News update – Page 4 – COME collaboration

Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment of the spine in patients with chronic back pain through the lens of medical infrared thermography: A randomised controlled pilot study

6 May 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Chronic back pain conditions are highly prevalent worldwide. Osteopathic treatment seems to improve pain and function in this population. However, the mechanisms underlying osteopathic diagnosis and treatment of the spine are mainly unknown. Arguably, both inflammatory and autonomic processes may be involved, which should entail changes in skin temperature. Primarily, the feasibility of the study […]

Guidance strategies for infantile asymmetry prevention: a systematic review

6 May 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Infantile asymmetries of posture, movement and/or shape are common. Coincidence in the presentation of asymmetrical features can lead to a broad spectrum of descriptors. Published guidelines on prevention strategies are not currently available. The objective of this systematic review was to find, evaluate, and synthesise the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of prevention strategies for […]

On the Affectivity of Touch: Enacting Bodies in Dutch Osteopathy

6 May 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Osteopathy is a complementary treatment method that targets motor restrictions and enhances motility through touch. While recent studies have explored the functions, dimensions, and effects of touch in osteopathy, there is a lack of research on how touch renders bodies intelligible – or what bodies, for that matter. In this article, we use the verb […]

The mechanisms of manual therapy: A living review of systematic, narrative, and scoping reviews

28 March 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Treatment mechanisms are the underlying process or pathway through which a treatment influences the body. This includes molecular, cellular and physiological processes or pathways contributing to treatment effect. Manual therapy (MT) evokes complex mechanistic responses across body systems, interacting with the individual patient and context to promote a treatment response. Challenges arise as mechanistic studies […]

Analgesic effects of non- surgical and non- interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta- analysis of placebo- controlled randomised trials

28 March 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

The objectives of this systematic re new and meta-analysis is to investigate the efficacy of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for adults with low back pain compared with placebo … MORE

Neuromuscular Response to High-Velocity, Low-AmplitudeSpinal Manipulation—An Overview

11 March 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

The clinical use of spinal manipulation to treat musculoskeletal conditions has nearly tripled in the United States since 1980, and it is currently recommended by most global clinical guidelines as a conservative treatment for musculoskeletal pain, despite a lack of knowledge concerning its mechanisms of action. This overview highlights evidence of direct neuromuscular responses to […]

Indigenous Epistemological Frameworks and Evidence-Informed Approaches to Consciousness and Body Representations in Osteopathic Care: A Call for Academic Engagement

11 March 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Indigenous perspectives, which emphasize non-materialistic dimensions of healing, such as the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit, align with one foundational principle of osteopathic care. Integrating these perspectives into person-centered care may enhance therapeutic effectiveness by accommodating diverse understandings of health and well-being. This perspective paper explores how various epistemological frameworks, including Indigenous non-materialistic […]

Autonomic correlates of osteopathic manipulative treatment on facial functional mapping: an innovative approach based on thermal imaging

8 March 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has shown efficacy in various clinical conditions and age groups. Understanding its neurobiological, particularly autonomic, mechanisms of action remain limited. Preliminary studies suggested a parasympathetic effect of OMT, evidenced by heart-rate-variability analysis. A cross-over RCT on healthy adults was conducted to compare OMT with sham therapy. Thirty-seven participants underwent two sessions […]

Insights into how manual therapists incorporate the biopsychosocial-enactive model in the care of individuals with CLBP: a qualitative study

18 February 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) presents a significant challenge for manual therapists. Recent advancements in pain research have highlighted the limitations of the traditional biomedical and biopsychosocial models, prompting the exploration of alternatives. The biopsychosocial-enactive (BPS-E) model has emerged as a promising alternative. This study aims to explore the application of the BPS-E model by […]

Prevalence and profile of New Zealand osteopaths treating people experiencing headaches and migraines

17 February 2025 | By Patrick van Dun | 0 Comments

Manual and manipulative therapy interventions are commonly sought by individuals experiencing headaches or migraines. Evidence supports the use of manual therapy as part of the management of headache and migraine disorders. Osteopaths are health professionals who provide care for individuals experiencing headaches and migraines. However, there is a lack of data concerning the profile of […]