Effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Bio Electro-Magnetic Regulation Therapy on Neck Pain in Adults

Summary

Neck pain is a common ailment in the United States. Although there are several different treatments and approaches to help individuals with neck pain, the number affected by this condition has been steadily increasing.

OMT has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of neck pain. In fact, the use of OMT has been shown to increase mobility of the myofascial tissues, visceral motion and decrease pain in patients with neck pain. Bio Electro-Magnetic Regulation (BEMER) Therapy is a therapeutic modality that deploys a biorhythmically defined stimulus through a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF), which leads to an increase in blood flow. The positive effects of BEMER on the circulation has been shown to result in significant increases in arteriovenous oxygen difference, number of open capillaries, arteriolar and venular flow volume, and flow rate of red blood cells in the microvasculature. Therefore, BEMER can potentially be used in the treatment of neck pain by improving microcirculation in muscular tissue. Therefore, it is possible that the combination of OMT and BEMER therapy may provide additive effects in reducing neck pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the individual and combined effects of OMT and BEMER therapy on neck pain in adults.

Conditions

• Neck Pain

Interventions

DEVICE

BEMER

Bio-Electro-Magnetic Energy Regulation (BEMER) is an emerging therapeutic modality that deploys a biorhythmically defined stimulus through a pulsed electromagnetic field and has been shown to reduce musculoskeletal pain.

PROCEDURE

OMT

Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) is a form of manual therapy utilized by osteopathic physicians and some allopathic physicians to treat a broad variety of musculoskeletal ailments, including neck pain.

PROCEDURE

Sham OMT + Sham BEMER

Participants in the CONTROL group received light touch and BEMER sham treatments. Researchers placed their hands lightly on the subject's cervical paraspinal muscles in the supine position and on the upper thoracic paraspinal muscles in the prone position for approximately 5 minutes. This was done to mimic myofascial release techniques; however, no pressure or action was done. In addition, the subject's laid supine on the BEMER mat (as they would do during a BEMER session), but the device was not activated.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Santiago Lorenzo, PhD, MS · Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-09-17

Primary Completion

2022-02-16

Completion

2022-02-16

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations