Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

NCT06570395 · Status: TERMINATED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 5

Last updated 2026-01-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) is a hands-on approach to treating conditions that affect all areas of the body. Physicians trained in OMT (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine or DO) use OMT to correct structural imbalances in the body, relieve pain, and improve circulation. Research shows that manual therapy is equally or more effective in treating pain and improving function versus oral analgesics (Bodine). OMT can decrease cost and improve function in patients with a minimal adverse effect profile. OMT applications include relieving asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sports-related injuries. In addition to the indications listed above, there is a growing body of research surrounding the use of OMT in pregnancy and its use in treatment and prevention of complications peripartum.

Research Question: Does OMT during the third trimester of pregnancy improve delivery outcomes including: decreased labor times, less utilization of analgesics, fewer incidences of meconium fluid and perineal lacerations, and reduced risk of conversion to c-section or operative vaginal delivery? Though all research has shown that OMT is safe in pregnancy, there has been conflicting data on its benefits during the peripartum period. Additional research is needed to show its utility in decreasing labor times and need for analgesics during labor and reducing incidence of adverse outcomes including perineal lacerations and conversion to c-section and operative vaginal delivery. The current study will add to the growing body of knowledge about OMT during pregnancy and its potential benefits outside of musculoskeletal pain relief.

Conditions

  • Pregnancy
  • Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) is a hands-on approach to treating conditions that affect all areas of the body. Physicians trained in OMT (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine or DO) use OMT to correct structural imbalances in the body, relieve pain, and improve circulation. It is not only used as a treatment modality, but also to diagnose and prevent disease and improve overall functioning. There are over 40 OMT techniques that all involve gentle manipulation of the muscles, soft tissues, and joints in several ways to optimize alignment, improve blood flow, restore balance, and improve range of motion ("Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy \& OMT." Cleveland Clinic).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Corewell Health South

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Max Schaefer, DO · Corewell Health South

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
34 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-07-16
Primary Completion
2025-12-29
Completion
2025-12-29

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06570395 on ClinicalTrials.gov