Patient Active Approaches in Osteopathic Practice: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Osteopathic Manual Therapy
• Patient-Centered Care
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Growing interest in shifting manual therapies from passive to active patient involvement.
• Osteopathic practice includes both active and passive methods, but their integration is underexplored.
• Lack of formal exploration and community sharing regarding patient active osteopathic approaches (PAOAs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To appraise the literature on the functioning and principles of PAOAs.
• To explore a prospective model for selecting and integrating PAOAs into patient management.
• To enhance understanding and application of active approaches in osteopathy.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of relevant literature was performed.
• Analysis focused on the mechanisms, principles, and application of PAOAs.
• Literature was synthesized to provide a broad perspective on PAOAs.

Main Results:

• Identified insights into the functioning and application principles of active approaches.
• Highlighted the relevance of integrating active approaches with hands-on techniques.
• Provided new perspectives on the clinical utility of PAOAs.

Conclusions:

• The review proposes a model that can foster discussion within the osteopathic community.
• Offers a roadmap for future research to establish an evidence-based framework for PAOAs.
• Aims to promote the effective integration of PAOAs into clinical practice.