Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Improves Functional Gait Performance in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

D’Agate, D.; Areman, RD.; Fazzini, EA.; Giantinoto, S.; Wells, M.; Bosak,A.The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association1997 Aug; 97(8): 485

ABSTRACT: The primary objective of this study is to quantitatively evaluate osteopathic manipulative treatment on the functional activity of Parkinson’s patients. Parkinson’s patients experience varying degrees of bradykinesia, limb rigidity, and postural instability that causes the classic Parkinson’s gait. Ten patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and ten normal, age-matched controls were subjected to an objective biomechanical analysis of their gait prior to and immediately after a single session of osteopathic manipulative treatment. Quantified parameters of gait were compared within subjects before and after the single session. The biomechanical analysis was performed using a computerized 2-dimensional sagittal gait analysis (Peak Technologies Inc.). Patients were off their Parkinson’s medications for 12 hours prior to treatment and testing. The osteopathic treatment consisted of 14 primary muscle energy and articulatory techniques applied to the joints and musculature of the upper and lower limbs, trunk and spinal column. Statistically significant increase were observed in stride length (p<0.021), cadence (p<0.018), and the maximum velocities of upper and lower extremities (p<0.05 criteria). In the control group of normal subjects, no statistically significant differences or trends in the various parameters of gait were evident compared to the pretreatment values. The preliminary data strongly indicate that a significant improvement in function is seen in Parkinson's patients after a single session of osteopathic manipulative treatment.

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