Osteopathic emergency physician training and use of osteopathic manipulative treatment

Previous studies of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) have examined its use in several clinical settings, but no study to date has been specific to emergency medicine. This article examines the use of OMT in the practice of emergency medicine by osteopathic physicians. Osteopathic physicians who identified their practice as emergency medicine were surveyed to determine OMT use, including techniques used, graduate medical education, and factors affecting usage. Use of OMT was common (55%), with a large minority (28%) of osteopathic physicians reporting daily or weekly usage. Techniques most often used include soft tissue treatment, high velocity/low amplitude treatment, and muscle energy treatment. Factors affecting usage include residency training, undergraduate medical experiences, and practice environment. These findings indicate that further investigation into the indications and efficacy of OMT in emergency medicine is warranted.