Effect of Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine on Visual Function.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• The impact of osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine (OCMM) on visual function remains largely unexamined.
• Previous pilot studies suggest a potential link between OCMM and visual improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether OCMM can induce measurable changes in visual function among adults presenting with cranial asymmetry.
• To assess the efficacy of OCMM in improving various visual parameters.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial involving 89 adult participants (18-35 years) with cranial somatic dysfunction and refractive errors.
• Participants received 8 weekly sessions of either OCMM or sham therapy, followed by 8 weekly follow-up visits.
• Ophthalmic examinations included visual acuity, accommodation, stereoacuity, pupillary size, and vergence system testing.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant within-group improvements (P<.05) were observed from pre-intervention to post-intervention in distance visual acuity, local stereoacuity, accommodative function (Donder pushup), and convergence (near point of convergence break and recovery).
• The treatment group showed a statistically significant effect (P<.05) compared to the sham group in pupillary size under bright light (left eye) and near point of convergence break.

Conclusions:

• Osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine demonstrates a potential to positively influence visual function in individuals with cranial asymmetry.
• The findings suggest that active motion testing for cranial somatic dysfunction can measurably impact the cranial system, potentially explaining interrater reliability variations in cranial studies.