Related Experiment Videos
Effect of osteopathic medical management on neurologic development in children
V M Frymann1, R E Carney, P Springall
1College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, La Jolla, Calif.
Insights
Osteopathic manipulative treatment improved neurologic development in children with diagnosed neurologic problems. These developmental gains persisted for months, supporting its use in pediatric healthcare.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Osteopathic Medicine
- Neurologic Development
- Integrative Healthcare
Background:
- Children with neurologic deficits often experience developmental challenges.
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands-on approach to assess and treat the body's structure and function.
- The efficacy of OMT in pediatric neurologic development requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of osteopathic manipulative treatment on the neurologic development of children.
- To assess whether OMT improves sensory and motor performance in pediatric patients.
- To compare outcomes in children receiving OMT versus a control period without treatment.
Main Methods:
- A 3-year study involving children aged 18 months to 12 years with and without neurologic deficits.
- Children received 6 to 12 osteopathic manipulative treatments targeting areas of impaired physiologic motion.
- Houle's Profile of Development was used to assess neurologic age, chronologic age, and developmental rate, with age-adjusted scores.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in neurologic performance were observed in children with diagnosed neurologic problems following OMT.
- Children with medical or structural diagnoses also showed moderate neurologic improvements.
- Developmental advances continued for several months after the treatment period.
Conclusions:
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment demonstrates a positive effect on neurologic development in pediatric patients.
- OMT can be a valuable component of pediatric healthcare, aligning with osteopathic principles.
- The findings support the integration of OMT into standard pediatric care for children with developmental concerns.
Abstract:
For 3 years, children between 18 months and 12 years of age with and without recognized neurologic deficits were studied at the Osteopathic Center for Children. Their response to 6 to 12 osteopathic manipulative treatments directed to all areas of impaired inherent physiologic motion was estimated from changes in three sensory and three motor areas of performance. Houle's Profile of Development was used to compare neurologic with chronologic age and rate of development, and scores were age-adjusted. Results in children after treatment were compared with those following a waiting period without treatment. Neurologic performance significantly improved after treatment in children with diagnosed neurologic problems and to a lesser degree in children with medical or structural diagnoses. The advances in neurologic development continued over a several months' interval. The results support the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment as part of pediatric healthcare based on osteopathic medical philosophy and principles.