New Research

OMT significantly affects cellular processes, researchers find

In vitro studies reviewed in the JAOA found that OMT can reduce inflammation and promote wound healing in fascial cells.

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In vitro studies of the cellular effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) provide proof of concept for two common OMT techniques, myofascial release and counterstrain, according to a new review published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

Researchers from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix reviewed studies in which fibroblasts, which are common fascial cells, were subjected to various strains to test the ability of OMT to impact wound healing.

Data from multiple studies conclusively showed that OMT techniques had profound and potentially clinically significant effects on several cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis and cytokine production. Also, different biomechanical strain direction resulted in differential effects on cell growth, morphology and interleukin-6 secretion. These effects show that fibroblast morphology and cellular proliferation are affected by strain direction.

“Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which [myofascial release] and other OMT modalities work would likely help define the underpinnings of their clinical efficacies and perhaps propel them into evidence-based, first-line therapies,” wrote the lead author, Paul R. Standley, PhD, in the review. If OMT becomes a more common therapy, Dr. Standley noted, it would likely be more widely covered by insurers and thus accessible to more patients.

The studies further found that fibroblasts responded to various strains differently by changing cellular morphology, proliferation, and cytokine and nitric oxide secretions. These findings illustrate OMT’s potential to reduce inflammation and promote wound healing in patients.

“Controlled human studies of OMT techniques, in prescribed combinations like those used to evaluate pharmaceuticals, is a logical next step in explaining the science behind OMT,” says Lisa M. Hodge, PhD, who recently studied the efficacy of OMT on antibiotic effectiveness.

2 comments

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