Location

Suwanee, GA

Start Date

6-5-2025 1:00 PM

End Date

6-5-2025 4:00 PM

Description

Introduction:

We review some of the epidemiologic and genetic aspects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) while highlighting the benefits of an osteopathic approach to relieving symptoms and psychological distress in MS and similar disease states.

We focus on the efficacy of current PT/rehabilitation therapies versus Osteopathic Manipulative Therapies for selected symptoms in patients with MS, including changes in mood, motor functions, fatigue, vertigo, sleep, and chronic pain.

Living with MS is extremely expensive, ranging from an average per-person per-year cost of $65,612 for direct medical costs and an average of $18,542 for indirect costs/non-medical costs (Bebo et al., 2022). This study can be used to expand the utility of Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy to potentially serve as a quick, easy, and cost-effective adjunct therapy to alleviate symptom burden while reducing reliance on medications solely targeted for symptom management in patients living with MS.

Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted to review MS, OMT, and physical therapy/ rehabilitation therapy, as well as therapies used in other neurological conditions that may be applied to MS patients

  • Databases searched: PubMed, Clinical Key, De Gruyter, Google Scholar, Elsevier

  • Search terms (in combinations): multiple sclerosis, neurologic disease, OMT, Physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, manual therapy, multiple sclerosis specific [symptom(s)]

  • Inclusion criteria were set wide due to limited research on the effectiveness of OMT and rehabilitation therapy in MS and other neurological diseases.

    • MS type: progressive and relapsing-remitting

    • Study designs: RCT, experimental, Reviews, one case report, international studies

    • Outcome measures: short- and long-term outcomes of OMT and physical therapy

    • Exclusion criteria: publications prior to 2000, publications not published in a peer-reviewed journal

Results:

  • Mood: PT (aerobic exercise and gait training but not clinical Pilates) had a significant improvement in mood, while all OMT studies showed significant improvements.

  • Motor functions: PT had a significant improvement in balance, mobility, and walkability but not spasticity. OMT had significant improvements in all categories in addition to weakness.

  • Fatigue: Both PT and OMT had significant improvements in fatigue.

  • Vertigo: There were specific maneuvers in PT for vertigo proven to be successful. OMT was found to be supportive but not proven to treat

  • Sleep: There are data supporting PT, however, evidence was mixed for OMT

  • Chronic pain: Both OMT and PT are helpful for chronic pain, however, more evidence supports OMT

Discussion:

  • The use of OMT as a complementary and alternative medicine to target symptomatic relief and enhance quality of life in all aspects for patients with MS is underexplored but shows promising data that it has a significant effect.

  • Potential Limitations: Not everyone is trained in Osteopathy, which limits access to OMT; various trials have fewer participants, and the power is not great.

  • Work must continue to unfold the inner workings of MS so that patients may have the best chance at slowing their progression, understanding how their disease developed, and having symptomatic relief.

Embargo Period

5-28-2025

Comments

Presented by Daniel Dolinski and Sierra Hudson

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May 6th, 1:00 PM May 6th, 4:00 PM

Effectiveness of osteopathic manipulation therapies vs PT/rehabilitation therapies on multiple sclerosis symptoms

Suwanee, GA

Introduction:

We review some of the epidemiologic and genetic aspects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) while highlighting the benefits of an osteopathic approach to relieving symptoms and psychological distress in MS and similar disease states.

We focus on the efficacy of current PT/rehabilitation therapies versus Osteopathic Manipulative Therapies for selected symptoms in patients with MS, including changes in mood, motor functions, fatigue, vertigo, sleep, and chronic pain.

Living with MS is extremely expensive, ranging from an average per-person per-year cost of $65,612 for direct medical costs and an average of $18,542 for indirect costs/non-medical costs (Bebo et al., 2022). This study can be used to expand the utility of Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy to potentially serve as a quick, easy, and cost-effective adjunct therapy to alleviate symptom burden while reducing reliance on medications solely targeted for symptom management in patients living with MS.

Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted to review MS, OMT, and physical therapy/ rehabilitation therapy, as well as therapies used in other neurological conditions that may be applied to MS patients

  • Databases searched: PubMed, Clinical Key, De Gruyter, Google Scholar, Elsevier

  • Search terms (in combinations): multiple sclerosis, neurologic disease, OMT, Physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, manual therapy, multiple sclerosis specific [symptom(s)]

  • Inclusion criteria were set wide due to limited research on the effectiveness of OMT and rehabilitation therapy in MS and other neurological diseases.

    • MS type: progressive and relapsing-remitting

    • Study designs: RCT, experimental, Reviews, one case report, international studies

    • Outcome measures: short- and long-term outcomes of OMT and physical therapy

    • Exclusion criteria: publications prior to 2000, publications not published in a peer-reviewed journal

Results:

  • Mood: PT (aerobic exercise and gait training but not clinical Pilates) had a significant improvement in mood, while all OMT studies showed significant improvements.

  • Motor functions: PT had a significant improvement in balance, mobility, and walkability but not spasticity. OMT had significant improvements in all categories in addition to weakness.

  • Fatigue: Both PT and OMT had significant improvements in fatigue.

  • Vertigo: There were specific maneuvers in PT for vertigo proven to be successful. OMT was found to be supportive but not proven to treat

  • Sleep: There are data supporting PT, however, evidence was mixed for OMT

  • Chronic pain: Both OMT and PT are helpful for chronic pain, however, more evidence supports OMT

Discussion:

  • The use of OMT as a complementary and alternative medicine to target symptomatic relief and enhance quality of life in all aspects for patients with MS is underexplored but shows promising data that it has a significant effect.

  • Potential Limitations: Not everyone is trained in Osteopathy, which limits access to OMT; various trials have fewer participants, and the power is not great.

  • Work must continue to unfold the inner workings of MS so that patients may have the best chance at slowing their progression, understanding how their disease developed, and having symptomatic relief.