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
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 protocol was evaluated by assessing the retention, adherence, acceptability, safety, and blinding concealment rates and carrying out a power analysis. Secondarily, we investigated diagnostic correlations between pain ratings, palpatory findings, and skin temperature in spinal segments and therapeutic effects of osteopathic and sham spine manipulations … ABSTRACT