Osteopathic treatment helps reduce pain in postpartum women, study shows

New research from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) show that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can help diminish pain in postpartum women.

The study, published July 25 in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, examined the pain levels of 59 women at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, New York within the first 48 hours after delivery. Pain is one of the most common complaints women in the U.S. have after giving birth.

"A mother's body goes through a great deal of stress both physically and mentally during childbirth," said Octavia Cannon, MD, DO, vice president of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in a statement. "This study shows that by combining osteopathic manipulation with other pain therapies, we can help new mothers get back on their feet quicker and improve their quality of life with their new infant."

The women received 20-30 minutes of OMT during the first 48 hours and researchers found that the mean score for pain using a visual analogue scale was reduced from 5.0 to 2.9, and 13 patients reported no pain at all.

OMT techniques allow women to relax contracted muscle tissue, reduce joint pain and alleviate ligamentous strain. Physicians manually apply pressure to different parts of the body, helping to treat structural and tissue abnormalities.

OMT can also help alleviate asthma, sinus disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines and menstrual pain, according to the AOA.