in the human body, the diaphragm muscle has more than one function, and has links throughout the body, and provides the network necessary for breathing. To assess and treat this muscle effectively, it is necessary to be aware of its anatomic, fascial, and neurologic complexity in the control of breathing. The patient is never a symptom localized, but a system that adapts to a corporeal dysfunction.