NMM/OMTREVIEW ARTICLE

Efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review

Raymond Li, OMS IV; Ann Jose, OMS IV; Jessica Poon, OMS IV; Cindy Zou, OMS IV; Maria Istafanos, OMS IV; and Sheldon C. Yao, DO
Notes and Affiliations
Notes and Affiliations

Received: March 9, 2021

Accepted: July 7, 2021

Published: September 22, 2021

  • Raymond Li, OMS IV, 

    NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

  • Ann Jose, OMS IV, 

    NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

  • Jessica Poon, OMS IV, 

    NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

  • Cindy Zou, OMS IV, 

    NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

  • Maria Istafanos, OMS IV, 

    NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

  • Sheldon C. Yao, DO, 

    Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Chair, NYIT-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glen Head, NY, USA

J Osteopath Med; 121(12): 891-898
Abstract

Context: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to impaired motor and non-motor function in patients. PD is non-curative and gradually reduces quality of life, leading patients to seek treatment for symptom management. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) applies the biomechanical, neurologic, circulatory, metabolic, and psychosocial models in approaching and treating the major symptomatology of PD patients.

Objectives: This article evaluates the literature published in the past 10 years analyzing evidence on OMT and its functional application on gait, balance, motor function, bradykinesia, and autonomic dysfunctions, and to identify promising avenues for further investigation.

Methods: The authors obtained studies from the research databases MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDaily, and EBSCO, as well as the Journal of American Osteopathic Association’s published archives. Searches were conducted in December 2020 utilizing the search phrases “OMM” (osteopathic manipulative medicine), “OMT,” “osteopathic,” “Parkinson Disease,” “manual therapy,” “physical therapy,” “training,” “autonomics,” “gait,” and “balance.” Articles published between 2010 and 2021 including subjects with Parkinson’s disease and the use of OMT or any other form of manual therapy were included. Five authors independently performed literature searches and methodically resolved any disagreements over article selection together.

Results: There were a total of 10,064 hits, from which 53 articles were considered, and five articles were selected based on the criteria.

Conclusions: The progressive nature of PD places symptom management on the forefront of maintaining patients’ quality of life. OMT has demonstrated the greatest efficacy on managing motor-related and neurologic symptoms and assists in treating the greater prevalence of somatic dysfunctions that arise from the disease. Research in this field remains limited and should be the target of future research.

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