The use of selected osteopathic therapies in pediatric care
Keywords:
osteopathic medicine, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), paediatrics, herbal medicine, medicinal plants, Iraq, treatment for medicinal plants, preterm infants, newbornsAbstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the available literature on the use of osteopathic medicine in paediatrics and to assess the methodological quality of selected studies. Publications concerning the application of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and selected osteopathic techniques in newborns, preterm infants, and children with various health conditions, including plagiocephaly, ADHD, scoliosis, and headaches, were analysed. The reviewed studies assessed both the diagnostic potential of osteopathic medicine and its potential therapeutic effects. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Down and Black criteria. The results of the analysis indicate the potential application of osteopathic methods in selected areas of paediatrics; however, the findings were heterogeneous, and some of the analysed publications had methodological limitations, including small sample sizes and the use of case reports. The available evidence suggests that selected osteopathic interventions may have beneficial effects; however, it does not allow their effectiveness to be conclusively established across all of the clinical conditions analysed. Further research is warranted, particularly randomised controlled trials involving larger patient populations, to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and safety of osteopathic medicine in paediatrics.
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