Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in Pregnancy: Physiologic and Clinical Effects

OMT is a complementary and alternative body-based treatment method in which the patient is evaluated and treated including the musculoskeletal system to improve physiologic functioning and remove impediments to optimal health and functioning.

In addition to controlling for physician attention during the treatment visit, the SUT used a nonfunctional ultrasound therapy unit that was modified for research purposes to provide both visible and auditory cues that could potentially elicit a placebo response. The physician provided the SUT by placing the applicator head over the subject's clothing and applying sufficient pressure for tactile stimulation of the skin and underlying tissues in the same anatomical distributions as would generally be addressed if the subject were being treated with OMT. The subjects assigned to the UOBC only group did not receive any study treatments beyond conventional obstetrical care; however, they were expected to complete data collection forms on the same schedule as all other trial subjects.