Osteopathic Manipulation, Pregnancy and Muscle Pain

This study attempts to identify and quantify, how the maternal structure compensates and adapts to the growth and development of the fetus using an Osteopathic approach. The oral exam and Osteopathic Manipulation were used in addition to routine prenatal care. Hollister Maternal Newborn Standardized forms and specifically designed forms quantified subjective and objective data regarding maternal compensation. Parameters included lumbar lordosis, presence of pain associated with pregnancy, location and intensity of pain. Pregnant women who attended the Obstetrics clinic of Chicago Osteopathic Hospital were randomly asked to participate in the study.

Seventy subject visits (40 subjects) in which structural data was obtained, and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment was employed, identified a number of areas where Osteopathic concepts play an integral part in the care of the obstetrical patient. It was found that the concerns and needs of the patient were not addressed when Osteopathic concepts were not applied. Some of these concepts include iliciting specific information about pain and the pregnancy, identifying when it occurs, and how the pain is relieved. By treating these areas of pain using manipulaition, patients documented a decrease in their discomfort .

Data on the structural exams and standard data obtained from the medical records have shown a wider scatter than expected in terms of pain associated with Pregnancy, location of pain, reproducibility of pain, interpretation of pain, the desire to alleviate pain, and its effect on the pregnancy and the patients activities of daily living. Data has also shown that the typical maternal structural changes with pregnancy may not be as universal as previously thought. Using the bubble inclinometer to ascertain the lumbar angle has not proven to show that lumbar lordosis necessarily increase with advanced pregnancy.
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Osteopathic manipulation to treat musculoskeletal pain associated with pregnancy. RE Brady, MSIV, J Rottman, DO, R Kappler, DO, E Veith, PA Fortieth Annual AOA Research Conference Abstracts, 1996