title: Pregnancy Research on Osteopathic Manipulation Optimizing Treatment Effects: the PROMOTE study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to reduce low back pain and improve functioning during the third trimester in pregnancy and to improve selected outcomes of labor and delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancy research on osteopathic manipulation optimizing treatment effects was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 400 women in their third trimester. Women were assigned randomly to usual care only (UCO), usual care plus OMT (OMT), or usual care plus placebo ultrasound treatment (PUT). The study included 7 treatments over 9 weeks. The OMT protocol included specific techniques that were administered by board-certified OMT specialists. Outcomes were assessed with the use of self-report measures for pain and back-related functioning and medical records for delivery outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 136 women in the OMT group: 131 women in the PUT group and 133 women in the UCO group. Characteristics at baseline were similar across groups. Findings indicate significant treatment effects for pain and back-related functioning (P < .001 for both groups), with outcomes for the OMT group similar to that of the PUT group; however, both groups were significantly improved compared with the UCO group. For secondary outcome of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, there were no differences among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OMT was effective for mitigating pain and functional deterioration compared with UCO; however, OMT did not differ significantly from PUT. This may be attributed to PUT being a more active treatment than intended. There was no higher likelihood of conversion to high-risk status based on treatment group. Therefore, OMT is a safe, effective adjunctive modality to improve pain and functioning during the third trimester.
authors: Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX. Electronic address: kendi.hensel@unthsc.edu.
authors: Kendi L
authors: KL
authors: Hensel
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX.
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Buchanan
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX.
authors: Sarah K
authors: SK
authors: Brown
authors: Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX.
authors: Mayra
authors: M
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Department of Medical Education, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX.
authors: des Anges
authors: dA
authors: Cruser
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D026301:Manipulation, Osteopathic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: low back pain; osteopathic manipulation; pregnancy