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The effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment as complementary therapy following surgery: a prospective,
R W Jarski1, E G Loniewski, J Williams
1Complementary Medicine and Wellness Program, Oakland University, Rochester, Mich., USA. jarski@oakland.edu
Context:
Osteopathic manipulative treatment has been reported to relieve a variety of conditions, but no studies have examined the outcome effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment as a complementary modality for treating musculoskeletal problems during postoperative recovery.
Objective:
To assess osteopathic manipulative treatment as a complementary therapy for patients undergoing elective knee or hip arthroplasty.
Design:
Prospective, single-blinded, 2-group, match-controlled outcome study.
Setting:
Osteopathic teaching hospital.
Patients:
Of 166 eligible patients, 38 were assigned to a treatment group and matched with 38 control subjects.
Intervention:
The treatment group received osteopathic manipulative treatment on postoperative days 2 through 5.
Main Outcome Measures:
Days to independent negotiation of stairs, distance ambulated, supplemental intramuscular analgesic use, length of hospital stay, and patients' perceptions of treatment.
Results:
Compared to control subjects, the intervention group negotiated stairs 20% earlier (mean = 4.3 postoperative days, SD = 1.2; control subjects 5.4, SD = 1.6, P = .006) and ambulated 43% farther on the third postoperative day (mean = 24.3 m, SD = 18.3; controls = 13.9, SD = 14.4, P = .008). The intervention group also required less analgesia, had shorter hospital stays, and ambulated farther on postoperative days 1, 2, and 4.
Conclusions:
Patients receiving osteopathic manipulative treatment in the early postoperative period negotiated stairs earlier and ambulated greater distances than did control group patients.