title: Osteopathic Manual Treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Feasibility Pilot Study.
abstract: Current interventions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are focused on supporting quality of life (QoL) and easing pain with a multidisciplinary approach.
  
  
  
  Primary aim of this pilot work assessed feasibility, safety, tolerability and satisfaction of osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) in 14 ALS outpatients.
  
  
  
  Patients were randomized according to an initial single-blind design (12 weeks, T0-T1), in order to receive OMT (weekly for 4 weeks, and fortnightly for the following 8 weeks) versus usual-care (n=7 each group), followed by an OMT open period (T1-T2, once a week for 8 weeks, n=10). Secondary aims included blind osteopathic assessment of somatic dysfunctions (SD) for goal attainment scale (GAS) calculation, Brief Pain Inventory-short form and McGill QoL-16 items.
  
  
  
  OMT was demonstrated feasible and safe and patients displayed high satisfaction (T1-VAS=8.34 ± 0.46; T2-VAS=8.52 ± 0.60). Considering secondary aims no significant differences emerged. Finally, at study entry (T0), a cervico-dorsal SD was found in 78% of ALS patients versus 28% of healthy matched controls (p<0.01).
  
  
  
  OMT was found feasible, safe and satisfactory in ALS. The lack of secondary aim differences can be due to the limited sample size. OMT could be an interesting option to explore in ALS.
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggiani
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy; Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy; Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy; Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tremolizzo
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Valentina
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mapelli
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sosio
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Badi
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavazza
authors.affiliation: Italian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (AIMO), Saronno, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grandini
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corna
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prometti
authors.affiliation: NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.affiliation: "San Raffaele" Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Nilo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanfranconi
keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Feasibility; Osteopathic manual treatment; Pilot trial