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A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis of Osteopathic Manipulation in Academic and Community Settings
Stephen K Stacey1, Bennett Harmelink1, Bryan Gordon1
1Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, USA.
Cureus
|June 9, 2025
Summary
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is recommended for chronic pain but underutilized. This study found low OMT use across a health system, highlighting the need for strategies to improve patient access to this therapy.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Pain Management
Background:
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a recommended first-line therapy for chronic neck and low back pain.
- Despite recommendations, OMT remains underutilized in clinical practice.
- Understanding OMT utilization patterns is crucial for improving patient access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the utilization patterns of OMT in a large, multicenter health system.
- To compare OMT use between academic and community settings.
- To assess OMT indications against evidence-based guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of diagnosis (ICD-10) and procedure (CPT) codes.
- Data collected from January 2022 to May 2023.
- Analysis of OMT use in relation to body regions treated and comparison between settings.
Main Results:
- A total of 10,304 outpatient visits utilized OMT.
- Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine were commonly treated regions.
- Most visits (44.1%) treated three to four body regions.
Conclusions:
- Overall utilization of OMT is low within the studied health system.
- Further research is needed to identify optimal support for physicians using OMT.
- Strategies to increase OMT use for evidence-based indications are warranted.
