Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as a Useful Adjunctive Tool for Pneumonia
Published on: May 6, 2014
Effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in a 3-Year-Old With Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome
Vaibhav Duggal1, Rachel Radigan1, Alexa Finkelstein1
1Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA, nyit.edu.
Insights
Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) effectively managed severe gastrointestinal issues like constipation and abdominal pain in a child with PTHS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
Background:
- Pitt-Hopson Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder linked to TCF4 gene mutations, affecting enteric nervous system regulation.
- Current management for PTHS focuses on alleviating comorbidities due to the absence of a cure.
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) shows promise for gastrointestinal issues, but its application in PTHS comorbidities is under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case study on the efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) for managing gastrointestinal comorbidities in a patient with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS).
- To highlight the potential of OMT as a complementary therapy for improving the quality of life in individuals with PTHS.
Main Methods:
- A case report detailing the treatment of a three-year-old female diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS).
- Five sessions of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) were administered to address severe constipation, abdominal pain, discomfort, and muscle spasms.
Main Results:
- The patient experienced significant relief from constipation, with a transition from a biweekly enema regimen to multiple daily bowel movements.
- Reported improvements included reduced abdominal pain, decreased restlessness, and overall enhanced comfort.
- The OMT intervention demonstrated a positive impact on the patient's gastrointestinal symptoms and overall well-being.
Conclusions:
- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) proved effective in managing severe gastrointestinal comorbidities associated with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) in this case.
- This case suggests OMT could be a valuable addition to the standard care for managing PTHS-related gastrointestinal issues.
- Further research into OMT for PTHS comorbidities is warranted to explore its broader clinical application.
Abstract:
Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the transcription factor 4 gene resulting in defective regulation of the enteric nervous system. With no cure, current management emphasizes the treatment of the associated comorbidities to improve day-to-day quality of life. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has been implemented in the treatment of various gastrointestinal pathologies; however, there is limited literature on its use in the management of comorbidities associated with PTHS. Here, we present a case of a three-year-old female with PTHS that greatly benefited from the use of five OMT sessions to resolve her complaints of severe constipation, abdominal pain, discomfort, and muscle spasms. As reported by the mother, the patient became less restless, had minimal abdominal pain, and was having multiple daily bowel movements with a reduction of her previous biweekly enema regimen. All while bringing attention to PTHS, this case demonstrates the efficacy of utilizing OMT to manage its gastrointestinal comorbidities in hopes of incorporating it into the standard of care.
More Related Videos
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
07:20Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Action Observation Training in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024