So basically, I had used my words very carefully when I stated the trails have demonstrated the efficacy of OMT in pediatric patients presenting with otitis media. I never made a claim that OMT would solely
cure the infection; furthermore, I would NEVER claim that OMT is solely indicated in any of the conditions that you describe above; infact there are a few up there in which certain procedures should never be used. Although OMT specialists have found somatic "lesions" if you will which correlate to those conditions, I don't think any one of them will claim that OMT will
cure such diseases. So if a chiropractor claims that he is going to magically cure patients with said conditions, he infact is a "quack". However, DOs (also defined as Medical Doctors), do not make such claims so I hope that clears up that concern.
I can argue, however, that patients presenting with acute ear infections do have lymphatic back up and by facilitating the clearance of the lymph fluid, you could conceivably shorten the course of infection for the patient. Of course, to supplement this type of a treatment, it would only make sense to prescribe augmentin or amoxicillin to the patient as well. However, monotherapy with either treatments may lead to an extended course of infection while combination therapy (Rx + OMT) has been shown to shorten the duration of disease. (I've attached some literature)
Lastly, DOs and MDs are alike in that they are FULL PHYSICIANS who can practice everything from prescribing medications to performing surgery. Chriopractors are not, so to put DOs in a catagory between chriporactors and allopathic physicians is incorrect.
Not all DOs practice OMT as it depends on their scope of practice. For example, a neurosurgeon will almost never use any of his OMT background during his routine scope of practice and neither will a psychiatrist; however if a DO is in family practice or internal medicine may be more apt to performing OMT on patients presenting with musculoskeletal complaints. No osteopathic physician will ever claim OMT as a "cure all" remedy but may often use it in adjuvant with conventional pharmacotherapy where it applies. This is why MDs and DOs who need refreshers can take workshops offered by Harvard Medical School to learn OMT. I do not believe that this option is offered for physicians to learn chiropractic manipulation. Thank you for your inquiries and should you have any other queries - go to
www.osteopathic.org and some of your misconceptions may be cleared up there.
Here is a study to help backup some of my statements.
The Use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as Adjuvant Therapy in Children With Recurrent Acute Otitis Media
Miriam V. Mills, MD; Charles E. Henley, DO, MPH; Laura L. B. Barnes, PhD; Jane E. Carreiro, DO; Brian F. Degenhardt, DO
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157:861-866.
Objective To study effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment as an adjuvant therapy to routine pediatric care in children with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM).
Study Design Patients 6 months to 6 years old with 3 episodes of AOM in the previous 6 months, or 4 in the previous year, who were not already surgical candidates were placed randomly into 2 groups: one receiving routine pediatric care, the other receiving routine care plus osteopathic manipulative treatment. Both groups received an equal number of study encounters to monitor behavior and obtain tympanograms. Clinical status was monitored with review of pediatric records. The pediatrician was blinded to patient group and study outcomes, and the osteopathic physician was blinded to patient clinical course.
Main Outcome Measures We monitored frequency of episodes of AOM, antibiotic use, surgical interventions, various behaviors, and tympanometric and audiometric performance.
Results A total of 57 patients, 25 intervention patients and 32 control patients, met criteria and completed the study. Adjusting for the baseline frequency before study entry, intervention patients had fewer episodes of AOM (mean group difference per month, -0.14 [95% confidence interval, -0.27 to 0.00]; P = .04), fewer surgical procedures (intervention patients, 1; control patients, 8; P = .03), and more mean surgery-free months (intervention patients, 6.00; control patients, 5.25; P = .01). Baseline and final tympanograms obtained by the audiologist showed an increased frequency of more normal tympanogram types in the intervention group, with an adjusted mean group difference of 0.55 (95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 1.02; P = .02). No adverse reactions were reported.
Conclusions The results of this study suggest a potential benefit of osteopathic manipulative treatment as adjuvant therapy in children with recurrent AOM; it may prevent or decrease surgical intervention or antibiotic overuse.
Osteopathic Manipulation to Prevent Otitis MediaDoes It Work?
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157:852-853.
ALTERNATIVE AND complimentary therapies for acute otitis media (AOM) are of growing interest to physicians and parents. Osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) is a frequently used alternative therapy for AOM among practitioners trained and skilled in the technique. In this issue of ARCHIVES, Mills et al1 introduce the allopathic community to the modalities applied by osteopathic physicians as treatment for AOM and their effect on outcomes. Using a randomized controlled trial design, the investigators looked for differences in frequency of AOM episodes, surgical procedures with tympanostomy tubes, and surgery-free months. Among children prone to having AOM who received OMT vs control subjects across 6 months of intervention, small but statistically significant differences were found favoring OMT.