POSTURAL AND AUTONOMIC MODIFICATIONS FOLLOWING OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT (OMT): COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO TECHNIQUES. A PILOT STUDY

FABIO SCOPPA, DO, PHD^1,2, ALESSIO PIRINO, MD³, GABRIELE BELLONI, DPT^1,2, MICHELE GALLAMINI, ENG.⁴, GIUSEPPE MESSINA, MD^5*, ANGELO IOVANE, MD⁵

¹Master’s Degree Course in Posturology, Faculty of Medicine and Dental Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy - ²Chinesis I.F.O.P. Osteopathy School, Rome, Italy - ³Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Italy - ⁴Medical Devices Engineer - Freelance Researcher, Italy - ⁵Department of Psychology, Pedagogical and Educational Science, University of Palermo, Italy

Objective: With reference to OMT principles consistent mention is made of the capability of stimulating Autonomic Responses through both Ortho- and Para-Sympathetic channels. Several studies have been performed to demonstrate this kind of interaction. The purpose of this pilot study was twofold: 1) Compare different OMTs that supposedly interact either with Ortho- or Para- Sympathetic branches of the Autonomic System; 2) Ascertain whether there is a relationship between Autonomic Balance and Quiet Upright Stance Balance.

Results: A Sample of 51 young healthy students underwent to a series of four assessment tests for both functions over a 5 hr period.

Conclusion: The time plot of the main parameters afforded by the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Instrumental Assessment and by the Romberg Test performed on a Force Platform actually confirmed that different OMTs challenge different Autonomic compo- nents and can achieve different responses in quiet upright stance balance control.