Osteopathic treatment-conventional care combo cuts hospital stays for pneumonia patients

Washington, May 26 (ANI): A combination of osteopathic manipulative medicine- a drug-free form of hands-on medical care focusing on increasing muscle motion- and conventional care reduced the hospital stay time in older patients battling pneumonia, a study found.

Kari Hortos, a Michigan State University professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine, was one of seven site investigators as part of the five-state Multicenter Osteopathic Pneumonia Study in the Elderly.

The study revealed patients being treated additionally with osteopathic manipulative medicine stayed in the hospital one day less compared to patients receiving conventional care only.

"The results suggest a role for osteopathic manipulative medicine to support conventional therapy in the treatment of pneumonia, which is the fourth most common hospital diagnosis in the country. Besides the obvious benefit of getting people home quicker, the cost savings could be enormous. Further study is needed with these treatments," said Hortos.

The randomised, controlled clinical trial worked with seven hospitals to assess the impact of osteopathic manipulative treatment in patients 50 and older.

In addition to the reduced length of hospital stay, manipulative medicine also showed a slight decrease in both the amount of intravenous antibiotics needed and respiratory failure, according to the study findings.

Osteopathic manipulative treatments can be used to alleviate pain, restore range of motion and enhance the immune system.

Another form of treatment called light touch - a light form of massage - also was used as a comparative group in the MOPSE study.

While patients receiving it did respond favourably, the results were not as significant as for those receiving osteopathic treatments in addition to conventional care.

Hortos said the fact even light-touch treatments showed some benefit emphasizes the possible role human touch might play in helping patients heal.

"Human contact, both from a physical and emotional aspect, seems to help patients heal faster," she said.

The study, done between March 2004 and February 2007, was published in the journal Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care. (ANI)