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Abstract

Aim: To compare the effect of Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (OMT) on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) against placebo. Material: The material consists of 58 patients suffering from GERD symptoms of 10.7 years. Twenty-six males and 18 females were allocated to OMT and eight males and six females to placebo. Methods: A randomized, double observer blinded multicenter trial with stratified parallel group design was performed. Patients were allocated (3:1) to OMT or placebo by block randomization. OMT includes traction of cardia, mobilization of diaphragm and thoracic spine and posture correction once per week. The controls treated with non-active laser pen on the epigastric area. The degree and duration of GERD symptoms, provocation factors and use of anti-reflux medication was recorded by the patients. Results: All the GERD symptoms was significantly reduced (p<0.01) one week after the last treatment in the OMT group compared to none among the controls. The reductions were significantly in favor of OMT (p<0.01). Acid taste in mouth and heart burn explains 81% of the variation in reduced sum degree of symptoms. The median time of pain release was reduced from 1.5 to 0.5 hours in the OMT, but unchanged in the control group (p<0.01). Four patients stopped using proton pump inhibitors, one stopped the H2 treatment and four the antacid medication in OMT. The use of anti-reflux medication was unchanged in the control group. Conclusion: OMT have a significant effect on the GERD symptoms and might be an alternative in treatment of reflux esophagitis.

Biography

Kjell E Bjørnes completed Master of Science in the field of Osteopathy (University of Greenwich, UK). He is an international lecturer in the field of osteopathy and a participating researcher at Nordic Osteopathic Research Institute AS. He is also Manager at Osteopathic Clinic AS. His field of research is Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Email: kjellb@trollnet.no