Pregnancy Research on Osteopathic Manipulation Optimizing Treatment Effects: The PROMOTE Study Protocol

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Pregnancy involves significant structural and physiological changes, increasing the risk of low back pain and functional disability.
• Existing evidence suggests osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may benefit pregnant women experiencing pain and functional limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a standardized osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) protocol for managing low back pain in women during their third trimester of pregnancy.
• To assess the impact of OMT on pain reduction and functional improvement in this population.

Main Methods:

• The Pregnancy Research on Osteopathic Manipulation Optimizing Treatment Effects (PROMOTE) study employed a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and blinded clinical trial design.
• A 20-minute OMT protocol, comprising 12 standardized techniques based on osteopathic principles, was administered alongside usual prenatal care.
• Participants were women in their third trimester of pregnancy experiencing low back pain.

Main Results:

• The study protocol was designed to be feasible for clinical implementation, integrating easily with standard prenatal care.
• The OMT protocol was based on established physiologic theory and the structure-function relationship central to osteopathic medicine.

Conclusions:

• The PROMOTE study provides a framework for investigating the efficacy of OMT in pregnant populations.
• The developed OMT protocol is replicable and suitable for integration into clinical practice for managing pregnancy-related low back pain.