Asthma and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is a cost-effective, noninvasive treatment that is used to optimize the body's structure and function. By improving the biomechanical, autonomic, and circulatory mechanisms involved in the disease process of asthma, OMT can help maximize respiratory function. The specific OMT protocol used in this study included the following: supine OA joint myofascial release (MFR), supine cervical spine Still technique, supine thoracic inlet MFR, supine rib raising soft tissue, supine rib MFR, supine abdominal diaphragm MFR, seated thoracic spine Still technique, and seated posterior rib Still technique. Treatments were performed by Predoctoral Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Fellows at Des Moines University (DMU) and supervised and checked by one of two board-certified OMM/NMM physicians from the OMM Department at DMU. The treatment lasted an average of 21 minutes and repeated three times, spaced one week apart.