The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
-
J Am Osteopath Assoc · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialPrevention of progressive back-specific dysfunction during pregnancy: an assessment of osteopathic manual treatment based on Cochrane Back Review Group criteria.
Back pain during pregnancy may be associated with deficits in physical functioning and disability. Research indicates that osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) slows the deterioration of back-specific functioning during pregnancy. ⋯ Osteopathic manual treatment has medium to large treatment effects in preventing progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy. The findings are potentially important with respect to direct health care expenditures and indirect costs of work disability during pregnancy.
-
J Am Osteopath Assoc · Oct 2013
Retrospective medical record review of an osteopathic manipulative medicine hospital consultation service.
In the first half of the 20th century, nearly all osteopathic physicians used osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) in the care of hospitalized patients. Over the past few decades, however, inpatient OMM care has declined and is more commonly provided by OMM specialists. ⋯ Medical records reviewed in the current study revealed that OMM consultations were ordered primarily for musculoskeletal complaints, respiratory problems (adjunctive treatment), and newborn care. A variety of OMT techniques were used. Further retrospective study is warranted to determine if OMM had an effect on LOS.
-
J Am Osteopath Assoc · Sep 2013
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyFrequency of serious outcomes in patients with hypertension as a chief complaint in the emergency department.
Hypertension is a common incidental finding in the emergency department (ED). However, the authors noticed a segment of patients who present to the ED specifically because their blood pressure is found to be elevated outside of the hospital. Emergency medicine physicians are often unsure of the level of intervention that is required for these patients. ⋯ Among patients presenting to the ED with a chief complaint of hypertension or high blood pressure and no serious associated complaint, the risk of serious outcome within 7 days is low.
-
Fibromyalgia is a common chronic syndrome defined by core symptoms of widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Other common symptoms include cognitive difficulty, headache, paresthesia, and morning stiffness. Fibromyalgia is increasingly understood as 1 of several disorders that are referred to as central sensitivity syndromes; these disorders share underlying causes and clinical features. ⋯ Newly proposed criteria, however, rely on patients' reports of widespread pain and other somatic symptoms to establish the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The management of fibromyalgia requires a multidimensional approach including patient education, cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, and pharmacologic therapy. The present review provides an update on these various aspects of treating a patient with fibromyalgia.
-
Chronic, nonmalignant pain is a substantial public health problem in the United States. Research over the past 2 decades has defined chronic pain by using a "biopsychosocial model" that considers a patient's biology and psychological makeup in the context of his or her social and cultural milieu. ⋯ Clinicians should be aware of assessment tools that may be used to evaluate the risk of opioid abuse. A basic understanding of chronic pain pathophysiology and a uniform approach to patient care can satisfy the needs of both patients and physicians.