Lymphatic Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Protocol for Healthy Individuals: A Crossover Self-Controlled Clinical Trial
Western University of Health Sciences
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) enhances immune system readiness in healthy adults compared to exercise or sham light treatment. Specifically, the goal of this study is to assess circulating immune cells and signaling molecules in the blood in response to these various treatments. It aims to compare: Complete Blood Counts (CBC) and blood immune signaling molecule levels in healthy adults in response to OMT, sham light touch, and exercise, with measurements taken at multiple time points. Researchers will compare immune blood cells and signaling molecules in response to OMT versus sham light touch and exercise within the same group of healthy adults measured at three time points for each of the three total visits. Participants will do a 15-minute OMT session, a 15-minute light sham session, or a 15-minute exercise session at each of their three separate visits (they will do one of each over the course of their 3 appointments in random order). They will have three blood draws taken at each of those three visits. They will also fill out a Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) survey to assess their level of physical activity throughout the study.
Description
This clinical trial is a follow-up on a recent trial demonstrating an enhanced immune response in participants who received lymphatic osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) with each of their COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations. Similar immune enhancement was observed in a pilot study with OMT in conjunction with the Hepatitis B vaccine. Additionally, animal studies have shown that lymphatic pump OMT can cause transient increases in the movement of lymphatic fluid, immune cells, and signaling molecules throughout the body and bloodstream. These findings were further supported by in vitro studies on f…