Characterizing Adverse Events Reported Immediately After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Area of Science:

• Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
• Manual therapy
• Adverse events

Background:

• Limited data exists on adverse events following osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
• Previous research has focused on other manual therapy techniques.
• Understanding OMT-related adverse events is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and types of adverse events reported by patients immediately after OMT.
• To identify potential risk factors associated with OMT-related adverse events.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study design involving patients undergoing OMT.
• Patients self-reported their condition immediately post-OMT using a 5-point scale.
• Adverse events were defined as feeling worse or much worse; types were independently coded.
• Statistical analysis included generalized logistic regression to calculate incidence rates and odds ratios.

Main Results:

• The incidence of adverse events immediately after OMT was 2.5% (95% CI, 1.3%-4.7%).
• Pain/discomfort was the most frequent adverse event (0.9%).
• Women reported adverse events more frequently than men (OR, 13.9).

Conclusions:

• The incidence of immediate adverse events from OMT is relatively low compared to other manual therapies.
• Pain/discomfort is the primary adverse event reported.
• Further investigation is required for serious adverse events and those occurring days after OMT.