Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Oncology Patients' Management

Pain and Quality of Life Management in Oncology Geriatric Patients With Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: a Pilot Study

The aim of present study was to study the osteopathic manipulative effects on pain relief and quality of life improvement on hospitalized oncology geriatric patients. A non-randomized comparison trial was performed in Unit of Oncology Rehabilitation, Palazzolo Institute, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, Milan, Italy, from September 2015 to March 2016. 23 older oncology patients were unrolled and allocated in two experimental groups: study group (OMT group, N=12) underwent to osteopathic manipulative treatment associated to physiotherapy and control group (PT group, N = 11) underwent only physiotherapy. At enrollment (T0), 23 recruited oncology patients completed the socio-demographic forms and were evaluated, from external examiner, pain intensity and quality of life. All patients were revaluated at the end of treatment (T4) for quality of life and every week (T1, T2, T3 and T4) for pain intensity. Standard level of significance was p<0.05.

Inclusion Criteria:

• oncology patients
• male and female
• age≥65 years
• with a clinical prognosis of 6-24 months
• diagnosis of multifactorial hyperkinetic syndrome (i.e. metastatic surgery)
• pain intensity score higher than 3, measured with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients were receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment at the time of the study
• with mental disorders (MMSE<10)
• the presence of infection
• anticoagulation therapy
• cardiopulmonary disease
• clinical instability post-surgery.