Osteopathy in Diseases Classified Elsewhere

The objectives of this research are to determine the treatment effect size of OMM to wean patients off of the ventilator, determine the number of patients needed for a larger study (power), determine the willingness of patients/POAs to be recruited, identify the correct dosing of OMM and whether there are concerns for the safety of treatment, and determine whether the hypothesis is feasible for a larger study. The primary outcome measure is the duration of time until a subject is weaned off of mechanical ventilation using Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM). The secondary outcome measures (see the next section for further explanation) are to determine if OMM affects changes in morbidity and mortality, such as VBG/ABG, NIF, RSBI, P 0.1, FiO2, PEEP, mental status, hemodynamic stability (blood pressure), spontaneous TV, reintubation after extubation, and death.

One of the most common post-operative complications of gynaecological surgery, and in particular endometriosis surgery, is the formation of peritoneal adhesions. After laparotomy, it affects up to 90% of patients. Minimally invasive techniques (such as laparoscopy) reduce the risk of adhesion formation, but cannot totally prevent it. Adhesions can lead to chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, digestive disorders and infertility. Various strategies and devices have been developed to try and limit adhesion formation, but their effectiveness has not been fully proven in the literature. The only real treatment for adhesions is adhesiolysis, although adhesions often reform. The quality of surgery remains the best means of preventing adhesion formation. To reduce the morbidity associated with pelvic adhesions, it is essential to develop alternative, non-invasive, anti-adhesive methods such as manual osteopathic visceral mobilization.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects that Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine has on lower extremity muscle characteristics in PD. Muscle stiffness, range of motion, and gait will be measured. Participants will be asked to attend one in person session at the NYIT Academic Health Care Center. Participants will be randomly assigned to a control or experimental group. After a visit with the treating physician, both groups will have muscle stiffness tested using a myotonometry meter via a MyotonPRO device, gait measured while walking on a treadmill for 2 minutes before and after treatment, and range of motion tested using a goniometer. One week after the visit, participants will be asked to complete a brief survey over the phone with one of the study investigators.