The theoretical applications of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in the pulmonary system have been well described,
4 but to our knowledge OMT has not been studied as treatment for patients with CF. Studies investigating the use of OMT in other pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and asthma, have been published, with varying results. For example, a study
5 published in 2008 revealed that an OMT protocol led to a decrease in forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of vital capacity effort (FEF
25%-75%), expiratory reserve volume, and airway resistance in a group of 35 elderly patients with COPD. The authors also found an increase in residual volume and total lung capacity in the treatment group, suggesting air trapping. Another study
6 of 20 patients with severe, stable COPD demonstrated improved exercise capacity (measured using a 6-minute walking test) in patients who received OMT compared with that of patients who received standard pulmonary rehabilitation only. Noll et al
7 reported shorter duration of intravenous antibiotics and hospital stays among elderly patients hospitalized with pneumonia who received OMT (n=28) compared with those who received sham therapy (n=30). The Multicenter Osteopathic Pneumonia Study in the Elderly
8 revealed shorter duration of intravenous antibiotics, shorter length of stay, and fewer deaths and respiratory failures in patients who received OMT compared with those who received conventional inpatient treatment only. Finally, a recent systematic review
9 of the literature revealed that there was a lack of rigorous, well-designed reported trials on OMT for pediatric conditions (including asthma, bronchiolitis, and sleep apnea).