The influence of an osteopathic treatment on pregnant women on expected date of delivery on the course of parturition and the subjective well-being: A Pilot Study

Background: The reduction of birth complications is of high interest in terms of the physical and mental health of mother and child. Furthermore, passing the calculated birth date comes along with physical and psychological stress in many late-term pregnant women. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of one osteopathic treatment on selected birth complications and on the subjective well-being of the mother. The effect of OMT on vital signs as well as the actual date of delivery and the need of labor inductions was observed. The women’s subjective experience with the treatment was interrogated through a questionnaire. Methods: 58 pregnant women took part in this pragmatic controlled pilot study including one treatment group (n=29) and one control group with usual obstetric care (n=29). The treatment group received one osteopathic treatment on the expected date of delivery. Spielberger’s State test, fetal heart rate, mother´s heart rate and blood pressure were compared before and after the treatment tested through t-test. Selected maternal complications (using the Fisher Exact Test), actual date of delivery and drug-induced labor were compared between groups. Results: No differences in rate of selected complications were observed between groups (p=1). The subjective well-being showed significant differences before and after treatment (p<0.001) and correlated with the analysis of the questionnaire. The actual date of birth was significantly earlier in treatment group than control group (p=0.002). No statistically significant differences were ob-served in terms of drug-induced labor induction (p=0.104). Conclusions: In terms of birth complications further studies with higher number of treatments, earlier onset of treatment and/or treatment during birth with randomized subjects and three groups are highly recommended. Significant effects on the subjective well-being and the due date could be observed which indicate further studies. Keywords: pregnancy, birth process, osteopathic treatment, subjective well-being

Knowledge of Nutritional Issues among Osteopaths in Austria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Osteopaths are important actors in the Austrian healthcare system. High prevalence rates for diseases associated with nutrition, as well as studies from other countries, imply that os-teopaths are confronted with questions regarding nutrition in the course of their work. Aim: The purpose of this study was to survey osteopath's knowledge of nutritional issues in a cross-sectional study and analyze factors that influence nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, it will be investigated if osteopaths are confronted with problems or questions regarding nutrition. Material and Methods: With the help of schools of osteopathy all osteopaths, who could be found in Austria, were asked to participate in an online survey. As instruments of research, the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ) and a second questionnaire were used. Results: The average rate of correctly answered questions was 74.4% for the GNKQ and 37.2% for the Temple Questionnaire (n=188). Discussion: Compared to other occupational groups in the American or British healthcare system, Austrian osteopaths' average nutritional knowledge is slightly higher. Only nutrition experts and people employed at centres specializing in eating disorders obtained more favourable results. Fur-ther surveys ought to develop valid instruments for Austria and attempt to define which amount of nutrition knowledge can be considered as adequate for certain occupational groups. Keywords: nutrition knowledge, knowledge of nutritional issues, osteopathy, General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire

Characteristics, opportunities and challenges of osteopathy in the perception of osteopaths in Switzerland - a qualitative study - the complete research report

Background: As a heterogeneous discipline, osteopathy is currently confronted with fundamental questions of identity, which it has to answer as a discipline in the field of tension between professional challenges and scientific demands. Aims: The aim of this thesis is to identify relevant components of the status quo of osteopathy in Switzerland and to present them using a category system. Methods: Seven guideline-based, problem-oriented interviews with Swiss osteopaths are conducted, transcribed and evaluated on the basis of Philipp Mayring's qualitative content analysis using inductive category formation and the results presented as a category tree. Results: Extensive partial aspects are coded under the three main categories of characteristics, opportunities and challenges. The greatest challenge of osteopathy in Switzerland is the implementation of the new law on health professions, which came into force on 1 Februrary 2020 and has uncertain consequences for osteopaths without a GDK diploma. Conclusions: The extensive number of categories shows that the challenges of osteopathy are multi-faceted. However, for some therapists the above mentioned is of existential importance. Keywords: switzerland, osteopathy, characteristics, opportunities, challenges, COCO, qualitative study

Influence of postoperative adhesions after caesarean section on chronic lower back pain – A pilot study of osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Background: Despite the prevalence of abdominal adhesions after a caesarean section, there exist few postoperative treatment approaches which specifically target adhesions or establish their connection with chronic lower back pain (cLBP).<br> <br> Aims: To investigate if the osteopathic approach of treating adhesions after a caesarean section reduces existing cLBP symptoms and alleviates associated pain.<br> <br> Methods: The subjects received two 30-minute treatments with a one week pause between treatments. The intervention group A (n=18), those who received osteopathic treatment, were compared to a control group B (n=16), who received scar treatment using traditional physiotherapy. The evaluation of subjective (pain intensity with a numeric rating scale, or NRS) and objective (symptom evaluation using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire) parameters was accomplished using questionnaires before and after the treatments.<br> <br> Results: Pain intensity reduced clinically relevant in group A by MA21=-2.6; SDA21=1.33 on the NRS. The average Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in group A decreased from M1=18.3%; SD1=7.8 to M2=6.2%; SD2=6.2. In group B, the decrease from M1=19.1%; SD1=11.1 to M2=14.0%; SD2=10.1 was significantly smaller (p=0,005). Conclusions: Postoperative adhesions could cause cLBP. Treatment of adhesions using oste-opathy results in a significant reduction of pain symptoms for cLBP. Due to the sample size calculation, further studies addressing adhesions and chronic lower back pain would be rec-ommended. <br> Keywords: peritoneal adhesions; visceral adhesions; caesarean section; chronic lower back pain (cLBP)

Osteopathic treatment of the genital descensus and its accompanying symptoms in women. A comparative pi-lot study of osteopathy and electrostimulation /biofeedback for the pelvic floor.

Background: <br> Genital descensus (POP = Pelvic Organ Prolapse) is a common condition among women (postpartum) in all age groups. The standard treatment is still surgical cor-rection followed by conservative therapies. An alternative method of treatment by osteopa-thy is still not widespread. <br> Aims: <br> There are treatment options analysed by osteopathy or PFMT (pelvic floor muscle training) with biofeedback/electrostimulation. The research question is: Is osteopathy in addition to the active practice by means of electrostimulation and biofeedback more suc-cessful than the practice using only the electrostimulations/biofeedback device? Methods: Clinical comparative study of 30 women. Throughout the observation period, all participants should get a biofeedback device. Half the women will also receive an osteo-pathic treatment. The primary target parameter of the score from the bladder SPSQ ques-tionnaire will be evaluated. As secondary parameters, a further 4 scores from the question-naire, a gynaecological diagnosis and the electromyogram of the biofeedback device are determined. <br> Results: <br> Both methods show a significant improvement (experimental group: p < 0.001; con-trol group: p = 0.024) in the symptoms of genital prolapse of the bladder score. The differ-ence in improving the symptoms in the experimental group is significantly higher (p = 0.005) compared to the control group. Within the secondary parameters is the improvement of gynaecological diagnosis and an enormous increase in muscle strength is visible. <br> Conclusions: <br> Both methods represent a relevant alternative to surgical intervention. Osteo-pathic treatment is a very valuable add-on to standard conservative treatment. Keywords: genital descensus, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor muscle training, biofeed-back, osteopathy