Osteopathic Manual Treatment for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain and Upper Extremity Function in Stroke Patients

This study will be using osteopathic manual therapy as the primary intervention. Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) is a hands-on treatment that is performed by a specially trained physician known as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). This treatment can be used to diagnose and treat somatic dysfunctions, which are palpable areas of tightness, misalignment, and/or restricted motion within the musculoskeletal system and its related vascular and neural structures. A combination of myofascial release, strain/counterstain, soft tissue, balanced ligamentous release, facilitated positional release and muscle energy techniques will be used for the OMT treatment.

The sham treatment will include a hands-on evaluation typically used to diagnose somatic dysfunctions, but no treatment will be performed. The sham treatment will assess the upper extremities/scapulae, ribs, cervical spine, thoracic spine, thoracic inlet, and occipital-atlantal regions.