A Comparison of Selected Osteopathic Treatment and Relaxation for Tension–Type Headaches 

Published Dec 20, 2011
Rosemary E. Anderson, BSc.PT, DO(MP): Caryn Seniscal, RMT, DO(MP)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of osteopathic treatment and progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) exercises on patients with tension-type headache (TTH).
BACKGROUND: Relaxation is generally accepted as a treatment for TTH. Osteopathy is considered by some practitioners to be useful for headache management but there is limited scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness. This study compares relaxation and relaxation plus selected osteopathic techniques in the treatment of people with TTH.
DESIGN: This was a single-blind, randomized, clinical study using an experimental design. Twenty-nine patients with TTH according to the International Headache Classification Subcommittee, 2004, were recruited for this study and randomly placed in either a control or experimental group. Both groups practiced PMR exercises at home while the experimental group also received 3 osteopathic treatments.
METHOD: All participants recorded headache frequency and intensity in a headache diary (HD) for 2 weeks pretreatment, and continued recording during the treatment period until reassessment for a total of 6 to 7 weeks. All tests of significance were set at P</= .05.
RESULTS: Twenty-six people completed the study. Results indicated that the number of Headache Free Days Per Week was significantly improved (P= .016) in the experimental group. Two other measures, the Headache Degree of Improvement (P= .075) and the HD rating (P= .059), which combine headache frequency and intensity, did not meet our criteria for statistical significance but both scores are <.10 indicating a trend toward improvement in the experimental group that is clinically significant. The HD Rating also showed that the experimental group improved 57.5%, while the control group improved 15.6%. The intensity of headache did not show a significant improvement (P= .264).
CONCLUSION: The people in this study who did relaxation exercises and received 3 osteopathy treatments had significantly more days per week without headache than those who did only relaxation exercises.

Attachments: 
application/pdf iconHeadache. 2006 Sep 46(8) 1273-80.pdf

Osteopathy: The Structure of Your Body’s Pain 

Published Oct 19, 2011
Written by Deirdre Byrne and Caryn Seniscal, published on freshvancouver.com

The source of your symptoms may not be what you think

The word osteopathy originates from the two Greek words “osteone,” which means structure, and “pathos,” which means pain. Osteopathic treatment is based on the concept that the structure of the body affects how it will function and that it functions as a unified whole. In other words, if there is a problem or restriction in one part of the body, then all the other parts are affected in some way and often there is pain. Osteopathy uses gentle, manual techniques to release these restrictions so normal function can ensue and the pain is decreased or eliminated.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still developed the concept of osteopathy. Discouraged with conventional medicine in 1864 after he lost four of his children to disease, he searched for a drugless, hands-on approach to medicine, which he named osteopathy.