Current Clinical Status of Osteopathy: Study Based on Retrospective Evidences of Six Years, A Systemic Review

Background: Osteopathy is widely used as an alternative, manual and drug-free system for treating various non-specific low back pains and musculoskeletal disorders throughout the world. However, the clinical effects of osteopathy are still debatable.

Aims: This particular study is aimed to focus the most up-to-date and current clinical trials in osteopathy and to compare its effectiveness in treating various musculoskeletal and low back pain conditions in which various challenges and negative evaluations are witnessed from various researchers and authors.

Materials and Methods: Literatures are investigated from 2012-2017. All the articles, with clinically trialed human subjects, were searched from the available data bases of Google scholar, Scopus, Springer Link, science direct and Sci Finder etc. by using the keywords randomly. For e.g.-Osteopathy cases, Clinical trials about osteopathy, Clinical status of osteopathy, Randomized controlled trials, Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), Clinical evidences in osteopathy and osteopathic treatment in diseases etc. are the following key words of search.

Results: 36 clinical trials were found, where different osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT) were applied for the patients’ treatment. The clinical trials were complained mostly with suffering of pain due to non-specific conditions such as, musculoskeletal disorders, lower back pain, migraine, cystic fibrosis and irritable bowel syndrome, amongst the patients like pregnant women, children, young and old people women with urinary tract infections, ectopic pregnancies, and stress. The overall outcome for these clinical trials was effective and positive that improve the patients’ conditions.

Conclusion: An improvement in osteopathy curricula, training programs, residential training venture, as well as patient-centered-treatment can enhance osteopathy healthcare zone.