Osteopathy Research
Listed below is a range of research relating to Osteopathy. Studies vary in size and findings. Ongoing larger scale research is required in many areas to support Osteopathic treatments. Please use this information as a guide only and not as a guarantee to the benefits of Osteopathic treatment for your condition. Please contact us should you have any questions regarding this.
- Osteopathy Australia has a large list of research and evidence listed by area/condition. Please click here to view.
- Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report
Gert Bronfort, Mitch Haas, Roni Evans, Brent Leininger, Jay Triano
Published on PubMed
Spinal manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for: acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain; migraine and cervicogenic headache; cervicogenic dizziness; manipulation/mobilization is effective for several extremity joint conditions; and thoracic manipulation/mobilization is effective for acute/subacute neck pain.
Following a review (by the UK government’s independent Advertising Standards Authority of the Bronfort et al Review in 2010) they accept that Osteopaths may claim to help a variety of medical conditions, including:
- generalised aches and pains
- joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise
- arthritic pain
- general, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
- uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
- headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) / migraine prevention
- frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences
- circulatory problems
- cramp
- digestion problems
- joint pains, lumbago
- sciatica
- muscle spasms
- neuralgia
- fibromyalgia
- inability to relax
- rheumatic pain
- minor sports injuries and tensions.
Below is a link to the Acupuncture Evidence Project: Plain English Summary
Acupuncture-Evidence_plain-English-Web-version_Reissued_28_Nov
