Concussions and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: An Adolescent Case Presentation

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sports Medicine
• Osteopathic Medicine

Background:

• Concussions are common in adolescents, with approximately 11% experiencing prolonged symptoms beyond 3 months.
• Limited standard treatment options exist for persistent post-concussive symptoms in this age group.
• The efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for adolescent concussions remains largely unexplored.

Observation:

• A 16-year-old female with a history of three head injuries presented with persistent concussion symptoms.
• The patient underwent six weekly sessions of osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Findings:

• Following OMT, the adolescent patient reported resolution of her concussion symptoms.
• The patient was able to resume her regular daily activities after the treatment course.

Implications:

• Osteopathic manipulative treatment shows potential as a therapeutic option for managing prolonged concussion symptoms in adolescents.
• Further clinical research is warranted to investigate the role and effectiveness of OMT in concussion management.
• This case highlights a possible non-pharmacological approach for a common adolescent injury.