Effect of Osteopathic Manipulation on Postural Stability in the Elderly

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Balance Control in Elderly

Treatments: Other: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01153412

2008-087

Details and patient eligibility

About

Postural stability and balance are defined as the body's ability to return the body back to its equilibrium point when exposed to a perturbation. This exploratory project is based on the hypotheses that decreased balance (increased sway as measured by the center of pressure of the body during quiet standing) causes an increased risk of falls and osteopathic manipulative treatment can improve postural balance. To test these hypotheses, the investigators will investigate the kinematics (study of the way the body moves) of postural balance in two cohorts of healthy elders, those receiving manipulation and those not receiving manipulation. We hypothesize that OMT is effective to increase postural stability, balance.

Full description

Postural stability and balance are defined as the body's ability to return the body back to its equilibrium point when exposed to a perturbation. This exploratory project is based on the hypotheses that decreased balance(increased sway as measured by the center of pressure of the body during quiet standing) causes an increased risk of falls and osteopathic manipulative treatment can improve postural balance. To test these ideas, the investigators will investigate the kinematics(study of the way the body moves)of postural balance in two cohorts of healthy elders, those receiving manipulation and those not receiving manipulation. We hypothesize that OMT is effective to increase postural stability, balance.

Specific Aims Aim 1: To measure balance in a cohort of healthy elders(age 65 and over)using a force plate to measure center of pressure in the Anterior/posterior and medial-lateral directions during quiet standing with the eyes open, with the eyes closed and during a Romberg test.

Aim 2: To evaluate the effectiveness of OMT to improve balance in a healthy elderly population. We will observe the progression of improvement in balance in one group who will receive OMT for four weeks compared to the other who will not receive OMT.

Aim 3: To examine any potential impact and efficacy of OMT on cardiac and circulatory responses by measuring blood flow and circulation.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 65 years ofage and older
• Healthy
• Male and Female

Exclusion criteria

• Self report of a condition that could impair balance, such as otoneurologic, musculoskeletal or neurological diseases.
• Under the age of 65

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group no intervention

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Osteopathic Manipulative medicine group

Treatment:

Other: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment