Study of the Effectiveness of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Pregnant Women

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Conditions

Pregnancy Complications

Musculoskeletal Diseases

Low Back Pain

Treatments

Procedure: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00298935

20-102

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT):

decreases pain and improves physical functioning in women during the third trimester of pregnancy
decreases complications during obstetrical delivery
improves quality of life in the post-partum period

Full description

Women experience multiple changes in their anatomy and physiology during pregnancy that may cause pain and adversely affect quality of life. Additionally, about ten percent of women will experience signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia or pre-term labor during their first pregnancy.

Preliminary studies of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) have demonstrated a decrease in pain during pregnancy, although the mechanisms responsible for this effect are unclear.

Another theory is that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may help normalize sympathetic outflow, thereby minimizing pregnancy complications. A recently published retrospective study also suggests that pregnant women receiving osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may be at lower risk for pre-term delivery and the presence of meconium during delivery.

Sex

Female

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Third trimester pregnancy

Exclusion criteria

High risk pregnancy
Previous use of chiropractic manipulation, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), physical therapy, or therapeutic ultrasound during the current pregnancy