Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
NCT Number: NCT06570395
Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
Conditions: Pregnancy|Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
Interventions: PROCEDURE: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
Sponsor: Spectrum Health - Lakeland
Sex: FEMALE
Age: ADULT
Enrollment: 50
Study Design: Observational Model: |Time Perspective: p
Start Date: 2024-07-16
Completion Date: 2025-12-31
Locations: Corewell Health Lakeland, Saint Joseph, Michigan, 49085, United States

Summary:
Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) is a hands-on approach to treating conditions that affect all areas of the body. Physicians trained in OMT (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine or DO) use OMT to correct structural imbalances in the body, relieve pain, and improve circulation. Research shows that manual therapy is equally or more effective in treating pain and improving function versus oral analgesics (Bodine). OMT can decrease cost and improve function in patients with a minimal adverse effect profile. OMT applications include relieving asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sports-related injuries. In addition to the indications listed above, there is a growing body of research surrounding the use of OMT in pregnancy and its use in treatment and prevention of complications peripartum.

Research Question: Does OMT during the third trimester of pregnancy improve delivery outcomes including: decreased labor times, less utilization of analgesics, fewer incidences of meconium fluid and perineal lacerations, and reduced risk of conversion to c-section or operative vaginal delivery? Though all research has shown that OMT is safe in pregnancy, there has been conflicting data on its benefits during the peripartum period. Additional research is needed to show its utility in decreasing labor times and need for analgesics during labor and reducing incidence of adverse outcomes including perineal lacerations and conversion to c-section and operative vaginal delivery. The current study will add to the growing body of knowledge about OMT during pregnancy and its potential benefits outside of musculoskeletal pain relief.

Primary Outcome Measures: Labor duration, Does OMT in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy shorten duration of labor? The investigators will compare a control group to a group who received OMT., Upon delivery
Secondary Outcome Measures: Number of patients with analgesic use during labor, Does OMT in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy reduce the use of analgesic during labor? The investigators will compare a control group to a group who received OMT., Upon delivery|Degree of perineal laceration during labor, Does OMT in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy reduce the extent of perineal laceration during labor? The investigators will compare a control group to a group who received OMT., Upon delivery|Number of patients with meconium fluid upon delivery, Does OMT in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy reduce the presence of meconium fluid upon delivery? The investigators will compare a control group to a group who received OMT., Upon delivery|Number of patients who underwent operative vaginal delivery, Does OMT in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy reduce number of patients who undergo operative vaginal delivery? The investigators will compare a control group to a group who received OMT., Upon delivery|Number of patients who were converted to c-section, Does OMT in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy reduce number of patients who converted to C-section during delivery? The investigators will compare a control group to a group who received OMT., Upon delivery