Asthma and Osteopathic Manipulative Technique

University Hospitals (UH)

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Asthma

Treatments: Other: Light touch; Procedure: OMT

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07071194

STUDY20250241

Details and patient eligibility

About

Asthma is a common respiratory condition that can be difficult to control despite the use of medications such as inhalers, oral steroids or even injectable medications. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is a hands-on technique used to improve the chest structure and function and may help in improving breathing. Previous research showed that OMT in asthma patients, can improve the movement of the ribs and improve the "peak flow" which is the maximum rate at which a person can exhale air after taking a deep breath. However, no studies have evaluated the impact of OMT on lung inflammation.

This single-site research study at University Hospitals aims to evaluate whether Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) can reduce lung inflammation and improve breathing and lung function in adult patients with asthma. The lung function will be evaluated by Spirometry which is a test that measures how much air you can breathe in and out of your lungs, as well as how quickly and easily you can exhale air. The lung inflammation will be measured using a device that can detect how much you are breathing out Nitric Oxide which is a gas produced by inflamed cells in the lungs, this test is called: Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide or FeNO. Approximately 100 participants will be enrolled.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients in Allergy and Immunology Associates clinic diagnosed with asthma ages 18-60 years old with an elevated FENO

Exclusion criteria

• Use of oral steroids within the last 4 weeks
• Use of biologic medications
• Diagnosis of pregnancy, osteoporosis, congestive heart failure, renal failure, cirrhosis, or cancer
• Inability to lay recumbent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment group using OMT

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the treatment group will undergo OMT using sub-occipital release, rib raising, doming the diaphragm, thoracic inlet release and myofascial techniques.

Treatment:

Procedure: OMT

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients in the control group will undergo light touch in similar locations to above performed OMT.

Treatment:

Other: Light touch