The Effect of Osteopathic Manual Treatment on Concussion Injury Rehabilitation
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Abstract
Duplex-Doppler ultrasonography was used to identify changes in blood flow velocity and volume as a result of concussion; and the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, 5th Edition (SCAT5) was used to determine the effect of osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) on participant recovery. Ten healthy participants (mean age 24.70 yrs, n= 5 female) and thirteen symptomatic concussed participants (mean age 26.54 yrs, n= 7 female) were recruited and screened using a health questionnaire and the SCAT5. Significant differences between healthy versus concussed individuals for the SCAT5 total number of symptoms, t(15.51) = 3.11, p = .008, and SCAT5 symptom severity, t(13.15) = 3.33, p = .005 were found. There was a trend toward decreased cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) between healthy versus concussed individuals, t(21) = 1.41, p = 0.17. These results provide support that OMT may improve cerebral hemodynamics and decrease symptom burden and severity in a concussed population.